Siblings
USC Documentary | Summer 2025
Overview
Director, Writer, Editor: Elisabeth Bradley
Supervisor: Doug Blush, award-winning director, producer, editor, writer and cinematographer
School: University of Southern California
Date: June-August 2025
Siblings is a documentary short that places two brother-sister relationships side by side: Ben and Elisabeth, and Simi and Jesse. Told from the sisters’ perspectives, the film lets the contrast in how each pair talks and remembers do the work. As the stories unfold, the differences fall away to reveal Told through the sisters’ memories, the film moves between two very different childhoods, and between what each of them says and what neither can quite say.
Siblings went on to be screened in front of a 500+ audience.
The Process
Pre-Production
In pre-production, I workshopped various film concepts among my cohort, storyboarded, planned and identified shoot locations, and secured a FilmLA permit to film.
Production
I blended contemporary interview footage and Zoom interview footage, with nostalgic home videos and photographs, to create a highly personal documentary style. I also created a short animation and film title graphic.
Post-Production
Edited on Adobe Premiere.
I took the recommendation of my Student Assistant, Win Scott, to format this film as Act 1, Act 2, Act 3. Editing included audio clean up, overlays, and timeline cuts.
Screening
The final screening was done in front of my documentary cohort. My film was then voted to go on to represent my documentary class, and be screened in front of a 500+ audience.
"Your short film brought tears to my eyes. It was a reminder for me to appreciate the privilege of having our siblings. Such beautiful way to honor your best friend’s brother and their relationship as well."
Mentors
