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NARRATIVE FILM PROJECTS
My narrative films are driven by a genuine love of storytelling that is fun, engaging, and designed to entertain. Whether working in comedy or genre-driven stories, I focus on creating strong, interesting characters, a playful tone, and visual choices that amplify humor, emotion, and energy.
Each project is also an opportunity to explore new filmmaking tools and techniques, using every film as both a creative experiment and a fully realized story I’m passionate about bringing to life.
Linked Up
LinkedUp is a short comedy that explores modern dating and the awkward reality of how dating apps can feel more like job interviews than romance. Built around character-driven humor and relatable situations, the film follows a seemingly normal date that quickly spirals into an escalating performance review of a relationship.
The project was developed through close collaboration with improvisational actors from Chaos Bloom, whose creative input and spontaneity helped shape the dialogue and comedic beats of each scene. To support this natural, playful energy, I worked alongside local cinematographer Nick Orris to design a three-camera setup that gave the performers room to explore the moment while capturing authentic reactions and comedic timing in real time.
The project was developed through close collaboration with improvisational actors from Chaos Bloom, whose creative input and spontaneity helped shape the dialogue and comedic beats of each scene. To support this natural, playful energy, I worked alongside local cinematographer Nick Orris to design a three-camera setup that gave the performers room to explore the moment while capturing authentic reactions and comedic timing in real time.
Numerus Duo
Numerus Duo is a short horror-comedy that follows a young Catholic schoolgirl who encounters a foul spirit in a seemingly ordinary ladies’ room — unfolding into a terrifying (and slightly blasphemous) tale of supernatural chaos. Blending dark humor with genre thrills, the film delivers a playful yet unsettling twist on classic possession stories.
The production required extensive pre-production and precise coordination between actors, camera crews, practical effects, and visual effects to bring the story to life. Every shot was fully storyboarded in advance, with each moment carefully planned to manage the film’s many moving parts and ensure a smooth, successful shoot. This process-driven approach allowed the creative team to execute complex sequences while maintaining strong pacing, performance, and visual impact.
Written and directed by Nick Fiorella, Numerus Duo was an Official Selection at 25 film festivals worldwide and earned 25 awards, including:
Best Short Film — Hardcore Horror, Chicago Horror, Super F!?cked Up Film Festivals
Best Film, Director, Cinematography & Editing — Indie Horror Film Festivals
Best Dark Comedy — Ethereal Horror Fest
Best Performances — Horror Underground Film & Screenplay Festival
Special Jury Prize — Knoxville Horror Film Fest
Follow the film: www.facebook.com/numerusduo
The production required extensive pre-production and precise coordination between actors, camera crews, practical effects, and visual effects to bring the story to life. Every shot was fully storyboarded in advance, with each moment carefully planned to manage the film’s many moving parts and ensure a smooth, successful shoot. This process-driven approach allowed the creative team to execute complex sequences while maintaining strong pacing, performance, and visual impact.
Written and directed by Nick Fiorella, Numerus Duo was an Official Selection at 25 film festivals worldwide and earned 25 awards, including:
Best Short Film — Hardcore Horror, Chicago Horror, Super F!?cked Up Film Festivals
Best Film, Director, Cinematography & Editing — Indie Horror Film Festivals
Best Dark Comedy — Ethereal Horror Fest
Best Performances — Horror Underground Film & Screenplay Festival
Special Jury Prize — Knoxville Horror Film Fest
Follow the film: www.facebook.com/numerusduo
Sci-Fi Alien Film | RUNNERS
Runners is a short sci-fi action thriller that follows an alien fugitive on the run from government forces — a high-stakes chase that blends grounded tension with imaginative visual storytelling. As the pursuit escalates, the film explores survival, identity, and the cost of freedom through fast-paced action and cinematic spectacle.
The production involved extensive location coordination, practical stunt work with a professional motorcycle performer, and a heavy integration of visual effects to bring the futuristic elements of the story to life. I directed the film while also leading the visual effects work, allowing for tight creative control between production and post-production to ensure the action and effects seamlessly supported the narrative.
Written and directed by Nick and Joe Fiorella, the film stars Jingbo Xiao, with cinematography and editing by Nick Fiorella and visual effects by Nick and Joe Fiorella.
The production involved extensive location coordination, practical stunt work with a professional motorcycle performer, and a heavy integration of visual effects to bring the futuristic elements of the story to life. I directed the film while also leading the visual effects work, allowing for tight creative control between production and post-production to ensure the action and effects seamlessly supported the narrative.
Written and directed by Nick and Joe Fiorella, the film stars Jingbo Xiao, with cinematography and editing by Nick Fiorella and visual effects by Nick and Joe Fiorella.
Mars Mission 1
Mars Mission 1 is a sci-fi narrative project currently in development, following the first human team sent to Mars in search of microbial life — only to encounter something far more unexpected. The teaser trailer introduces the mystery, tension, and scale of the story while setting the foundation for a larger cinematic experience.
The project is being developed using Unreal Engine and MetaHumans, blending real-time environments with digital performances to explore a new, flexible approach to sci-fi filmmaking. To prepare for production, I completed an eight-week intensive course at CGPro focused on Unreal Engine workflows and character creation, and I am actively researching motion capture and AI-driven performance capture tools to bring the characters to life authentically.
With a completed 15-page script and a full set of storyboards already in place, Mars Mission 1 is a passion project that merges storytelling, emerging technology, and visual world-building as it moves toward full production.
The project is being developed using Unreal Engine and MetaHumans, blending real-time environments with digital performances to explore a new, flexible approach to sci-fi filmmaking. To prepare for production, I completed an eight-week intensive course at CGPro focused on Unreal Engine workflows and character creation, and I am actively researching motion capture and AI-driven performance capture tools to bring the characters to life authentically.
With a completed 15-page script and a full set of storyboards already in place, Mars Mission 1 is a passion project that merges storytelling, emerging technology, and visual world-building as it moves toward full production.
Inspired
Inspired is a short comedy that follows a brother and sister struggling to come up with a movie idea — until the brother’s ex-girlfriend unexpectedly shows up, turning a simple brainstorming session into a fast-paced, chaotic escape plan. Blending playful dialogue with situational humor, the film explores creativity, sibling dynamics, and the unpredictable moments that spark inspiration.
The production required detailed pre-production planning, strong production management, and a clear visual strategy for camera placement and movement to support both comedic timing and storytelling. With so many moving parts on set, every scene was carefully designed in advance to ensure smooth execution while still allowing room for spontaneous performances and fun.
Co-written and directed by Nick Fiorella, the project was a highly collaborative shoot that emphasized teamwork, energy, and creating a positive, creative atmosphere on set.
The production required detailed pre-production planning, strong production management, and a clear visual strategy for camera placement and movement to support both comedic timing and storytelling. With so many moving parts on set, every scene was carefully designed in advance to ensure smooth execution while still allowing room for spontaneous performances and fun.
Co-written and directed by Nick Fiorella, the project was a highly collaborative shoot that emphasized teamwork, energy, and creating a positive, creative atmosphere on set.
Just Listen
Just Listen is a short action-drama created as part of a 48 Hour Film Challenge, where teams write, shoot, and edit a complete film within an intense two-day deadline. Set during a workplace holiday party, the story follows a recently fired employee who takes the celebration hostage, forcing those trapped inside to confront fear, desperation, and escalating stakes.
The accelerated production demanded fast creative decisions, precise blocking, and strong on-set collaboration to maintain tension and narrative clarity under extreme time pressure. The project became a focused exercise in directing performance, pacing, and visual storytelling while delivering a complete cinematic experience in just 48 hours.
The accelerated production demanded fast creative decisions, precise blocking, and strong on-set collaboration to maintain tension and narrative clarity under extreme time pressure. The project became a focused exercise in directing performance, pacing, and visual storytelling while delivering a complete cinematic experience in just 48 hours.
Karma
Karma is a short comedy created as part of a 48 Hour Film Challenge, where teams write, shoot, and edit a complete film within an intense two-day deadline. Centered around a murder investigation where every suspect has a motive, the story plays with classic whodunit tropes while delivering fast-paced humor and unexpected twists.
Producing and directing the film under such a tight timeline was a valuable learning experience, sharpening quick decision-making, creative problem-solving, and on-set collaboration while still focusing on strong performances and comedic timing.
Producing and directing the film under such a tight timeline was a valuable learning experience, sharpening quick decision-making, creative problem-solving, and on-set collaboration while still focusing on strong performances and comedic timing.
For Better or For Worse
For Better or For Worse is a short comedy created as part of a 48 Hour Film Challenge, where teams write, shoot, and edit a complete film within an intense two-day deadline. The story follows a couple on the verge of taking their relationship to the next level — until an unexpected issue surfaces, forcing them to confront it in the most awkward and hilarious way possible.
One of the highlights of this project was collaborating with an incredibly funny and talented cast and crew. The performances brought so much energy to the set that it was often difficult not to laugh just off camera while directing, making the fast-paced production both creatively rewarding and genuinely fun.
One of the highlights of this project was collaborating with an incredibly funny and talented cast and crew. The performances brought so much energy to the set that it was often difficult not to laugh just off camera while directing, making the fast-paced production both creatively rewarding and genuinely fun.
Safe Room
Safe House is a short horror film created as part of a 48 Hour Film Challenge, where teams write, shoot, and edit a complete film within an intense two-day deadline. Set during a zombie apocalypse, the story follows a group of survivors who seek refuge in what they believe is a safe home — only to discover the couple living there is far more dangerous than the undead outside.
The accelerated production pushed quick creative decisions, practical effects, and performance-driven tension to come together under extreme time constraints, turning a simple survival scenario into a suspenseful, character-focused horror story.
The accelerated production pushed quick creative decisions, practical effects, and performance-driven tension to come together under extreme time constraints, turning a simple survival scenario into a suspenseful, character-focused horror story.
The Experiment
The Experiment is a short sci-fi horror film created as part of a 48 Hour Film Challenge, where teams write, shoot, and edit a complete film within an intense two-day deadline. The story follows a man who is abducted after work and forced into a chilling scenario that tests his morality, fear, and willingness to help others under extreme circumstances.
Filmed on location at The Haunted Laboratory in Akron, Ohio, the immersive haunted-house environment added instant atmosphere, tension, and production value, transforming the space into a cinematic setting that elevated the film’s suspense and visual storytelling.
Filmed on location at The Haunted Laboratory in Akron, Ohio, the immersive haunted-house environment added instant atmosphere, tension, and production value, transforming the space into a cinematic setting that elevated the film’s suspense and visual storytelling.
Lethal
Lethal is a short action-thriller created as part of a 48 Hour Film Challenge, where teams write, shoot, and edit a complete film within an intense two-day deadline. Set in a dystopian future, the story follows a woman who is attacked by a group of drifters and forced to dig deep to survive and overcome the situation through strength, resilience, and determination.
This project was an opportunity to write and direct a strong female lead, focusing on character-driven tension and empowerment while delivering a fast-paced, high-stakes narrative under extreme time constraints.
This project was an opportunity to write and direct a strong female lead, focusing on character-driven tension and empowerment while delivering a fast-paced, high-stakes narrative under extreme time constraints.
I love Filmmaking!
I am a Colorado-based narrative filmmaker and director who believes the best films are built through collaboration. I thrive on the teamwork that happens on set, working closely with cast and crew to create an environment where ideas are shared, creativity is encouraged, and everyone feels deeply invested in the story we’re bringing to life.
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