If Looks Could Kill

(2025 Masters of Fine Arts Student Film)

In an alternate 19th century world, Pandora idolises the glamorous yet toxic Duchesses, rulers of the social media sphere. Her obsession spirals out of control, forcing her to confront the cost of conformity.

About The Film

The turn of the New Year approaches, prompting the putridly powerful Duchesses to create an Ins and Outs of the annum live stream. Pandora tunes in, and through her mimicking of their behaviours, makes it very obvious that she is under their rule.The Duchesses are always on to the next best thing, and unfortunately for Pandora, she is always one step behind. Until one day, the humble Postman drops a small parcel from his satchel. Inside is a greatly anticipated lipstick called ‘Off With Their Heads’. This becomes a gateway into the clique for Pandora, who is immediately accepted into the group. However, she is served a cold warning that in order to be seen with them, she must keep up her appearance.On her fruitless journey for unattainable beauty, Pandora becomes bedraggled and debauched. She pleads with the Duchesses, using her possession of “Off With Their Heads” as leverage. As she applies the lipstick, her appearance becomes ever more horrifying, and in consequence, Pandora is kicked from the clique.The Postman comforts Pandora in her despair. To show her appreciation for him, she blows him a kiss - one of their many rituals. The magical powers of “Off With Their Heads” are revealed when the kiss sets free, carrying with it a violent smoke. In an instant, his head explodes.The Duchess Supreme catches this moment on video, threatening to humiliate and socially shame Pandora via social media. This causes Pandora to set out on a path of revenge, blowing a fatal kiss in the direction of the three Duchesses in a deadly chase.Pandora is just able to cancel the video before it uploads, but just as she goes to put the phone away, she receives a notification beckoning her to go live. Will she reject the iron grip of social media, or step into the shoes of what nearly broke her?

My Contributions

I led all of the sound on this film from the pre-production to post-production. My roles included: on-set recordist, boom operator, ADR recordist, sound editor, mix engineer, and final mix engineer.

Where To Watch?

If Looks Could Kill is currently unreleased. If you would like to watch the film then you may watch it privately via this Google Drive link here.

My Years of Fear and Trembling

(2025 Masters of Fine Arts Student Film)

After writing a novel inspired by her relationship with her mother, Taiwanese New Zealander Alina Wang must learn how to separate from a complicated and destructive relationship.

About The Film

After the publication of her debut novel, young novelist Alina Wang is pulled back to her mother Michelle’s house to clean out her old bedroom. Alina is hesitant, with a book reading in a few days and the fact that her mother knows nothing about it.As Alina navigates their strained relationship, old struggles and resentments resurface and Alina is thrown back into her unstable childhood. Through dream-like sequences, the film explores the emotional weight of Alina's relationship with her mother.Tensions culminate in a confrontation when Michelle discovers the contents of Alina’s novel and they come into conflict over how the book portrays her upbringing. Forced to confront her mother in person over the truth in their past, the film ends with Alina finally realising the faith in herself to let her mother go.

My Contributions

I re-edited and re-mixed the sound for this film after the initial assignment had ended. I also creatively enhanced the sound design and completed the final mix for cinema.

Where To Watch?

My Years of Fear and Trembling is currently unreleased and can only be viewed privately from Vimeo here. The password is MYOFAT2003.

Echoes Of The Wild

(2025 Masters of Fine Arts Student Film)

Echoes of the Wild follows Jamie, a young boy struggling to cope with overwhelming challenges in his personal life.

About The Film

Echoes of the Wild follows Jaime, a young boy struggling to cope with overwhelming challenges in his personal life. When it all becomes too much, he flees into the forest, hoping to escape his turmoil. However, his fears manifest as dark, haunting entities - The Echoes - that relentlessly pursue him. While deep within the forest, he encounters a living version of his cherished childhood toy. This gentle, mystical guide leads him on a journey of self-discovery, helping him build the courage and resilience needed to face his fears and navigate life's challenges without being consumed by them.

My Contributions

My first role in this film was being the sole recordist and boom operator on all the shoot days. Then I edited and mixed all the sound and created effects for the outer-worldly elements. I also conducted the final mix at the end of the post-production phase.

Where To Watch?

Echoes of the Wild is currently unreleased. If you would like to watch the film then please send me an email directly and I will provide a link.

Dear Dad,

(2024 Masters of Fine Arts Student Film)

A short film about a daughter writing letters to her father.

About The Film

Dear Dad, follows Lottie, a young child, who writes letters to her travelling Dad as she grows up alongside her big sister Anya. Overall, the film is about the desperate want for a parent’s love, loss, growing up, and the relentless love and refuge between two sisters.

My Contributions

I was the sole sound engineer and composer for this short film. I conducted the on-set recording, edited, composed, mixed and led the final mix for Dear Dad,,

Where To Watch?

Dear Dad, has been officially released and can be viewed on Vimeo here.

Prologue

(2025 Massey Screen Arts Student Film)

1. A separate introductory section of a literary, dramatic, or musical work.
2. An event or act that leads to another...

About The Film

"In his struggle to balance a broken family and a conflict at work, a weary father tries to protect his kids from the harsh realities of a world that offers little forgiveness. As challenges mount, he makes a decision that will define his family’s future.”

My Contributions

I re-edited and re-mixed all the sound on Prologue in 5.1, giving it a new sense of immersion. I then took it to the next level in the final mix bringing the music and sound together, gelling the cinematic experience.

Where To Watch?

Prologue is currently unreleased. If you would like to watch the film then please send me an email directly and I will provide a link.

Flat Rat

(2023 Massey Screen Arts Student Film)

A dark comedy short about three flatmates who’s bond is tested when they’re pressured into killing a rat.

About The Film

When a prank with a rat goes awry, reputation-anxious George must convince his flat mates to kill the rat or face social rejection.

My Contributions

I was the composer for flat rat. The director had given me inspiration through temp score and Spotify playlists and as the composer, I created cues that embodied the energy and tonality of the inspiration. I then worked with the director and sound engineer to make final adjustments before mixing in a 5.1 space on Pro Tools.

Where To Watch?

Flat Rat has been officially released and can be viewed on Vimeo here.

DozeFace

2025 Startup Company

At DozeFace, we craft weekly animated bedtime stories for overstimulated minds—remixed into something playful, heartfelt, and emotionally attuned.

About DozeFace

We create…
Emotionally intelligent visuals and soundscapes that gently shepherd viewers away from digital noise and toward rest.
Not to induce sleep, but to prepare the restless mind to welcome it.Based in Wellington, New Zealand, we’re a collective of friends and artists who share a deep love for moving images, storytelling, and visual experimentation. We believe bedtime is a threshold—one that deserves more care than today’s algorithms allow. So we’re making something different: soothing, thoughtful, and emotionally honest.While DozeFace is rooted in sleep, it's not about sleep itself—it’s about the human experience around it.Our name pays tribute to the universal, often comical moment when our faces betray our surrender to rest. Sometimes unsightly, sometimes adorable, always human. We prioritize and embrace emotional authenticity—we’re not just in the business of sleep, we’re in the business of what it means to be human in our most unguarded moments.We believe in bedtime stories—not just as entertainment, but as gentle acts of caregiving. They’re a ritual of care, a moment of calm, a gift of time and voice. We fell in love with their history—how storytelling was once a way to say “I’m here with you” at the end of the day. At DozeFace, we’re bringing that tradition into the digital age.Our seeds are short animated experiences—crafted for different kinds of sleepers, whether you're an overthinker, a comfort seeker, or a dreamer at heart. We call them seeds because they’re small by design: little bursts of story, mood, and feeling. Each one is planted with care, drawing from UX design, sleep psychology, and visual storytelling. Some are soft and nostalgic. Some are strange and slow. All are made with care.View more on our website here!

My Contributions

I am the lead sound engineer for DozeFace. My main role is to create all the sound for the main YouTube videos which often includes recording voice, editing and mixing sounds together. I then help edit and mix the music before conducting a final mix before delivering back to the director.

Theo Johnson
Based in London, United Kingdom

Theo Johnson is a freelance sound post-production engineer and musician. As a sound engineer, he edits dialogue, creates ambiances, foley, and sound design for film, and mixes in 5.1 surround using Pro Tools. As a musician, he writes, produces, mixes, and performs both original music and covers. He also plays keyboard in bands and composes film scores using Logic Pro and Pro Tools.His most recent project was the Master of Fine Arts short film If Looks Could Kill, for which he recorded, edited, and mixed all the audio for the 15-minute piece. Theo crafted an immersive sonic experience that complemented the story’s emotional beats and elevated its cinematic impact. On the music side, he recently released his debut EP In The Dark, which he wrote, produced, mixed, and mastered entirely on his own during his Master’s studies.Theo is passionate about the immersive power of sound and music—both in film and as standalone experiences. He believes music has the ability to move people emotionally and aims to express genuine feeling through storytelling and meaningful lyrics, helping listeners connect with his work on a deeper level.In his spare time, Theo enjoys hitting the gym, making music, spending time with friends, and crafting an impressive pizza.Contact me -
[email protected]