THE DOCUMENTARY
CONCEPT AND VISION
This documentary was developed as a capstone project during my studies in digital cinematography, with the goal of exploring adaptive reuse—the transformation of historic architecture into modern cultural spaces. I chose POST Houston, a landmark reborn from the city’s former Barbara Jordan Post Office, as a symbol of Houston’s evolving identity. The creative challenge was to capture not just the building’s design, but the story it told — one that bridged Cold War history, industrial ingenuity, and modern artistic revival. From the first frame, the intent was to craft an educational yet cinematic experience that honored both the past and the future of the structure.
PRODUCTION APPROACH
The production combined drone cinematography, archival research, and voiceover narration to unify historical context with modern imagery. Drone footage established the scale and geometry of POST’s adaptive design, while vintage photographs and narration guided viewers through its mid-century origins. Every frame was designed to echo the contrast between preservation and progress — showcasing original concrete columns, Cold War lookout galleries, and their coexistence with the vibrant public atriums and rooftop gardens of today. The project demanded a hybrid workflow that merged documentary research with cinematic visual language, transforming an architectural case study into a visually engaging story.
NARRATIVE AND EXECUTION
Serving as director, writer, and editor, I shaped the documentary to feel reflective yet alive — like walking through a time capsule reimagined for modern life. The narration was written to maintain momentum and clarity while underscoring the building’s cultural significance. Sound design and pacing were used to transition seamlessly between decades, reinforcing the continuity between the building’s former postal identity and its rebirth as a creative hub. In essence, the project became more than a historical profile — it was a study in visual storytelling through architecture, merging research, cinematography, and narrative craft into one cohesive film.