"Echo State" is a narrative-driven short film that examines the tension between online personas and inner identity. The story follows a young artist who maintains a highly curated online presence while grappling with a sense of disconnection in their personal life. Through a blend of stylized visuals, voiceover, and shifting screen formats, the film blurs the boundaries between self-perception, performance, and authenticity.

The film weaves between real-world footage and simulated digital environments—chat windows, scrolling feeds, augmented filters—representing the protagonist’s increasingly fractured sense of self. Color grading and lighting were intentionally used to separate the ‘offline’ and ‘online’ realities, while editing rhythms mimic the overstimulation of social media and its psychological effects. Visual motifs like mirrors, screens, and reflections emphasize the theme of duality.

"Echo State" was both a personal and technical exploration. It challenged me to balance narrative storytelling with symbolic expression and gave me a chance to incorporate digital design language into cinematic structure. Ultimately, it’s a film about the complexity of identity when who we are is constantly shaped—and sometimes distorted—by how we’re seen.

Skills Demonstrated:

• Thematic storytelling around identity and technology

• Cinematic + UI compositing in Adobe After Effects

• Narrative structure and voiceover integration

• Colour grading and symbolic visual design