PROJECT DETAILS
Don’t Mind Me
Project
Format
Genre/Style
Role
Production Context
Don’t Mind Me
Narrative Short Film
Psychological Drama
DoP
Original Score Composer
Financing & Production
Master’s Degree Project in Film & TV Digital Media Production
PROJECT INTRODUCTION
Don’t Mind Me
During my Master’s degree in Film & TV Digital Media Production at the University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten, I had the chance to work on the psychological short film Don’t Mind Me.
The film tells the story of Elia, a young woman who loses herself in her own thoughts while waiting for an appointment with a psychologist. What starts as a small moment of guilt slowly turns into an intense inner spiral of pressure, expectations, and self doubt. For this project, I worked as Director of Photography and also co created the original score. It was especially exciting for me to help shape both the visual language and the emotional sound of the film. I wanted the camera and the music to work together and make the audience feel close to Elia’s inner world.
Watch the trailer and get a first impression of the project:
MY ROLE
Director of Photography
As Director of Photography, I was responsible for developing the visual approach of Don’t Mind Me and bringing the emotional state of the protagonist into the image.
The film moves between reality and Elia’s inner world, so the camera had to do more than simply follow the action. It had to react to her thoughts, her insecurity, and the growing pressure inside her mind. The camera therefore became more emotional and reactive as the story progressed. Close framing, movement, and strong visual contrasts helped us create a sense of tension and inner restlessness, slowly becoming more intense and overwhelming.
The set design used bold and saturated colours, which gave the film a controlled but slightly surreal atmosphere. This contrast between a seemingly perfect environment and Elia’s emotional overload was very important for the overall look of the film.
For me, the goal was to create images that do not only look cinematic, but also carry the emotional weight of the story.
Original Score
Alongside cinematography, I also created the original score for Don’t Mind Me. Since the film relies heavily on emotional tension and psychological escalation, music played an essential role in shaping the pacing and atmosphere of the story. Working on both the visual and musical side of the project gave me a unique perspective on the relationship between image, rhythm, and emotional storytelling.
Listen to a short excerpt from the score:
Behind the Scenes
One of the things I value most about film production is collaboration. Don’t Mind Me was developed as part of my Master’s degree with a multidisciplinary team, and being involved in both the creative and practical sides of production gave me valuable experience beyond my core role. From camera preparation and visual development to pre-production planning and financing, this project strengthened my understanding of the filmmaking process as a whole.
A few behind the scenes impressions from set:
