Very excited to announce that Waiting for Vera is now available to be seen on @directorslibrary
My aim for this film was hope without sentimentality.
We shot Waiting for Vera in June 2024, six months into Israel’s war campaign in Gaza and well into the current Russo-Ukrainian War. I felt frustrated and conflicted by the news and the ongoing, horrendous circumstances. I felt helpless as an onlooker, so I did the only thing I could: I made something. I wanted to make a film that would acknowledge the ruptured reality we live in, one which often feels bleak and hopeless, while at the same time providing some amount of levity. I didn’t want to negate how irreparable life so often feels, but I also didn’t want to overlook the beauty that has the ability to recenter us when everything around us seems worth despairing over.
BTS stills by @filmbydeez
It’s hard to believe we shot Waiting for Vera over a year ago.
This project is special to me - it feels personal even though it’s not explicitly autobiographical. It mirrors much of my own inner life, capturing the sense of conflict between working toward and waiting for something, faith and doubt in what you’re doing, creating simply to create - and all this despite the world outside seeming senseless.
I spend a lot of time wondering what I’m doing and where it’s going. The best remedy is to make things that are beautiful. That’s all I aimed for here.
Keep an eye out for more updates.
Going live April 9, 2026.
NAMING SHADOWS
A new film directed by director duo @imp.ostir
What started out as a simple test roll ended up evolving into something much more. At the turn of last year, @jessevisual picked up a new film camera and wanted to test it out. So we grabbed some friends, and we headed out to an old ironworks location just outside of Chicago. Then as the footage started to assemble itself, it became clear there was something more here, which proceeded to snowball into this sweet little project.
Cinematography by @jessevisual
Color by @coloringbooknyc
Loader @miles.andersen
Talent & poetry by @su.vey.da
Score by @jake_lapeire
Titles and poster design by @s_p_whipple
Film processed and scanned by the amazing @preservefilm
Thank you @daufcam for the rentals
@kodak_shootfilm
Shot on Kodak Vision3 500T
#16mm #16mmfilm #kodakshootfilm #filmmaking #indiefilmmaking
A series of image options for the poster for NAMING SHADOWS
@s_p_whipple ultimately ended up selecting the final image, which became the poster of the film. Quality collaboration is key.
Directed by @imp.ostir
Cinematography by @jessevisual
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always wanted to direct a music video…. and as an adult, it’s always been a goal of mine to make a dance film…
Last week I got to do both! Two in one! For the first time! IT WAS A BLAST!
Ladies and gentlemen, the TURN AROUND Music Video. Go see it in full on the stellar @doyina_eo ’s page.
Couldn’t have done it without this stacked crew:
DP/Colorist @jessevisual
Dancer @morganamirah
PA @terminalse7enofficial
Director/Editor (yours truly)
Location @hhousenyc
Make things with your friends. It’s fun.
