Created for a 2023 film course, I was assigned to select a logline from a provided list and produce a short film in its genre. I selected the drama: a girl trying to meet her grandmother and mother's expectations of becoming a piano virtuoso. The story resonated with me personally — I'm classically trained on piano, and I've experienced firsthand the pressure to live up to family expectations, knowing how much time and money my family has invested into me learning the art of playing piano.
My intention was to communicate that overwhelming pressure visually. One constraint of the assignment was that the film should contain minimal to no dialogue, which meant the story had to be carried entirely through mise-en-scène, blocking, lighting, and cinematography. Another constraint was that I had only one actor available to me: a friend with no prior piano experience. The visual language of the film had to do double work — communicating the emotional weight of the story while also convincing the audience she was a trained pianist.
Role
I took on every role in this production except acting, focusing primarily on directing, cinematography, and editing. I made all creative and technical decisions, with additional guidance from my teacher.
Tools
Adobe Premiere Pro
Creative Approach
The starting point for producing the film was the location, as the story required a piano. I had three pianos available for production: two upright pianos and one grand. However, due to timing constraints with the grand piano and the limited space around one of the uprights, I was left with one practical option: a set where I could rearrange the space.
Once the space was established, I created a storyboard using photos of the piano to plan how I could use different angles, pacing, and framing to tell the story visually. I wanted the film to begin at a slower pace and gradually build momentum, reflecting the mounting pressure felt by the piano virtuoso. I also considered how the visual language of the shots could communicate her emotions, with shakier shots suggesting stress and more stable shots highlighting her technical skill and control. Since the film centered on her performance at the piano without supporting dialogue, it was important to keep the audience engaged through a wide variety of shot types.
To elevate the space for production, I used lighting to create a more dramatic atmosphere. I placed an Aputure light inside an old desk lamp to create warm lighting on the piano. I also added set details such as complex-looking sheet music, photos of her grandmother and mother playing piano, and trophies to suggest the daughter’s inherited expectations and the pressure to continue her family’s success.
When directing, the most difficult part was perfecting the performance, since my actor had never played piano before. I drew on my own training to teach her how to physically resemble a pianist: curving her fingers, swaying with the music, and expressing emotion through her movements. It was important to show that she felt uncomfortable and tense at the piano, as though she could not compare to the standard set by her family members.
In post-production, I used Chopin’s Winter Wind Étude, performed by Leif Ove Andsnes. The piece is both technically demanding and emotionally intense, establishing the film’s dramatic tone and building a growing sense of pressure that complements the footage. Its shift from a calmer opening into increasing intensity supported the pacing I had planned in my storyboard, creating a feeling of calm before the storm.
What I Learned
Beyond the technical skills I developed using a DSLR camera and Adobe Premiere Pro, this project taught me the value of vulnerability in my work. Choosing the logline closest to my own experience became one of the film’s greatest strengths, as I understood the emotional and visual experience of feeling overwhelmed by the mounting expectations surrounding piano performance. The project also strengthened my ability to problem-solve under constraints, allowing me to turn each limitation into a creative decision rather than a compromise.
