what if i never left

Content note: this film explores suicide and emotional distress.

what if i never left follows Gabe and Zach, two characters trapped in a time loop. As Zach repeatedly dies by suicide, Gabe’s initially flippant attempts to intervene become a genuine effort to understand him.

I wanted the story to leave viewers hopeful about human nature and more willing to be there for the people around them. The intended ending was bittersweet: emotionally difficult, but with an invitation to be kind.

I chose not to show the impact of Zach’s deaths. The unreality of the time loop creates distance from everyday life while preserving the disturbing nature of the situation.

A thud and a chime signal each death and reset. These recurring sounds establish the loop without showing the impact. Camera angles conceal the deaths and support practical effects that make Zach appear to return out of thin air.

The screenplay’s opening introduces that rhythm: Gabe arrives absorbed in his own frustration, then the repeated sounds and Zach’s reappearance interrupt his understanding of what is happening.

I wrote, directed, and produced the 10-minute film, managing a crew of more than 15 people. The one-location, one-night shoot was a budget constraint, not simply a stylistic choice.

Location scouting was the hardest production challenge. The setting needed a ledge that appeared real on camera without being an actual dangerous drop for the performance. I visited at least a dozen parking garages and emailed and coordinated with multiple companies to find a location that fit both the budget and my vision.

Balancing those requirements meant treating the setting as a creative and logistical decision together: the illusion had to serve the story within what the production could afford.

The film screened at the Tara Theatre in April 2026 before I released it on YouTube.

Feedback highlighted the concept and cinematography, while also pointing to opportunities to improve pacing and the emotional payoff. Completing the film helped me see where my storytelling could become smoother and more cohesive.

If I returned to the project, I would rewrite parts of the screenplay with that feedback in mind. The experience reinforced that a compelling premise needs equally deliberate pacing to make its ending land.