Hi, I'm Lana,

I'm a senior at Menlo School in Atherton, CA

I've made five independent short films (three of which are featured on my website) which I wrote, directed, shot, and edited myself.  For Somewhere else and Into Focus, I had the additional challenge of filming myself, a technically difficult process, but one that taught me much about being in front of and behind the camera. I shoot on a Sony FX30 camera with a 1.33x anamorphic lens, and edit in Final Cut Pro. Cinematography isn't just a practical process for me, it’s an art form in itself. The way a shot is framed, lit, and moves both supports the narrative being told, and also tells its own story altogether.

Outside my own projects, I'm a Media Production Teacher's Assistant at Menlo's film department, where I've been an active member since 2023. Helping other students find their voice through film has made me a sharper filmmaker and collaborator.

I work as a marketing intern for a Forbes-featured women-owned social enterprise based in Pakistan and I am a salesperson at an independent fashion boutique in Palo Alto. These experiences have sharpened my eye for brand identity, audience, and the way aesthetic storytelling works beyond the screen.

I am driven by a desire to tell my own stories and uplift others who have trouble telling their own. As an artist, nothing is quite as satisfying as seeing something you build come to life which is exactly why I am so drawn to film.