From a Broken Watch to the Big Screen: Student Film ‘Lightspeed’ Premieres in Athens

While many of us check the time on our smartphones — often getting lost in endless scrolling — one young filmmaker chose to tell time differently.

Webster Athens Media Studies student Robert, who goes by the alias “Robert Lightspeed,” wears a broken watch as a reminder of the feelings and memories it held when it stopped ticking. That symbolic gesture became the seed for his debut short film, “Lightspeed,” which he premiered for classmates and professors on March 18, at the Webster Athens Cultural Center. 

Driven by a deep passion for filmmaking and a dream of becoming a film director, Robert rallied his fellow students to bring “Lightspeed” to life. Shot over five intensive days in November 2024 during a demanding academic period, the project brought together actors, crew and even original music - all created by students. 

“Lightspeed” is a three-scene short film that blends realism, surrealism and existentialism in a dialogue-driven narrative exploring grief, memory and time. It poses poignant questions: Can we heal without fixing? Is time something we hold onto — or something we must let go of? 

Shot in black and white with moments of selective coloring, the film was written, directed and produced by Robert Lightspeed, who also played the lead role. Cinematography was a joint effort between Lightspeed and Veronika Tomchani, an English major student. Original music was composed by Media Studies student Nikita Dneprov, who also appeared in the film. Editing was a collaborative effort between Lightspeed and his brother, Adam.  

What began as a small personal project quickly evolved into something more profound. “I’m 17 now, and one day I looked at my watch and said, ‘I’ve got time on my wrist, and yet it keeps ticking away — even if I’m not looking at it,’” Robert said. “Why not make a film about something people often misunderstand or take for granted?”  

Inspired by the contrast between urban life and a longing for nature, Robert envisioned a setting that doesn’t exist on a map: “A garden that doesn’t exist, with a boy who barely speaks and a man in white who sees beauty in its monstrous form — between stillness and surrender.” 

Webster Athens Media Studies students Nikita Dneprov, left, and Robert Lightspeed, the film’s director, during a shoot at the National Garden of Athens.  Photo by Alexandra Dneprova 

The film opens in silence as the main character, Robert, enters an empty dorm room with a suitcase in hand. “It’s my first film project. It reflects where I was, emotionally and spiritually,” he told the audience during the premiere. “I didn’t write it just to ‘do a short film.’ I wrote it because I had something inside me I didn’t know how to say with words — film was the only way to release it. I directed the film, financed it, played the lead role, and collaborated with a small but dedicated crew of friends and classmates.” 

Filming took place entirely in Athens, with key scenes shot in a student dorm and the National Garden of Athens. “The dorm represents confinement,” Robert explained, “while the garden represents a timeless realm of reflection.” 

"It was an honor to participate in such a project and to test my abilities and have new experiences," Dneprov said. 

Robert Lightspeed, center, with classmates who attended his screening event. Some wear specially designed shirts from his production company, Lightspeed Odysseys.  Photo by Fotis Grivas

“Robert has a passion for filmmaking, and he managed to share it with his classmates, inspiring them to contribute to his idea and help bring the film to life,” said the Head of the Communication Department, Assistant Professor Anthi Kalomiri.  “'Lightspeed’ marks the beginning of a promising journey for Robert Lightspeed — and a moving contribution to student cinema at Webster Athens.” 

About Webster Athens 

Webster Athens is the only fully owned and accredited U.S. university campus in Greece, bringing the best of American education to the heart of Athens. Webster is a globally recognized American institution with a strong commitment to academic excellence, global citizenship, and cultural understanding. Through programs in Media Studies, international relations, business, and more, Webster Athens fosters creativity, critical thinking, and cross-cultural collaboration among its diverse student body.