"Outside the Lines" is the second documentary I’ve had the opportunity to work on. The film features Felix, a local Calgary based artist, as he shares his journey of self-discovery and the impact that his early struggles with his gender identity has had on his art today.
For this project, I took on the role of Director of Photography, my first time leading the camera work on a production. Since we were working with a small crew, the visual style and overall look of the film were entirely in my hands. I focused heavily on exposure, proper white balance, and compositions, all aligned with professional industry standards. The shoot itself went smoothly, but I did face some challenges during the B-roll phase. Opting to shoot handheld created some instability in the footage, which unfortunately rendered parts of it unusable in the final edit. As a workaround, I incorporated still photos to maintain visual interest and support the narrative.
Despite that hiccup, the final product is a major step forward for me, especially in terms of editing and storytelling. Compared to my first documentary, my work on "Outside the Lines" shows significant growth. I was able to craft a narrative that feels authentic, emotional, and deeply human. Even as I edited, I found myself inspired by Felix’s vulnerability. Telling his story reminded me why I love working in documentary film, and it’s left me more excited than ever to continue exploring real stories in the future.