5 members of an opera troupe based in Charlottesville, VA document their struggles with COVID, an arts industry in collapse, and racial unrest. In a world with nowhere to sing, they decide the show must go on. 

"The most profound, moving and honest thing I have seen this entire pandemic from the arts community" - star soprano Lauren Flanigan.

The world of opera has often been portrayed as a hotbed of drama, full of over-the-top personalities. The trope of the "Diva" is one that, as an opera singer myself, I wanted to correct. In this film, I have the chance to show singers as they really are: their vulnerability in fierce pursuit of their calling. What is a singer? What is our role in the world? The trust we have formed together as a troupe means that the singers feel free to speak the truth about the industry, their political and personal beliefs and the effect of COVID on their lives as performers.

Themes of sacrifice, lost identity and isolation from the source of our happiness will resonate with audiences both during the pandemic, and beyond. Made on a shoestring budget, I have intentionally left some seams showing in UNSUNG, expressing the intimate perspectives of these self-made artists filming their own worlds.

Shot on iPhone 11 (and various other smartphones used remotely by the cast).

#FILMBREAKER First-time filmmaker.