Overgrown

Director, Writer, Producer, Editor

Drama | 7 min | English | 2022 | Cornsilk Productions Inc.
Festival Circuit | Elderly Margo is devastated by her sudden eviction. When she discovers a dead mouse under the floorboards, she begins to reconsider what is treasure and what is trash.

Director’s Statement

As an artist, I’m deeply intrigued by the question of how creativity can help us find resilience when we’re at our lowest. "Overgrown" explores this theme through the eyes of Margo, an elderly hoarder, who struggles to let go as she’s being evicted.

I grew up in a family that used ritual as a way of coping with loss. This film was inspired by an early childhood memory of hiding little objects and messages around the house when we had to leave a beloved home. I wanted to recreate that sense of enchantment in "Overgrown" by having Margo’s possessions come alive. At first cast aside as trash, they become the caretakers of Margo’s spirit long after she is gone.

Rather than just feeling pity for Margo, it was important for viewers to feel immersed in her world and to experience it as she does. From the production design and animation style, to the sound design and non-dialogue approach, we took care to infuse every aspect with Margo’s unique personality. Much of her emotional journey is also reflected in Aaron Jensen’s haunting original score, sung by Tyva Kyzy, the first all-female group of Tuvan throat singers.

Ultimately, I see "Overgrown" as a kind of fairy tale for adults–a reminder that hope and dignity can still be found in the face of loss and change.