Planning and Creating Props

 Planning and Creating Props

    As the time approaches to begin filming, I am reviewing the list of props that I plan to include in my project.  I hope to create images and props throughout this film that actually look "real" even though it would be extremely difficult to attain the means to achieve these.  For example, there is a scene where the male lead actor is holding their wedding photo and reminiscing about the happier days from before.  I wanted to be able to zoom into the shot and have the photo look like them without using a budget for tuxedo and dress rentals.  Through the use of editing I was able to clone a photo close enough to use for this scene.  You can see the comparison in the photos below.

Photo of actual lead actors Logan and Maddy taken by Emily

    During our collaboration meetings, I asked them each to tell me more about what they would envision their wedding photo.  Logan quickly said he would be wearing a tux and pictured the sunset behind them.  Maddy explained a sleek wedding gown without much overdone to give her a timeless look for years to come.  She preferred her hair down and a setting outdoors with a minimalist approach.  From their ideas, I was able to create the below photo.

Edited Photo to Simulate Wedding Photo of Logan and Maddy created by Emily

    Their roles required a couple in their mid to late 20s.  As Logan glances at the photo he is brought back to the simpler, happier times that they dreamed would continue.  When Logan reflects in the memory moment to show the audience how happy they were with the children's photos on the wall all helps to build the back story through interpretation rather than dialogue.  It gives the audience time to think and allows them to create an inference of what may or may not be happening.