As soon as my last music video ended, I joined up with Autumn again to work on a new one. It was a new challenge for both of us, as she was attempting to create a more stylistic atmosphere, and I was experiencing acting in the extreme close-up, and without anything to play off of: In the scenes where I'm "watching TV," I am actually watching the director Claire's hands flickering over a plastic light, and avoiding looking Autumn's camera right in the lens. Claire is shouting out "Now look like this! Now feel this!" and I'm adjusting in the moment. This was a blast to shoot, and seeing my name in marquee lights didn't hurt, either.

Shortly after Botfly ended, I was given the opportunity to act in a music video for my friend Autumn, who is a very gifted cinematographer and still finishing up film school. After months of shooting scenes with heavy dialogue, it was a fun challenge to convey feeling without words. I also got to experience acting in a romantic space, which I had not tried my hand at before. And, of course, there was the thrill of enduring the elements and trying not to break a bone.

This was one of my final film school projects and absolutely one of my favorites. My love of boxing and martial arts allowed me not only to create the idea, but also to train the main actress. That being said, the intensity came from her, and getting to play opposite someone who could fully invest herself was thrilling. I never get tired of watching the visually stunning fight scenes that my crew was able to create, and after being nominated for a University award for best music video, this is one of my proudest directing moments from film school.