Creative Talent Shines in Smartphone Film Contest

"Alone" is a hard-hitting and ambitious piece of work that keeps the audience on the edge of their seat. One that has now earned her the Best Smartphone Short Film award at the Mentone CA International Film Festival.

We sat down with Ally to talk about her creative journey, the challenges of making a film single-handedly, and what this recognition means for their future in filmmaking.

...it automatically gives me that creative freedom to make my own dystopian world

Introduction and Inspiration

Can you describe your film in a few sentences?
“Alone” is a post-apocalyptic film. It's kind of like a dystopian vibe, because I love to make dystopian films, and it's just about a girl who is on her own, and she has to survive, and is trying to find survivors.

I love watching dystopian films, like “World War Z” and zombie films, and “The Last of Us”.

Can you tell us where the original idea came from and why you decided to create this film over the summer?
During the summer break, I had a lot of time to make films, and I didn’t have the pressure of having a deadline. I could set myself a deadline, so I could get other things done. This gave me creative power.

I currently live in Crete, so there are plenty of locations that are very dystopian-like, including abandoned car parks and unfinished buildings. This gave me the creative freedom to make my own dystopian world.

This school has definitely helped me build my passion more.

Have you always been interested in filmmaking, or was this project a new creative step for you?
I didn't think I was going to be into film, but after I took a digital media class for fun in Grade 8, I loved it. After I started taking IB Film, I realized I actually do want to do filmmaking, and my family's also getting into it with me.

I find it’s really easy for me to make films, and I feel very passionate. 

TASIS England has definitely helped me build my passion. My previous school had film classes, but they weren't as involved and in-depth as the classes here, so this school has definitely helped me grow in my filmmaking journey. Mr. McConville, my IB Film teacher, is really helpful when getting all that work done.

Before, I didn't know what I wanted to do, in college or with my life. Now I do, I'm taking steps to get into the film business.

Creative Process

You wrote, produced, directed, shot, and edited this entire 25-minute film yourself. What motivated you to take on every role?
There aren't a lot of resources for me in Greece, and I didn't have a lot of people to help me out. I just had my phone, a couple of actors, my brother, and his friend to help bring stuff around, bring it down the cliffs, and everything. My mom was also a really big help. I also love doing all the roles. That's because I want to direct, and I want to do editing down the line. 

“Okay, so I love this shot, and I really want you to bring this emotion out, but tell me, how do you feel… how do you think you should feel in this moment?”

What part of the filmmaking process did you enjoy the most, and why?
I love working with people, and I love directing actors. I love being able to say, “Okay, so I love this shot, and I really want you to bring this emotion out, but tell me, how do you feel… how do you think you should feel in this moment?” or “If this happened to you, what would you do?”

I like working with people who have a vision, because then it's easy to flow together from one thing to the next. I'm not just telling them what I want them to do; I also want them to tell me what they want, who can ask me questions about the roles. The people I have worked with so far in my films are really easy to work with. My roommate is in a lot of my films because she's a really good actor! 

What was the most challenging part of creating the film, and how did you overcome it?
While the only gear we had was the costumes and props, it was still a lot to organize to haul them everywhere. For example, we had to drive up a mountain and then go to a sketchy area on the side of the road. And it was really hot! I didn't want any of my actors or anyone to get heatstroke, so I brought umbrellas and wet towels. I put my actors in the shade when possible, and we occasionally took breaks.

On one of the shooting days, the sea on location became rough, so we scheduled one more day of filming to make sure that everyone was going to be safe.

If I didn't do it on the smartphone, then I wouldn't have done it at all. Just because I didn't have a big, fancy, expensive camera doesn't mean that I can't shoot a film... 

Technical and Artistic Choices

What techniques or tools did you use to make the most of smartphone filmmaking?
If I didn't do it on the smartphone, then I wouldn't have done it at all. Just because I didn't have a big, fancy, expensive camera doesn't mean that I can't shoot a film.

I use an app called Blackmagic, which Mr. McConville told me about. It has a lot of the camera controls you would have on a professional DSLR camera, except that with a professional camera, you have better lenses and can adjust the camera qualities

How did you approach the visual style, sound, and editing of your film?
When I was editing, I spent more hours finding the sound than I did cutting it together. I think that it's really clear and simple for me when I'm cutting, because I have it in my head what I want, and then I put it onto the screen. 

With the sound design, I'm obsessed with getting it very specific. To me, if you don't have good sound with your film, then it just won't look good, and it won't sound good. I kept scrolling through free sound generators that don't have copyright until I found the right sound. I also love when I layer my sounds together to create new ones.

I think my experience here has shaped me more as a filmmaker...

Personal Growth

Is there something you learned during this project that you’ll carry into future creative work, or even your school life?
Making this film makes me appreciate actual production companies and all the work that goes into making a film. It took me a couple of months to make that film; I can't imagine how long it takes to make “ Avatar”! The amount of planning and work that goes into making a film is insane.

How has TASIS England supported or influenced your creative interests?
I was originally going to take Introduction to Film (an Arts elective in Upper School), but then I decided to take IB Film. This was a good idea for me. It has shown me how to use professional cameras and how to use lighting setups, like 3-point lighting. 

Festival Experience and Recognition

How did you feel when you found out you won ‘Best Smartphone Short Film’? Did you learn anything from the festival community or the feedback you received?
I was excited that I won. I called my mom, and I said, “Mom, I won a film festival!, and her reaction was, “Oh my gosh!” I was more excited to call and tell my mom that I won than the fact that I actually won.

This experience makes me feel more confident about submitting to more festivals in the future.

If you really are passionate about something, I think you should go ahead and follow through

Advice and Future Goals

What’s next for you? Are there any upcoming film ideas or creative projects you’re excited about?
For my IB, I have to make seven or eight films. My mom is a writer and is making one of her books into a limited series TV show, so I will work on that as well. We were filming during the recent Thanksgiving break. After I edit the footage, she will send it out to people to see if they want to pick it up or not. So, let’s see!

Is there anything else you’d like people to know about your film, your process, or your creative journey?
If you really are passionate about something, I think you should go ahead and follow through. I know not everyone wants to do their passion as their work because they are concerned about money. I understand that, nowadays, you do need to be financially stable, or you're going to struggle in life. But I say at least follow through with your passion in some way.

If it’s filmmaking, for example, you might as well do it, and then come up with a bad film, and then just fix it and tweak it, rather than just not doing anything at all. You should just work with what you have. All I had was a phone, nothing else. And I made a film!

Celebrating Achievement

At TASIS England, the Arts curriculum empowers students to broaden their love for all things creative, and the Film faculty members have long recognized Ally’s passion and potential. This award highlights the remarkable level of artistry and commitment they bring to their work.

Ciaran McConville, Ally's IB Film teacher, said:

I've been delighted to see Ally's growth over the last year, from a talented student to a young filmmaker with the skills and confidence to share her work on a global platform.  

We are incredibly proud of Ally’s achievement and look forward to seeing where her filmmaking path continues to lead.