Behind the Lens of Disconnected
The Beginning of Disconnected
Disconnected is a short film written and directed by a young filmmaker Zander Smith-Pauls. It’s a visual story about digital disconnection and the search for real human connection. The film follows a young protagonist on a crowded morning SkyTrain, surrounded by commuters glued to their phones. Even though they’re physically close, everyone feels distant, until a brief, sincere moment of eye contact with a little girl reading a book sparks a rare connection. The story ends with the protagonist alone in nature, a symbol of peace and choosing to step away from the digital world.
The idea for Disconnected came in July while Zander was commuting to Vancouver Film School. Day after day, he noticed how people on the SkyTrain rarely looked up from their screens. That sense of unease and isolation stuck with him, and eventually turned into the spark for this project, a story about how easily we lose touch with each other and how important it is to reconnect.
Zander’s goal with Disconnected is to raise awareness and share his voice. The film is non-profit and planned to be completed by the end of 2025, with hopes of premiering at festivals across the Fraser Valley in 2026. He also dreams of taking it further on the festival circuit, while giving back to the cast and crew who are putting so much into the project. Right now, the biggest challenge is securing enough funding during the fundraising stage.
After a month and a half of calls and emails, Zander finally got in touch with TransLink’s community outreach team. While nothing is confirmed yet, he’s excited about the chance to return to the SkyTrain and bring his vision to life.
The idea for Disconnected came in July while Zander was commuting to Vancouver Film School. Day after day, he noticed how people on the SkyTrain rarely looked up from their screens. That sense of unease and isolation stuck with him, and eventually turned into the spark for this project, a story about how easily we lose touch with each other and how important it is to reconnect.
Zander’s goal with Disconnected is to raise awareness and share his voice. The film is non-profit and planned to be completed by the end of 2025, with hopes of premiering at festivals across the Fraser Valley in 2026. He also dreams of taking it further on the festival circuit, while giving back to the cast and crew who are putting so much into the project. Right now, the biggest challenge is securing enough funding during the fundraising stage.
After a month and a half of calls and emails, Zander finally got in touch with TransLink’s community outreach team. While nothing is confirmed yet, he’s excited about the chance to return to the SkyTrain and bring his vision to life.
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