Avi Obie
Avon, CT
Advisor: Heather Cassano
Artist Bio
Avi Obie, a Film/Video Production student at the University of Connecticut, is passionate about storytelling through video and photography. Their journey into film began in high school after taking a Video Production class, sparking a deep interest in content creation. Avi’s work explores themes of horror, comedy, human connection, and representation, blending technical skill with meaningful narratives. Alongside their BFA studies, they are pursuing dual minors in American Sign Language & Deaf Studies and Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies, further shaping their perspective as a filmmaker. Beyond academics, Avi has mentored high school students in creating eco-digital activism projects and served as the Head of Public Relations and Social Media for the UConn Rainbow Center. Committed to community engagement and advocacy, they aim to use film to amplify diverse voices and foster greater representation in the industry.
Artist Statement
“Below” is an interactive choose-your-own-adventure horror film created using Twine and YouTube. Players navigate a descent into their basement, where they discover a strange doll and begin experiencing supernatural occurrences. Their choices determine the outcome—can they escape without incurring her wrath? Growing up, my family’s basement held an old, rusty trunk that sparked my imagination. One day, curiosity got the best of me, and with a friend by my side, I finally opened it—only to find it empty. Still, the mystery lingered, and I always thought it would make a great setup for a horror film. Now, as a filmmaker, I drew from that childhood memory and my admiration for interactive storytelling, inspired by a YouTuber who created choose-your-own-adventure videos. Revisiting my past Twine projects, I shaped Below as an exploration of fear, intention, and the unknown. With this project, I hope to challenge players to consider how they interact with the unfamiliar. Are they driven by curiosity, caution, or recklessness? Through interactive storytelling, I want to immerse audiences in an experience where every choice matters—just like in real life.
