Echoes of Us
(Reuben Smith, 2025)
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
As the writer and cinematographer of Echoes of Us (2025), I wanted to explore how grief distorts memory, perception, and emotional connection. The film follows Alex through a fragmented emotional journey where reality and idealized memories begin to blur, inviting audiences to question what is true and what is imagined. Drawing inspiration from films such as Shutter Island and Fight Club, I was interested in portraying emotional vulnerability through subjective storytelling and visual symbolism.
The film combines warm nostalgic tones with colder present-day imagery to reflect the instability of memory and loss. Through handheld camerawork, layered sound design, and symbolic objects such as the Mario keychain, I aimed to create an intimate portrait of grief while also challenging traditional representations of masculinity and emotional restraint. Echoes of Us became both a creative and reflective process, allowing me to integrate film theory with practical production in order to tell a story about longing, memory, and unresolved emotional attachment.
This film is produced as part of the Short Film Production module.
SYNOPSIS
The story follows Alex, dealing with the haunting image of Sam's body, which used to symbolise the lingering grip of memories on ones life whilst delving into the painful realisation and liberation of lost bonds.
CREW
Ann Chiang
Writer, Cinematographer, Casting Assistant, Makeup Artist Yolly Tung
Producer, Assistant Editor, Casting Director, Makeup Assistant, Sound Editor Maya Talitha Rivera
Editor, Unit Production Manager, 2nd Assistant Director, 3rd Assistant Camera, Makeup Assistant Reuben Smith
Director Grace Lorrain-Smith
Production Designer, Makeup Assistant, Runner, Assistant Editor ZiYang Lin
Sound Operator, Location Manager Basmalah Mahmoud
LAV Operator Nye Buckland
Amelia Scrivens
Gaffer, Runner Wiley Yankopolus - BTS Photographer
Writer, Cinematographer, Casting Assistant, Makeup Artist
Producer, Assistant Editor, Casting Director, Makeup Assistant, Sound Editor
Editor, Unit Production Manager, 2nd Assistant Director, 3rd Assistant Camera, Makeup Assistant
Director
Production Designer, Makeup Assistant, Runner, Assistant Editor
Sound Operator, Location Manager
LAV Operator
Amelia Scrivens
Gaffer, Runner
Yolly Tung
Producer, Assistant Editor, Casting Director, Makeup Assistant, Sound Editor
Maya Talitha Rivera
Editor, Unit Production Manager, 2nd Assistant Director, 3rd Assistant Camera, Makeup Assistant
Ann Chiang
Writer, Cinematographer, Casting Assistant, Makeup Artist, Sound Editor
Reuben Smith
Director
Grace Lorrain-Smith
Production Designer, Makeup Assistant, Runner, Assistant Editor
ZiYang Lin
Sound Operator, Location Manager
Alex Arnaud - 1st Assistant Director
Max Bickerton - Assistant Camera, Grip, Runner
Kasidit Sensathien - 2nd Assistant Camera
Nye Buckland - Gaffer, Runner
Amelia Scrivens - Gaffer, Runner
Qian Li - Boom Operator
Basmalah Mahmoud - LAV Operator
Wiley Yankopolus - BTS Photographer
BTS
CAST
Sam
Barney Hopkins Alex
Alexander Nicol-Quinn
Alex Barney Hopkins
Alexander Nicol-Quinn
Alexander Nicol-Quinn
Sam
Barney Hopkins
Woman Crossing
Yolly Tung
Extras
Nye Buckland, Amelia Scrivens, Maya Rivera,
Grace Lorrain-Smith, Cian Brown, Alex Arnaud,
Basmalah Mahmoud, Rosie Woodhouse