Beauty Of The Abandoned

"When a college girl goes missing, the police don't know what to do. All they have to rely on is the word of her previous lover."

Directed by Dominic Barrow and written by Beau McKinney, Beauty of the Abandoned is a psychological crime thriller that unfolds through the unreliable account of Mathew — the supposed former lover of a missing college girl. As the police dig deeper, the line between truth and deception begins to blur. It's a tense, character-driven story that keeps the audience questioning everything they think they know. 

This film represents one of the most significant milestones of my career. As my first experience working on a narrative short film, I took on a scope of responsibility that was equal parts daunting and exhilarating — serving as the film's cinematographer, video editor, and original score composer all at once. From the visual language of the film to the pacing of the edit to the music underneath it all, I had a hand in shaping nearly every dimension of the audience's experience. Working in close collaboration with director Barrow and writer McKinney over five months, we brought the entire production to life from concept to final cut. The film was subsequently distributed by Eagle Productions, a Georgia Southern University affiliated student film organization, and selected to screen at their spring 2024 premiere event. 

At the Eagle Productions premiere, films competed for audience-voted awards — putting the work directly in the hands of the people watching. Beauty of the Abandoned didn't just hold its own — it swept the evening. The film took home Best Picture, along with Best Lead Actor, Best Lead Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress. I was personally awarded Best Cinematography. 

Competing against film majors and seasoned student filmmakers, walking away with that recognition — with no formal film education behind me — remains one of my proudest professional moments. Beauty of the Abandoned was a true passion project, and a testament to what a dedicated, talented team can build when they pour everything they have into something they believe in.