Beyond the Screen / Short Film · 2 minutes
Beyond the Screen explores how constant phone use can quietly consume our time and attention. Through repetitive daily routines, childhood memories, and an unexpected call from “Reality,” the film follows a moment of recognition—when passive scrolling gives way to a conscious return to the present.
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The Story
The film begins with a familiar action: reaching for a phone as soon as the alarm sounds. Everyday moments—getting ready, eating, resting, and walking—become increasingly repetitive and mechanical as scrolling takes over.
The pattern is interrupted when the phone displays an incoming call from “Reality.” Answering it leads into a sequence of childhood photographs and personal memories, recalling a time when moments were not simply watched but fully lived.
The film ends with a small but deliberate choice: placing the phone down and walking away.
“Reality never left… I did.”
Creative Approach
I used repetition, accelerating edits, close-up cinematography, layered sound, and shifts between present-day footage and childhood imagery to express the gradual loss of attention.
As the routine repeats, the editing becomes faster and more robotic, accompanied by an intensifying heartbeat and electronic buzzing. The memory sequence introduces a softer, sketchbook-inspired visual style, creating a contrast between digital distraction and lived experience.
The complete production plan maps the film’s visuals, narration, sound design, and timing from the opening alarm to the final credits.
Script & Storyboard
The film was developed through a timed script and storyboard detailing:
Shot composition and visual transitions
Voice-over narration
Music and sound effects
Editing rhythm
The two-minute narrative structure
Reflection
Creating Beyond the Screen allowed me to combine personal storytelling with cinematic experimentation. I wanted the film to feel recognizable rather than judgmental. The phone is not presented as an enemy; instead, the story focuses on how easily attention can disappear without our noticing.
The project also gave me the opportunity to experiment with pacing, visual metaphor, sound, archival photographs, and the relationship between memory and the present moment.
Instructor Feedback
“This is beautiful. Your story definitely evokes an emotional response.”
The film was praised for its cinematography, narrative, and creative use of childhood photographs alongside the present-day character moving through a sketchbook-like frame. The feedback highlighted how this imagery strengthened the central meaning of the story and encouraged me to continue creating and sharing digital narratives.
COMMISSION
Bring your story to life through a custom digital film created with purpose, emotion, and a distinctive visual style. From concept development and scriptwriting to storyboarding, filming, editing, sound design, and final presentation, Anisa can transform personal memories, creative ideas, brand messages, or meaningful experiences into an engaging digital narrative. Each project is developed collaboratively and tailored to your vision, combining cinematic storytelling with Anisa’s multidisciplinary approach to art and design. To discuss your idea and receive project details, please visit the Commission or Contact page.
