Inertia (2026)

Inertia is non-dialogue short film that follows She, 20s, on the M train traveling home into Brooklyn. At the first stop in Brooklyn, over the Williamsburg Bridge, standing across from her on the train platform is Him, a former flame. By chance, they are both in front of one another on their way home. As they adjust to seeing each other, their hopes and panic sit between them when fate is presented, but nothing is said, and no actions are made. The subway door closes, and no one takes the leap of faith. The train continues on its route.

I remember in pre-production for this one, we were exploring the idea of shooting on iPhone, in part to keep a low profile when filming on subway platforms. I asked what it means to her to have an iPhone be the medium in which we communicate this story through. She came back to me a day later with a beautifully written response,

“To shoot on iPhone, the medium challenges the generation’s new frame, and it’s ability to tell stories of connection. In a world built through these technological advances, with its digital barriers that can go against human nature, here is where these new forms of communication can feel more isolating than inviting. 

In an era where digital mediation has replaced face-to-face interaction, we find ourselves in a quiet pandemic of loneliness, where genuine connection feels increasingly rare. In Inertia, we hope that shooting on the iPhone can speak to a longing for presence, for the emotional spontaneity that define human relationships.”

With this, it was integral to move forward with the iPhone, something I personally haven’t done too much real shooting on. I spent the coming weeks researching what the iPhone can do, and the many tradeoffs it has. With proper exposure control, open gate ProRes recording, and a decent handheld rig to keep me steady, the iPhone became a surprisingly capable A cam for this project.