verhuscht.

about this Film

verhuscht is a short film produced for the FH St. Pölten. Out of 111 submitted story concepts, my exposé was selected to be realized. The production took around eight weeks in total, with one week of filming across various locations in St. Pölten and Amstetten.

I was responsible for the story and script, directing the shoot, designing a door sign and later also contributed to post-production with color grading and editing. Working with an 8-person team, we brought this psychological narrative to life under tight deadlines and challenging conditions.

Quickfacts

Role: Script, Storywriting, Directing, Prop design and post-pro within a team of 8

Tech: Shot on FX30 and post-pro with DavinciResolve

Production time: ~8 weeks

Platform: Youtube and private screenings

Language: German

Story & Production

Final storyboard and first draft

Pre-Production Teaser

Door sign

Film

Story / Plot

The film follows an unnamed protagonist through the monotony of his daily life. Constantly judged, berated, and diminished by others, he spirals into a breakdown that culminates in an act of quiet rebellion. The narrative is told without spoken lines from the main character — only through actions, expressions, and the world around him.

The production involved location shoots across city and park environments, combining handheld and stabilized shots with dynamic lighting setups to reflect the protagonist’s psychological state.

Production

The film was produced with a budget of 0 €, which meant relying on creativity and resourcefulness. We were able to borrow professional equipment free of charge through university connections, while other tools and props had to be self-financed or sourced from private belongings.

Despite these limitations, we managed to achieve a high production value by combining borrowed gear, personal resources, and teamwork. The entire project was realized within an 8-week period, including pre-production, one week of filming across multiple locations, and a post-production phase focused on editing, sound, and color grading.

Techniques & Tools

Cinematography: Sony FX30 with Atomos Ninja V for monitoring and recording
Camera Movement: Shoulder rig, tripod, DJI Ronin SC gimbal, mini crane for dynamic shots
Lighting: Mix of portable LEDs and high-output studio lights (Aputure & Walimex) for interior and exterior scenes
Audio: On-location sound captured with Zoom H6 and Rode NTG-2 (boom + blimp setup)
Post-production: Editing and color grading, integration of location sound, correction of on-set inconsistencies

Challenges

Weather dependency: outdoor shoots required quick adjustments to changing light and conditions
Team coordination: not all team members were reliable, requiring flexibility and reallocation of tasks
Continuity issues: repeated takes under shifting daylight (e.g. dusk setting in) forced tighter scheduling and faster work
Casting: finding and organizing actors and extras was a significant challenge during pre-production
Post-production fixes: correcting filming and audio errors in editing and grading required additional time and creative solutions

Reflection & Learnings

"verhuscht." was my first film project of this scale as a writer and director. The experience taught me the importance of planning not just the creative vision, but also team logistics, reliable scheduling, and flexible problem-solving on set.

I learned to adapt quickly to unexpected production challenges — from weather and continuity issues to team dynamics and sound corrections — while maintaining the overall vision. Working on editing and color grading gave me deeper insights into how much story can be shaped in post-production.

Check it out on Google Drive

Due to the usage of copyrighted material you may need to contact me before gaining access to everything.

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