Keep The Lights On

Keep the Lights On is a psychological meta-theatre short film that explores the fragile boundary between performance and personal truth. Set within a high-pressure audition, the story follows a young actress trapped in an escalating power dynamic with a director who repeatedly pushes her to be “real.” Drawn from personal experiences in drama training, the film examines questions: How far should performers go in pursuit of authenticity, and when does artistic vulnerability become personal sacrifice? Through Mira’s emotional journey, this short film aims to explore the tension between obedience and agency, exposing the psychological pressures artists often face while questioning the ethical limits of creative authority. Credits Written and Directed by Yiwen Liu Produced by Yiwen Liu Director of Photography Xiaowei Fan Editor Jiahui Liu Production Designer Jiwon Lee Sound Recordist & Sound Designer Wenxin Zheng Movement Director / Choreography Yiwen Liu Mira by Thomasin Lawson Silvan by Mark Nesh

Writer/Director/Producer/Choreographer

Yiwen Liu

yanyuetaozhi@gmail.com

@yiwenrrv

Editor

Jiahui Liu

jliu024@gold.ac.uk

@iihuija

Director of Photography/Camera Operator

Xiaowei Fan

xfan010@gold.ac.uk

@klynnf_927

Sound Recordist & Sound Designer

Wenxin Zheng

wzhen005@gold.ac.uk

@z_wenxxii

Boom Operator & Production designer

Jiwon Lee

jlee016@gold.ac.uk

@jixwon_s