Do Aliens Exist?

From Garage to Awards: Creating Do Aliens Exist? at Age 12

At age 12, during a winter lockdown in Clovelly, Sydney, I created Do Aliens Exist?, a satirical, character-driven short film that went on to win Best Actress and Best Screenplay at the 2021 SF3 Kids Smartphone Flick Fest.

The idea started as a joke, a prank email I wrote to a friend about alien sightings. But as I developed it into a mockumentary-style script, the story quickly took on a life of its own. I imagined an investigative piece, led by a reporter for The Daily Probe, named Samantha Sidebottom, who interviews a range of ‘experts’ on the question: Do aliens actually exist?

Casting was a challenge. Lockdown meant no friends could participate, and let’s just say casting family didn’t feel like the right creative direction. So, I decided to play all eight characters myself. That included a Russian ufologist, a French astrobiologist, an American teen (as well as her brother), and, of course, the earnest and slightly unhinged interviewer. Giving each role a distinct accent, personality, and style was one of the most fun and demanding parts of the process.

We transformed the garage into a studio using a green screen and basic lighting equipment. Working with green screen for the first time, I quickly learned how unforgiving it can be. Lighting had to be precise, eye-lines had to match, and compositing scenes with multiple characters (all me) required careful blocking and planning.

In one misstep, I ordered a green alien morphsuit before realising it would be invisible against the green screen. A week later, an orange suit arrived, and the alien returned to life.

The final challenge was editing. iMovie couldn’t handle the number of layers I needed – video, backgrounds, effects, and multiple characters. I eventually found a workaround with a 90-day trial of Final Cut Pro, which allowed far greater flexibility and ultimately made the film possible.

Looking back now, I see Do Aliens Exist? as more than just a lockdown project. It was a crash course in DIY filmmaking, storytelling, and problem-solving. Having the film not only selected as a finalist, but also winning Best Actress and Best Screenplay at SF3 Kids, was an incredibly validating moment. It taught me that resourcefulness, humour, and a bit of creative chaos can go a long way.