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Synopsis
We meet Meena in the throes of early recovery as she tries to complete a simple task to quiet her addict brain: a guided meditation called Clarity. However, as her invasive thoughts grow louder, she is faced with a big decision: Do you compose yourself and try again? Or do you give in to temptation and go down the dark rabbit hole of relapse?
Unfortunately, Meena chooses the latter, or so we think, and allows her inner demons to take the reins. Eventually, Meena will hit bottom in her nightmarish fever dream, and she will be faced with the same decision from the beginning: Do you compose yourself and try again? Or do you give in to temptation and go down the dark rabbit hole of relapse?
Director's Statement
We hope that our film resonates with you and that it speaks to you on an intimate level. This film was inspired by my own experiences in sobriety as well as the loss of my cousin. It is for anyone who has struggled with, or cares for someone who has struggled with, addiction and mental health issues. Nowadays, these issues affect more people than ever, and we'd like to dedicate this film to those out there who are still suffering today. Our hope is that you find our film to be equal parts meaningful and entertaining, and that it impacts you in a deeply personal and emotional way.
Crew
Joseph Hooten - Writer/Director
Joseph Hooten is an award-winning writer-director and film & television executive based in Los Angeles. He graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts in 2015 as a first-generation college student. He is passionate about telling emotional, provocative stories, often following unseen heroes or underdogs. Joe grew up in the Southern US. He's also dyslexic.
Don Ohmer - Producer
Don Ohmer is an LA based Producer and filmmaker. A Southern California Native, Don attended the
prestigious USC School of Cinematic Arts before beginning full time work in the film industry. Since
starting work as a filmmaker, he has been a part of over four dozen productions, ranging from indie short films to major studio television projects. Now an experienced producer, production manager, and production coordinator in independent Film and TV and skilled in team management, budgeting,
communication, and organization. As a Producer, Don prides himself on his ability to support his team in order to maximize the space for creativity, honesty, and joy in storytelling.
Kyle Smithers - Producer
Kyle Smithers is a graduate of the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts. Kyle is most at home on the road with a camera in hand. Kyle served as a Volunteer and Media Expert for the Peace Corps in Suriname for three years and is now a freelance director and producer of film and photography.
Adriana Serrato - Cinematographer
Adriana Serrato is a Director of Photography based in Los Angeles, California. Being an American with dual citizenship, she is well travelled and has experience working across the United States and overseas. Adriana has worked on feature films, documentaries, music videos and commercials ranging across several genres, including documentary, comedy, drama, and horror. Her work has received recognition and excellence awards at the California Film Award, Ouchy Film Awards, Roma Cinema DOC and European Cinematography Award.
Erik Vogt-Nilsen - Editor
Erik Vogt-Nilsen is a Los Angeles-based film editor whose work spans features, shorts, music videos,
and commercials. His feature credits include the screenlife thriller Don’t Log Off (2021), directed by
Brandon & Garrett Baer, and the religious horror Inhabitants (2023), directed by Matt McClung, which won the Dark Matters Feature award at the 2023 Austin Film Festival. He also edited the coming-of-age comedy Big Boys (2023), directed by Corey Sherman, which won the 2023 Outfest Grand Jury Prize for Outstanding Performance and Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature, and also received two 2025 Independent Spirit Award nominations: Best Breakthrough Performance and the John Cassavetes Award. His latest feature, Plainclothes, directed by Carmen Emmi, was selected to premiere in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Erik's music video portfolio includes work for renowned artists like FINNEAS, Harry Styles, and PVRIS, while his commercial clients include Chase, Impossible Foods, and Hoka. Driven by a passion for amplifying marginalized voices, Erik collaborates with filmmakers to tell authentic and impactful stories. He believes in filmmaking as a powerful tool for social change and actively seeks projects that challenge perspectives, promote inclusivity, and foster greater understanding and empathy within audiences. Erik earned a bachelor’s degree in dramatic arts from the University of Southern California, where his background in theater and dance shaped his approach to storytelling. His keen understanding of character, movement, and their dynamic interplay translates into a meticulous editing style that supports narratives with emotional depth and sensitivity. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Erik draws inspiration from his Cuban-Norwegian heritage. He is a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community and joined the Motion Picture Editors Guild LGBTQIA+ Committee in 2025. When not in the edit suite, Erik can be found practicing his handstand, expanding his reggaeton library, or indulging in the occasional gluten-free treat.
Keegan Duncan - Sound Designer
Keegan Duncan is a proud graduate of USC's School of Cinematic Arts and a seasoned sound designer with a decade of experience bringing stories to life through sound. With hundreds of projects under his belt -- spanning feature films, shorts, documentaries, TV, commercials, and social ad -- Keegan’s work has earned both accolades and awards. Known for his dedicated work ethic and ability to stay calm and playful under pressure, Keegan combines a finely tuned ear with storytelling expertise. His goal is to approach every project with relentless passion, meticulous technical precision, and an unwavering dedication to bringing the director’s vision to life.
Daniele Trucchio - Composer
Daniele Truocchio is a Los Angeles-based composer from the suburbs of Rome, Italy, and one of the
few film composers featured in Forbes' 30 Under 30 Entertainment list. His recent work includes scoring the feature film BREAK, distributed by Gravitas Ventures in U.S. and Canadian theaters, and the upcoming The Martial Artist starring Faran Tahir (Iron Man), Shaz Khan, and Sanam Saeed, whose trailer has reached millions online. Truocchio’s credits include award-winning projects like The Relentless One, hit TV series such as Legacies (The CW) and CBS's comedy God Friended Me, as well as films like Netflix's Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile starring Zach Efron. A Berklee College of Music graduate, he is a voting member of the TV Academy and Recording Academy.
- Runtime9:49
Stream the curated UCLAxFilmFest 2025 Official Selections here!
Synopsis
We meet Meena in the throes of early recovery as she tries to complete a simple task to quiet her addict brain: a guided meditation called Clarity. However, as her invasive thoughts grow louder, she is faced with a big decision: Do you compose yourself and try again? Or do you give in to temptation and go down the dark rabbit hole of relapse?
Unfortunately, Meena chooses the latter, or so we think, and allows her inner demons to take the reins. Eventually, Meena will hit bottom in her nightmarish fever dream, and she will be faced with the same decision from the beginning: Do you compose yourself and try again? Or do you give in to temptation and go down the dark rabbit hole of relapse?
Director's Statement
We hope that our film resonates with you and that it speaks to you on an intimate level. This film was inspired by my own experiences in sobriety as well as the loss of my cousin. It is for anyone who has struggled with, or cares for someone who has struggled with, addiction and mental health issues. Nowadays, these issues affect more people than ever, and we'd like to dedicate this film to those out there who are still suffering today. Our hope is that you find our film to be equal parts meaningful and entertaining, and that it impacts you in a deeply personal and emotional way.
Crew
Joseph Hooten - Writer/Director
Joseph Hooten is an award-winning writer-director and film & television executive based in Los Angeles. He graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts in 2015 as a first-generation college student. He is passionate about telling emotional, provocative stories, often following unseen heroes or underdogs. Joe grew up in the Southern US. He's also dyslexic.
Don Ohmer - Producer
Don Ohmer is an LA based Producer and filmmaker. A Southern California Native, Don attended the
prestigious USC School of Cinematic Arts before beginning full time work in the film industry. Since
starting work as a filmmaker, he has been a part of over four dozen productions, ranging from indie short films to major studio television projects. Now an experienced producer, production manager, and production coordinator in independent Film and TV and skilled in team management, budgeting,
communication, and organization. As a Producer, Don prides himself on his ability to support his team in order to maximize the space for creativity, honesty, and joy in storytelling.
Kyle Smithers - Producer
Kyle Smithers is a graduate of the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts. Kyle is most at home on the road with a camera in hand. Kyle served as a Volunteer and Media Expert for the Peace Corps in Suriname for three years and is now a freelance director and producer of film and photography.
Adriana Serrato - Cinematographer
Adriana Serrato is a Director of Photography based in Los Angeles, California. Being an American with dual citizenship, she is well travelled and has experience working across the United States and overseas. Adriana has worked on feature films, documentaries, music videos and commercials ranging across several genres, including documentary, comedy, drama, and horror. Her work has received recognition and excellence awards at the California Film Award, Ouchy Film Awards, Roma Cinema DOC and European Cinematography Award.
Erik Vogt-Nilsen - Editor
Erik Vogt-Nilsen is a Los Angeles-based film editor whose work spans features, shorts, music videos,
and commercials. His feature credits include the screenlife thriller Don’t Log Off (2021), directed by
Brandon & Garrett Baer, and the religious horror Inhabitants (2023), directed by Matt McClung, which won the Dark Matters Feature award at the 2023 Austin Film Festival. He also edited the coming-of-age comedy Big Boys (2023), directed by Corey Sherman, which won the 2023 Outfest Grand Jury Prize for Outstanding Performance and Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature, and also received two 2025 Independent Spirit Award nominations: Best Breakthrough Performance and the John Cassavetes Award. His latest feature, Plainclothes, directed by Carmen Emmi, was selected to premiere in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Erik's music video portfolio includes work for renowned artists like FINNEAS, Harry Styles, and PVRIS, while his commercial clients include Chase, Impossible Foods, and Hoka. Driven by a passion for amplifying marginalized voices, Erik collaborates with filmmakers to tell authentic and impactful stories. He believes in filmmaking as a powerful tool for social change and actively seeks projects that challenge perspectives, promote inclusivity, and foster greater understanding and empathy within audiences. Erik earned a bachelor’s degree in dramatic arts from the University of Southern California, where his background in theater and dance shaped his approach to storytelling. His keen understanding of character, movement, and their dynamic interplay translates into a meticulous editing style that supports narratives with emotional depth and sensitivity. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Erik draws inspiration from his Cuban-Norwegian heritage. He is a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community and joined the Motion Picture Editors Guild LGBTQIA+ Committee in 2025. When not in the edit suite, Erik can be found practicing his handstand, expanding his reggaeton library, or indulging in the occasional gluten-free treat.
Keegan Duncan - Sound Designer
Keegan Duncan is a proud graduate of USC's School of Cinematic Arts and a seasoned sound designer with a decade of experience bringing stories to life through sound. With hundreds of projects under his belt -- spanning feature films, shorts, documentaries, TV, commercials, and social ad -- Keegan’s work has earned both accolades and awards. Known for his dedicated work ethic and ability to stay calm and playful under pressure, Keegan combines a finely tuned ear with storytelling expertise. His goal is to approach every project with relentless passion, meticulous technical precision, and an unwavering dedication to bringing the director’s vision to life.
Daniele Trucchio - Composer
Daniele Truocchio is a Los Angeles-based composer from the suburbs of Rome, Italy, and one of the
few film composers featured in Forbes' 30 Under 30 Entertainment list. His recent work includes scoring the feature film BREAK, distributed by Gravitas Ventures in U.S. and Canadian theaters, and the upcoming The Martial Artist starring Faran Tahir (Iron Man), Shaz Khan, and Sanam Saeed, whose trailer has reached millions online. Truocchio’s credits include award-winning projects like The Relentless One, hit TV series such as Legacies (The CW) and CBS's comedy God Friended Me, as well as films like Netflix's Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile starring Zach Efron. A Berklee College of Music graduate, he is a voting member of the TV Academy and Recording Academy.
- Runtime9:49
