Old Dykes ‧ short film ‧ AFI DWw+
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
Writer & Director: Ezra Rose
Producers: Zoë Andrikidis, Nekisa Cooper (EP), Julia Corcoran (co-producer), Casey Pfeifer (associate producer), Maddie Racoosin (co-producer)
Cinematographer: Bella Finn Parisot
Production Designer: KC McGeorge
Floral Arrangements: Jesse Harron
STORY
The task was to create an upscale, older hospice facility. The room was filled with objects brought in by the patient (Laurie) and her partner, revealing their social class and aesthetics. The room also needed subtle indicators of being a facility, as well as evidence of Laurie’s illness and the time passed during her stay.
On set photographs of set dressing details:
SPACE
We wanted the room to feel small, making the visitor (Mel) feel out of place. I staged the furniture around the sequence of Mel’s actions, small tasks to busy herself such as pouring a glass of water, etc., but which all inevitably spiral to the empty space in the bed.
Below are shots from the 3D model I created to explore space, thinking always of blocking and framing opportunities:
We knew we wanted to make use of the location’s built-in cabinets, but the center area was too awkwardly deep to be a headboard. We also needed a place to mount the heavy medical equipment. I also wanted a wash of color and texture behind the bed. So, we created a plug wall to fill that gap, and matched the built-in’s details to blend it in.
Shots of the location before and after:
TONE
The key design element for this short poem of a film. The space needed to have a dreamy quality, as it holds the long-imagined reunion between Mel and Laurie. We aimed for a low contrast color palette within the space, pinks and creams and greens - allowing the contrast to exist more between the space and Mel’s wardrobe. I also populated the space with as much translucence as possible: sheers, colored glass, leaves - knowing that light would be the key to cultivate this quality.
Design deck below, showing reference, carefully curated sourcing options, and a Photoshop paint-over of the space, to test the harmony of our selections:
