Oceania is an independent feature-length film that I created from scratch with the help of friends and family. We filmed in the San Francisco Bay Area on a budget less than $4,000. I learned about cinematography on-the-spot and filmed for a year over many long nights and weekends. We used a volunteer cast and crew (mainly from Craigslist) and lots of donated equipment and help. After editing, we finally managed to get the film to the big screen at the 2008 Cinequest Film Festival with a sold-out audience. Oceania has since been released for free under a Creative Commons license. Please download and share it!
A captivating drama that explodes with an intense visual style and sharp storytelling, Oceania is a rarity for such a young director. At 17-years-old, Dehal wrote and directed a film that reveals a talent and a cinematic eye far beyond even the most seasoned Hollywood directors, and based on his debut film, there is no doubt that Dehal is one of the big discoveries of the year (by Tamee Tanoor, Cinequest Film Festival).
