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Ari Groobman

@ari_groobman

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PROJECTION (2025) - An Experimental Horror - Trailer

Katie has escaped an abusive household with her dog and younger sister Haley, in exchange for a less than ideal temporary housing environment. They soon realize that someone is too eager to welcome them to the neighborhood.

Director's Commentary:

Our official trailer for PROJECTION. What a journey this has been. Lots of blood, sweat, and tears. Lots of learning, accepting, and growing.

My goal with this project was to create a "feeling" of chaos, anxiety, disorientation, confusion, and rage through the story, framing, color, sound, and score. I'll be excited when I can release publicly, to hear how it makes people feel.

I cannot tag all the amazing cast and crew in this one post, but please stick around to watch for the credits when it is publicly available. Without them, I could not have even made it this far 🫂🖤

#horrorshort #indiehorror #experimentalfilm #experimentalhorror #arthouse #avantgardefilm #practicalfx #horrorfest #horrortrailer by @ari_groobman

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2 years ago

Short Film: Essentially Amy - Free on YouTube (Link in Bio)

When I first pitched the idea to my team that I wanted to do a single take, especially as a first time director, there were concerns. It's a tricky shot to do both logistically and performatively. Luckily my producer @leftyproducer and my DP @ryanramsey helped me coordinate it 🙏🏽

I wanted the audience to be fully immersed with Amy in the stress and chaos of the scene. I rehearsed with the actors in a little park near my apartment all of the blocking, but on the day, I was still nervous. Thanks to the incredible performances of our actors and the great camera work by @steadidavid, we nailed it in one shot! We did a few more for safety, but I was so pleased.

Working with the music of @hua.hsuan and sound work of @lawrence_he, I wanted the feeling of anxiety and dread to build to its tipping point.

Do you think it paid off?

#movie #moviescenes #moviescene #movies #newmovie by @ari_groobman

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8 months ago

SHORT FILM: Essentially Amy

Available to watch FREE on YouTube and Vimeo (Link in Bio)

A young Chinese American girl working at her local grocery store during the height of the pandemic must confront growing racism towards Asian Americans while mitigating her mother’s expectations and personal bias towards Black Americans at home.

#movies #movieclips #film by @ari_groobman

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a year ago

Reposted for improved audio

An Exploration on Identity

I wrote a little personal essay while at @stowestorylabs based on a great exercise @davidpope.stories had us do. I really enjoyed it, and I thought I would share. It's trimmed to meet the time limit, but I hope y'all enjoy.

#philosophy #identity #spirituality #thoughts #writing by @ari_groobman

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2 days ago

Dual Fangs - Nepenthes Bicalcarata

Garden Diary Entry - Fall 2026

Some of my favorites from my garden this October season 🎃

Chubby pools - Nepenthes Ampullaria

#nepenthes #pitcherplant #carnivorousplants #nature #photography

Hypnotic Ratios - Dahlias (unk var)

#flowers #dahlia #autumn #bloom #blooms

Scotch Bonnet Bells

#scotchbonnetpepper #pepper #gardening #ediblegarden

Silver curls - Tillandsia (unk rescue)

#tillandsia #houseplants #airplant #bromeliad

Silver Dagger - Alocasia Dragon's Breathe

#aroid #alocasia #dragon #silver

Edging Fireworks - Hoya (yes I said edging, but that's what it is)

#hoya #blooms #flowers

Forbidden Candy - Pearcea Hypocyrtiflora

#terrarium #tropical #glowing #plants

Whisks and Skeletons - Hoya Decipulae

#hoya #flowers #unique #naturephotography

Autumn Gem - Anthurium Dark Phoenix

Near Vantablack - Anthurium (gotta find the name) by @ari_groobman

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11 days ago

Today is the Harvest Moon, the full moon that marks the end of Summer's hard work leading into Autumn's harvest.

Today also marks the closing night of my experience at the @stowestorylabs Writer's Retreat in Lovran, Croatia, of where I am blessed to witness such a beautiful moon glistening over the Adriatic Sea. An end to a week of being surrounded by a sea of knowledge in both peers and mentors, and leaving with an even richer community of friends. An experience which I was so privileged to be a part of.

Five years ago, I made the sudden shift in my life, to leave my home where I had studied a career in engineering, to pursue a life in film and writing. I had no formal training and no connections, and most everyone, including myself, believed it to be nearly impossible. Yet, in my head, I gave myself ten years, as it takes typically an average of ten years for any project or business to become self-sustaining.

Looking back now, halfway through my intent, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. Through those years, there was much struggle. I was often inexperienced and in turmoil, both internally and externally. Living through the collapse of my country, my industry, of the old status quo of the world. And yet...

Tonight I get to sit, five years later, surrounded by the ripening fruits of my labour. I am surrounded by loved ones, old and new. I have created and done things I once thought were inconceivable. And although I still desire to go much further, I have tried hard to remind myself how far I have come.

The lessons I've learned from this journey are the only true secrets to success are luck (which most refuse to acknowledge and is something we cannot control), endurance (the courage to keep showing up and the discipline to work to without validation), and patience (the hardest of them all, as it takes acceptance and a listening ear, for the opportunities when they do arrive).

And so, tonight I sit, teeming with a quiet joy, in the light of the Harvest Moon, excited to see where the next five years will take me. Happy Harvest to all 🌕

#grateful #gratitude #moon #film #cinema by @ari_groobman

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15 days ago

Been holding off on this for a minute but excited to announce I'm a Stowe Fellow 🙏🏽🤘🏽✨ my script "Something Good" was accepted and I'm stoked to be a part of this opportunity to learn from so many amazing mentors and peers 🖤

"Something Good" is a coming-of-age dramedy: Gifted mixologist Tony starts his freshman year in college running an illegal speakeasy to pay off his school tuition and medical bills after his father’s stroke. With the help of his friends, they soon realize that cheating the system is not as easy as they anticipated.

Akin to "Catch Me If You Can", "Bottoms", and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", the script is completed and looking for investors

#cinema #film #movie #writer #director by @ari_groobman

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24 days ago

My short film went viral, now what?

R/p with cleaner hook 🪝

#movie #movies #film #filmmaking #filmmaker by @ari_groobman

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a month ago

I had a wonderful time talking to Mark at the @the_movie_buff about PROJECTION and indie filmmaking!

If you'd like to read the full article, I'll link it here but also in my story/highlights 🙏🏽🖤

https://www.themoviebuff.net/2026/07/indie-interviews-in-conversation-with-ari-groobman-on-his-short-horror-thriller-projection/ by @ari_groobman

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3 months ago

YouTube seems to have missed my target audience (go figure) but PROJECTION is a short horror film with all practical effects. I would love to see what my other Gen Z think of our scary movie about PTSD and feminine rage (and rage in general)

#moviescenes #moviescene #horrormovie #horrorshort #horror by @ari_groobman

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4 months ago

We built all our own practical props and movie effects for my horror short film PROJECTION, which you can watch NOW on YouTube and Vimeo 🫪 search "PROJECTION" by Ari Groobman

#horror #scary #moviescenes #horrormovies #youtuber by @ari_groobman

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4 months ago

A mentor of mine told me "a rising tide raises all boats", to remind me that we all come up TOGETHER.

I'm so proud of @kate_oja, and also props to @kiwisupreez for the bravery in speaking out about industry conditions that otherwise non-film workers would not understand.

Hopefully we can change the system together, a little at a time.

#obsession #horrormovie #obsessed #filmmaking #movies by @ari_groobman

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4 months ago