Building Houses
27-year-old Alekh lives a nomadic life of half-unpacked suitcases and 12-month leases. News of the sale of his childhood home sparks memories of building houses, growing up, and his relationship with his family back in faraway America. He feels a world apart from his parents and the life they lived when they were his age – buying, renovating and selling houses, and raising three spirited boys. He writes a letter to his mum recounting his last journey home, recalling a simple car trip that propels him on a voyage through time.
Unclassified 15+
Course: MFA FTV Narrative
Director Biography
Alekh Chapman is a Utah-born, Melbourne-based film director with a lens for emotive stories resonating with lived experience. Embracing the innovative world of virtual production, his VCA Master’s graduating film, Building Houses, is a personal, autobiographical docu-narrative that reflects on his family heritage and the passage of time. The film was made possible through a partnership with NantStudios and the generous support of the Harry Hains Memorial and Stephen Ho Filmmaking Bursaries. Alekh’s approach blends real and virtual spaces, bringing magical realism to everyday moments. His interests lie in dynamic actor direction and challenging innate beliefs through exploration of the unspoken.