Ben Rapson wrote and directed this fantastic silent short film. Upon Your Shoulders was a great challenge – 7 locations for three very different sets of characters – all to be shot over 3 days. Because there is no dialogue, everything had to be conveyed through visuals. Every color, shape and texture had to mean something. Working with the director and costumer, we developed color and texture palates for each of the characters. The director had already developed a fully realized back story for each of the characters which was a great help when it came time to create their spaces. We had some VERY generous homeowners that allowed me to come in days before the shoot and put the spaces together.
Here are some of the images from the location scout and the production stills.
Before & After: Bobby & Avery’s Bedroom – The homeowner had just painted the room green; with their permission (and a promise to paint it back), I was able to paint the room to a shade of blue that was in Bobby’s color palate.
Bedroom – Before
Bedroom – After
Before & After: Bobby’s Garden – The script called for a well appointed and manicured rose garden. We never found one that quite fit what we needed, so I made one.
Bobby’s Garden – Before
Bobby’s Garden – After
Before & After: Bobby’s Childhood Home – Flashback to the 70’s for a look at two people that were probably too young to have a child of their own. Unhappy, neglectful and centers of their own universe – Bobby’s parents couldn’t take care of themselves, let alone a small child. Their environment reflects their apathy.
Bobby’s Childhood Home – Before
Bobby’s Childhood Home – After
More production stills:
