Shock! A New Horror!

Lost In The In-Between is a psychological horror with elements of family-drama and thriller, centering on Lily, a young Chinese girl grappling with her father’s absence, which leads to a strained relationship with her mother. The film serves as commentary on the hardships of immigration, delving into the complexities of family separation and adaptation to a foreign land.

I was initially assigned the role of sound designer and lighting assistant, although as the film developed, my responsibilities shifted towards solely focusing on sound design. Given my relative inexperience in this field, my preparation entailed a lot of studying and practical experimentation, just gaining familiarity with audio equipment to ensure I wouldn’t disrupt the workflow during production. In this role, I was responsible for creating a comprehensive sound list, detailing the necessary sounds to be recorded, specifying when, where and how they should be captured. Also, I was to source a score for the film, this task involved discovering a variety of tracks, particularly, string/piano that fit with the film’s themes and tone. Given the film’s genre-blending nature, sound was critical in establishing its presence as a horror, creating an eerie ambience, building suspense, and evoking fear, all of which required meticulous planning and coordination with the director.

Through this endeavor, I’ve learnt the importance in effective communication and time management. While the experience of being part of a relatively large-scale production was valuable, it also presented challenges in terms of my creative involvement during the actual production phase. In retrospect, I recognize that clearer and more frequent communication, perhaps, would have facilitated a more seamless collaboration. Additionally, our struggles with time management, often falling behind schedule, stemmed from an oversight in our approach to the project. Improved planning and a realistic schedule would have ensured a smoother production process.

Watch the film here