Short Film · RISD Film/Animation/Video · 2025
The Happiness Meter | Short Film
A very personal narrative — a character’s introspection into the society and culture that shaped him.
Role
Director · Editor
Year
2025
Cast
Zhenran He
Dept
RISD Film/Animation/Video
Score
after Brion · Levi · Desplat
The Idea
A turn inward
A short film described as a very personal narrative of a character’s introspection into society and the culture that shaped him to be where he is. Produced in Providence with RISD’s Film/Animation/Video Department, starring Zhenran He, with a score drawing on composers including Jon Brion, Mica Levi, and Alexandre Desplat.
Personal
Interiority over plot
Score
Scored in the register of Levi & Desplat
A single performance can carry a film built on interiority rather than plot.
The Film
Watch the film
Reflection
Reflection
The Happiness Meter is the most personal of my short films — it’s really a character turning inward to examine the society and culture that made him who he is. I scored it against the emotional register of composers like Mica Levi and Alexandre Desplat because I wanted the introspection to feel scored from the inside out. Working with Zhenran He and the RISD Film/Animation/Video community taught me how much a single performance can carry a film built on interiority rather than plot.