PRODUCTION DESIGN
Film Sets & Prop Design By Natasha Nicolaou
The Doer
The Doer is a short film written and directed by Richard Williams. The project filmed at a single location in Lowell, MA starring Scott Salley, Julia Bechler, and Michael Gilbertie. For the sets of The Doer, a modern loft apartment was transformed with wood paneling, contact paper, and vintage touches into a sparse bachelor's studio apartment with warm tones and vintage vibes. Special attention was paid to create a world that would tell the story of the past, journey, and dreams of the main character. Custom props were sourced to fill out the sets with images of macho stereotypes and childhood heroes.
Gimme
Written and Directed by Steven Schloss and Aidan Paine, and Directed by Steven Schloss, Gimme is a moody Hanukkah horror where a grandfather and his estranged granddaughter are pulled into a sinister game of dreidel-awakening something ancient, cosmic, and hungry. With each spin, they risk facing a past they tried to bury. Production Design involved working with the director to bring to life his vision of a "Cosmic Forest" and "Cosmic Void" which needed to be beautiful, other-worldly, and deeply unsettling. Work also included partnering with other designer and prop makers to build multiple sets and create everything from a warm cozy home to a nightmare encounter with past demons.
Ugly Sweater
Ugly Sweater is a feature film written by Gemma Farquar and Lauren Musgrove and is directed by the Emmy winning Lauren Musgrove. Ugly Sweater takes place in 2011 and Production Design included building a period correct teenager's bedroom on a soundstage at the Paramount Theater and transforming this this set to represent the troubling dreams of an anxiety ridden college bound teenager played by Deja Monique Cruz, (Disney Channel's The Crossover). Additional production design was provided for scenes in a thrift shop, parents kitchen, and college dorm. Props fabricated include a dream jetpack and custom designed branded college paraphernalia.
She Who Dared
She, Who Dared is a 1920's period piece written and directed by Gabrielle Rosson. The short films tells the story of director Lois Weber's fall from Hollywood grace. Production Design for this project involved creating a complete set for Lois Weber's early home and set dressing many locations including a glamorous party scene, 1920's film studio, film set, and dressing room, and Lois Weber's home later in life. Special attention was paid to adhere as close as possible to period correct decor on a very small budget and to create a consistent color palette from scene to scene.
Always On
Always On is a short comedy written by and starring Evan Fonseca and directed by Kyle Kuchta. The film follows a day in the life of a young man as he spirals mentally in the aftermath of a breakup. Production design focused on bringing the protagonist’s hallucinations to life through a variety of distinct environments and handcrafted props. This included creating multiple surreal sets such as a Graveyard Theater Void, 90s-style infomercial, and an ice cream sandwich fueled descent into madness. Along with custom-made fake gravestones, fake ice cream props, and other fabricated elements used across the film’s shifting realities, there were multiple sets and props created for the main character in his normal life.
Step Right Up
The Doer is a short film written and directed by Richard Williams. The project filmed at a single location in Lowell, MA starring Scott Salley, Julia Bechler, and Michael Gilbertie. For the sets of The Doer, a modern loft apartment was transformed with wood paneling, contact paper, and vintage touches into a sparse bachelor's studio apartment with warm tones and vintage vibes. Special attention was paid to create a world that would tell the story of the past, journey, and dreams of the main character. Custom props were sourced to fill out the sets with images of macho stereotypes and childhood heroes.