"VIEWS"
Production Design by Will Barnett
Directed and Written by Giulia Jimenez
An isolated scientist on a volcanic island desires to share a human experience until she crosses paths with a trespasser, an indifferent sulfur miner.
The Process
In late 2017, a student director offered me the position as the production designer for her film, “Views”. After multiple meetings with the department heads and location scouting, we found the best location for the production. Hanson Aggregates, a gravel and dirt company, located nearly two miles outside the city limits of Savannah, allowed us to use their facility. Hanson Aggregates had a perfect volcano and rock-like environment that best fit the director’s scope and were very accommodating and very helpful throughout the entire process.
Film Biz and Monte Carlo Productions are local prop shops in Savannah. They supplied this film with props and set design elements. The most important piece of the film props were foam rocks. Monte Carlo Production provided large foam rocks that I could paint and texturize for both the sulphur mine and volcanic pit scenes. The foam rocks are visible in every photo of the sulphur scene and along the edge of the volcanic pit.
Special thanks to the following:
Hanson Aggregates Dirt Company (Savannah, GA)
FilmBiz Prop Shop (Savannah, GA)
Monte Carlo Productions (Savannah, GA)
"Views" was recently filmed outside Savannah, Georgia from March 9th - 11th. We filmed at Hanson Aggregates, just miles outside the city limits of Savannah. This short film consisted of two scenes: the first one takes place in a sulphur mine; and, the second scene takes place in a volcanic pit. The construction process is found in the "360" videos below.
This was a great success for the crew and for me. This was, by far, my best work in terms of production design.
Use the arrows (upper left corner) to move the screen in 360 degrees to see the entire film set. Enjoy!
Preliminary sketches for Scenes 1 & 2
Scene I - Sulphur Mine
Sulphur Mines
The director’s inspiration for this particular scene comes from the sulphur mines in Southeast Asia. Braving horrific conditions, sulphur miners have one of the world's most dangerous jobs. Indonesian islands consist of many sulphur mines and the workers breathe highly noxious gases without masks. They risk their lives carrying loads of up to 70kg up steep rocky walls. Life expectancies are small as a result of the hardship they face on a daily basis.
For production design, I wanted to create a scene that captured the vibrant yellows and the correct textures that are within a sulphur mine.
I used yellow powder and dyed plaster powder to make small pieces to resemble chipped or broken sulphur. The yellow powder was the best element I used because it emphasized the bright yellow hues while shooting at night. I created shoulder baskets for the actor to use while carrying the rocks. My references from online sources below depict the real life shoulder baskets, sulphur rock textures, and the bright yellows that I brought to life in “Views”.
Reference Photos for Indonesian sulphur mines
Film Stills - Photo Gallery
Click the edge of each photo to view gallery
Process Photo
The large foam rocks belong to Monte Carlo Productions. They are usually used as installation pieces for coral rock arrangements. The smaller rocks that I am painted in this image, are made from insulation foam. Included below are more process shots.
Scene II - Volcanic Pit
The Process
Hanson Aggregates and our crew worked together to form a large pile of dirt. From there, we dug a large pit and placed the foam rocks in and around the area to give this amazing set the right look and feel. I was extremely pleased with the end result from set design, lighting and smoke machines.
Film Stills - Photo Gallery
Click the edge of each photo to view gallery
Process photo
These large black rocks were a great success for the volcano scene. They gave the pit of the volcano a great appearence during the close up scenes. I was extremely please by the turn out of these rocks.
