Filmmaker Statement

I’ve always felt that the best way to pull the rug out from under an audience is to make them care first. I kept Counterpointe short on purpose because I wanted to see if I could get people invested in a character’s world, only to shift the tone completely when they least expect it. The title is a play on the musical term "counterpoint," which refers to two melodies playing at once. I composed the music alongside the directing so the score could mirror the story. You follow the main melody of the drama and the dance while this other, darker story is quietly playing out in the background. By the time you realise you should have been paying attention to the "other melody," the film is over. I’m fascinated by how quickly things can change when you’re distracted by your own goals. I used the 5-minute runtime to mimic that "blink and you'll miss it" feeling. It’s a story about what happens when you’re so focused on perfection that you forget to pay attention to anything else.