Tempest is a short experimental documentary about four women reliving some of their darkest moments. Through community and shared experiences, they find inspiration and hope for a better future.

This film was made in partnership with the nonprofit Salt & Light Coalition, a trauma-informed workforce development program empowering survivors to thrive.

Dr. Izabel Olson, Founder and CEO, reached out to me after seeing a film I previously made while attending Columbia College Chicago. She expressed interest in creating a similar experimental film to share stories from their survivors. The film would then open the night of the Experience The Light gala at the Wintrust Grand Banking Hall in Chicago, creating a tonal shift from dark to light.

With a budget of $0, I convinced my colleague Matt Hardin to collaborate with me again. I interviewed four survivors from Salt & Light Coalition, and Matt went out to shoot the Chicagoland area. We tag-teamed the edit, and I worked on the sound design. The final film runs just under ten minutes and features the stories of these women, experimental cinematography, and visual effects.

I remember the silence that swept over the room as Tempest was playing. The film opened the gala with the somber reality of these women. But as the night went on, the space was filled with music and positive energy. Salt & Light Coalition surpassed their fundraising goal, raising over $450K.