Filmmaker Statement

I was sitting in my windowless Manhattan apartment trying to finish the 5th or 6th rewrite of an experimental script that would ultimately be my thesis at New York Film Academy. Bleary-eyed from staring at my phone, I decided to take a break from writing and turn to something that might feed my mind. After perusing for a bit, I stumbled upon Jeff Orlowsji’s documentary, “The Social Dilemma.” The film looks at the concepts around the addictive nature of social media platforms, something I think we all worry about in the back of our minds. As the film's credits rolled, I sat on the couch thinking about how often I bring my phone within a foot of my face, and let its LEDs burn my retinas. As the film’s message rolled around in my head, I realized that since I was 11 years old I have been compulsively checking my social media, utterly compelled to reach for my phone whenever a conversation or hangout lulled, and feel a sense of fear and anxiety when my phone is inaccessible.