Anamnesis: The Memory (2015) watch online HD

Prisoner in his own mind, a young man struggles to relive a memory but instead finds himself in a depression and on the brink of insanity.

The definition of "anamnesis" is to recall a past memory and gain newer knowledge from it than you had before.

Filmed in nine and half hours (eight and half hours in the span of two days and one hour for pick up shots on the third).

The first draft was written and pre-planned three days before Brandon's thesis production course. Initially, he was going to direct another dramatic, romantic short film that he had written and pre-planned a few months prior, but after writing Anamnesis within hours, Brandon knew that this film was far more relevant of a piece, although still consisting of a rather mature and in-depth subject.

Brandon Azoo first met lead actor Ben Hoffman in a graphic design course at Woodbury University in sophomore year, Woodbury being a small, private University serving as the main location and proving the main purpose of the film. Shortly after bumping into Ben again and learning of his acting and theater experience, Brandon invited him to the audition.

During the audition process, Ben Hoffman and Emily Killian were paired together randomly. Both booked their parts, hearing back immediately in following day. Less than two weeks later, they were called back in and only needed one rehearsal session. Filming began shortly after, on Friday, within that same week.

The first senior film to be shot in his thesis class; shooting days were on Friday, September 19th and Sunday, September 21st 2014, which also included the voice over session. Pick ups were shot on Sunday, February 8th, 2015 during the post-production phase and were included in the very next cut.

Frances Eames Noland, the cinematographer, used a variety of techniques: a wheelchair, like that of a French New Wave film, was used as a dolly for the walking scenes and German Expressionist lighting and shadowing was used in the jail cell scenes.

The second walking scene was achieved by the actor, Ben, walking backwards and having the action reversed in post, giving a more surreal effect to the pivotal lead up of the 'all is lost' moment. If you look closely to the top left of the screen, you can even see the cars going backwards in the background.

Brandon wrote the ending song "Touch" and its lyrics specifically for the short film. The main composer, Julien Nicolai, recorded all musical compositions and components, including vocal recording and final mix at his own house, which is right next-door from Brandon.

Filmed in part in Woodbury's front lawn/park area which is no longer there due to construction (since early 2015)

The last line was added to clarify that there was an existing relationship, and that the lead character did not just get "lucky" at the park.