As 2010 began, I was really craving a narrative project that would give me the opportunity to again use light as an integrated part of storytelling. Metaphor as well as mood. And a director that would be motivated by that as well, or at least open to it.

To my amazement, a few short months later I was working with writer/director Chance Muehleck on just the type of film I had hoped for (click HERE for the film’s website). The design and composition of the film is carefully laid, although it’s subtle enough not to slap you in the face. After a lot of recent hectic documentary work, it felt liberating to get into the subtleties of lighting and composition.

For the shower scenes my gaffer Marshall Coles and I created the effect of a window behind the glass, in a nonexistent room that is really a dark hallway. The man’s world is lonely and minimal, so I associated him with flat, colder light. The woman is living as a kind of parasite, so I decided to place her in lighting that would be reflected. To further distinguish her, her light was made more lively; patterned and in motion.

During this shot, where the woman emerges into the apartment, I wanted a gag that would show this transition, which we achieved with lights on the fire escape coming on progressively with dimmers, and patterned through branches we rigged outside the windows.


Night scene with Molly Camp, the lead, who played her close-ups wonderfully.

The film is being edited now. I’m not sure when we’ll get the final result, but hopefully we’ll see something soon - maybe by the end of the year.

2011 UPDATE: The film is complete! It’s now being submitted to festivals.