004: "BOX": The Crazy One-Day Build

December 10, 2024

During my first year of the Production Design course at NFTS, we had a group project in collaboration with the Directing Fiction and Cinematography students. It was the first time we all properly met and worked together, so it was a great project to have early in our film school journey.

I was paired up with an amazing team consisting of Director Oscar Simmons and Cinematographer Ciara Rigney. Our “buddies” for this project were my colleague Production Designer Will Mansel l, Director Olivia Owyeung, and Cinematographer Emmy Ren.

We had one day to design, one day to construct, one day to shoot, and £50 (which we ended up not even using— thanks NFTS recycling!)

Let’s go step by step through the process of this crazy, but very fun project —

1. Design Development

Our assigned word was ‘depression’, which actually was a bit of a bummer initially because it was the total opposite of the excitement I was feeling to get started. Eventually though, as we began to discuss ideas and concepts, the word became more and more interesting.

We quickly came up with the idea of feeling trapped inside a box. Within this box, our character, played by Jessica Flood, would want to escape through openings, or light could poke through. Despite these efforts to escape, the character would still be trapped or at times, stay inside the box willingly.

Below is a conceptual piece depicting a chaotic environment inside a box. We ended up adding pieces of papers and drawings all throughout the walls to give the space a bit of character as the film goes on.

2. Construction

I had about a day and a few hours to gather as much cardboard as I could. I visited NFTS recycling, posted on the NFTS forum for any extra boxes people had, and even went to the bin. Hey, it worked out AND we were underbudget— imagine that!

Below is a sketch depicting the main idea for the structure. We had some wooden columns provided by the carpentry team which worked as our primary structure. I had some fishing line that I then tied to each column as shown in the sketch. This ended up serving as the secondary structure in which the carboard would hang from.

Below are the only two photos I have of me and Will (check out his Instagram!) constructing the set before the boxes went up.

*Director Oscar Simmons and Cinematographer Ciara Rigney inside the set.*

When we started to build the set though, we realized fishing line wasn’t enough to hold up the cardboard.

Thankfully, the carpentry team was able to provide us with long pieces of wood that we were able to put all along the top perimeter (you can see me placing a piece of a wood beam in the top left photo above.)

We stapled pieces of cardboard to those top beams of wood, and the rest of the cardboard we were able to staple or tape to each other as we moved our way down the walls.

How did we keep the pieces of cardboard on the floor in place? STAPLE GUN! it was quite an adrenaline rush stapling the entire floor minutes before shooting started.

All of the loose book pages and drawings were provided by Oscar our Director and a lot of his colleagues in the Directing Fiction Course. It was definitely a team effort!

3. Experimentation

360 Degree Shot

Oscar and Ciara were teammates that were not afraid of trying new things. They wanted to shoot from above, have a 360 degree shot, play with a mirror shot, try different distorting lenses— all creative ways to learn as much as we could from this project.

This shot was very fun but very stressful as we had only one chance to make it work!

Cinematographer Ciara Rigney practicing the 360 degree shot with directing student Olivia Owyeung in the wagon in place of the actress.

360 shot final result.

Mirror Shot

Olivia served as our actress’s (Jessica Flood) counterpart for this shot. She was right next to Ciara and mirrored every move Jessica did. The result being a very cool effect in which the audience was the mirror looking back at our character.

Experimental Lenses

Another tool Ciara used to portray anxiety and an overwhelming sensation was using different lenses that distorted the image. Ciara followed the actress around as she tried to make sense of the space and make it her own with her drawings.

4. Final Thoughts

This project was a great experimental film to start our collaborations with Directors and Cinematographers. My team really embraced the challenge of the tight schedule and came up with ways of testing things out and learning as much as we could.

The entire aspect of having pieces of the set fall in the middle of a shot was terrifying, but this was the project we were free to test things out. In the end, I can say that I learned way more from this small and quick project than I have in other “bigger” projects with more budget.

003 | Super 8: Take One

June 05, 2022

It’s inevitable to look back at things we do and see them in a different light after gaining a bit of perspective. It makes memories that much more intriguing and layered. I’ve had many moments like those growing up bilingual; a buried memory jolts back into the forefront of my mind when I finally understand what was happening now that I can actually speak and understand the English language.

This is the case of “en la playa” - a small film a shot on Super 8 back when I visited my family in Venezuela.

What I wanted to capture was simple… the essence of being carefree. I wasn’t sure which family member would play the role better, but my grandfather was not the first one on my list to take this on. He was though, the first to jump immediately into the water and elude a freedom and joyfulness I had never seen him express.

This is what I look back and reflect on. This moment that I captured that was so unlike the grandfather I knew. To me, he was loving, smart and caring, but also strict, stubborn, and head strong. I had had gone to the beach with him many times in my life, but had never seen this expressiveness take place.

I look back in this film and see his inner child come alive.

music: “Valleys (My Love)” by Whitney

“film for Earth day” was an extension of what I captured in that beach in Venezuela, but tried to use this and other footage to convey a similar theme in a different way.

Along with a different song choice, I was aiming to pick up the pace and show a more playful tone of the interaction of subjects within the locations.

WIth this film I also tried to pay closer attention to my movements with the camera and the settings I was using. Super 8 is a great medium but also a very unforgiving one. I learned quickly that even a soft shadow is not your friend when you have limited settings to play with. Regardless, the footage I included all complements the story with quirkiness, expression, and joy.

music: “Dream #9” by Jose Gonzalez

Film is expensive, annoying, and usually hard to work with… but why do I use it? It really all goes back to what I mentioned at the beginning of this blog: memories.

When I look back into these super 8 shots, I don’t see a movie— I see a fuzzy memory coming back.

Sometimes when I am taking photos, I look through my lens and see that no matter what setting I use, the lens does not capture what my eyes see. I sometimes don’t even take the photo when that’s the case.

With these films, I am able to convey what my brain remembers a little bit better… if that makes any sense. I am able to capture memories that are quick, scattered, chopped, and fuzzy.

Because of that, I’ll be staying away from hard shadows and continuing to use my film camera as much as my budget allows it!

002 | Journey by Trains & Buses : Berlin

February 08, 2020

My solo travels in Belgium and Germany were completely possible thanks to the train and subway systems of each country.

There was definitely a learning curve when I first entered the Central Station in Antwerp. Let’s just say I had no idea that the ticket only indicated the final destination of the train, and not your specific destination.

These are the moments when we have to ask a lot of questions and scramble through the crowds to make the train right before the doors close on you.

Yay learning!

Anyways, I wanted to point out some of the incredible things that I was able to do thanks the affordability and punctuality of trains and subways in these two amazing countries. But since there is a LOT to talk about in each location, let’s just focus this post on the city of Berlin.

Believe it or not, I was able to travel to 15 different locations/ sites all over Berlin in a single day ! ( + a few hours the next morning— I’m not superwoman).

That’s right— I made a list of sites, coordinated the time I would spend in each place, took note of what routes I would take, and BAM— saw more of the city in one day (and a half) than I ever could have hoped for. Thanks easy-to-use public transportation!!

Now— let’s go through that wonderful summer day, shall we?

Stop #1: Le Corbusier’s Unite d’ Habitat
I have to say— this is a very quiet and isolated place. I guess I don’t know what else I was expecting, I mean… it is a living complex.
Perhaps the history behind it and the revolutionary aspects it brought to architecture made me think that I would have this huge “whoaaaa” moment— but I didn’t.
I wasn’t allowed inside or on the roof, so bear in mind that my experience was only of the building’s exterior and its surroundings. Because of this, I walked around the building twice, sketched a little, and had a second breakfast at a nearby bench while admiring the famous architectural apartment complex.
Once I was satisfied with my visit, I waved goodbye and hopped on the bus towards my next destination.

Stop #2: Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church
I knew about this building from my history classes at school. I’d seen photos of it before and after the war, but seeing it in person was something I’ll never forget. It was like traveling back in time.
Stop #3: Bauhaus
After riding three different buses, I finally arrived at the famous Bauhaus— another building I wasn’t allowed in!
I have to say though, it was fun to just roam around the site. There’s ramps all around it that allowed me to see into various rooms and experience the building differently with every step.

Stop #4: Sony Center
Great place for lunch. I wasn’t there long, but the open air “mall” was just a cool spot to eat my sandwich next to a fountain.
Stop #5: Philharmonie
Yet another building I wasn’t allowed in!
I think by this point you’ve figured out that besides efficient transportation, the fact that I couldn’t actually go inside all these buildings allowed me to go to a lot of different places much faster.
That’s besides the point though— It was still cool to see these buildings face to face and see their relationship to their environment.
Here, the site was very interesting as well. There were a lot of ramps and stairs that let me through different level entries to the Philharmonic. Every turn was a new discovery — which motivated me to continue walking up the ramps despite my dehydration.

Stop #6: Reconciliation Church
Another building I had learned about in history class— and yes, I was actually allowed in to see this one.
There were so many beautiful things about this church. The history behind it, the materials, the concept, and the experience. All of these things came together to make a simple yet powerful work of art that honestly took my breath away.
Inside, I sat in silence for about 30 minutes, and read about why the church was built in that specific place. I’ll give you a hint— it had to do with the reconciliation of East and West Berlin. Pretty cool.

Stop #7: Berlin Wall
Not a far walk from the Reconciliation Church, of course. The wall was enclosed inside another wall to block the visibility from the street, and wow… When I turned the corner to discover the wall, it was very shocking.
The moment was quite unique. I hear the Berlin Wall is a place often visited by tourists, but at this specific moment, I was completely alone facing the infamous site. The day was gloomy, the air was quiet, and I found myself starring at the tower looming over the wall for minutes in silence— trying to reflect on its unsettling history.
I could have read everything there was to read about the division of Berlin beforehand, but I honestly don’t think any of it would have made me feel the way I felt standing next to that Wall. At that moment for me, the words and stories in books became physical.
Stop #8: Berlin Wall Museum
After seeing the Berlin Wall, I headed across the street and took my time reading about various people who lived in Berlin during the time the city was divided. I spent about an hour and a half in this small museum just reading and reading. Every story had a way to move me, shock me, and inspire me.

Stop #9: Gendaemenmarkt
At this point, it was time to eat, so I made my way to Gendaemenmarkt to see what I could find. Doing this definitely beat sitting alone in a restaurant.
It was super interesting to just roam around the market and see all the locals get their weekly supply of veggies, scoops of gelato, and just enjoying the day.
Stop #10: Museum Blindenwerkstatt Otto Weidt
A museum that wasn't on my list, but glad I stumbled upon. It’s hidden near the market in a colorful and busy alley, yet it’s very quiet when you go in there. All you hear are the cracks of the doors and floor, as you let the incredibly preserved artifacts paint you a picture of the work that went on inside that space.

Stop #11: Anne Frank Zentrum
I knew my stuff about Anne Frank, but seeing a whole array of photographs and videos about her life before her family’s hiding was quite an experience. There always seems to be something to learn about her story, and this museum definitely painted a wider picture of her life.
Stop #12: Jewish Memorial
This stop left me speechless. I walked through the gaps between the masses and suddenly lost my sense of direction. All I have to say is, photographs do not give this moving monument justice— it has to be experienced first hand.

Stop #13: Reichstag
I won’t show a photo of Foster’s incredible design of the new inside of this building to not ruin it. I’m sure you can still be spoiled if you just look it up online, but don’t do it! Believe it or not, I actually hadn’t seen too many pictures of it before I visited Reichstag (yes, I am an architecture major), so when I finally saw the ramps, the material, and the grandness of it all… I was definitely taken aback.
But beyond the coolness of the space, I appreciated the message of the project— two different eras of architecture coming together… but, of course, this isn’t about architecture at all, is it?
Stop #14: Berlin Cathedral
I was surprised over and over again by this Cathedral. Part of it was that I wasn’t even aware that there was a museum inside of it, or that I could even climb to the Dome! Crazy!!
Something that I was definitely NOT expecting was being afraid for my life when I got to the dome— and not because of the altitude. When you get to the top— there’s an amazing view of the entire city that words cannot even describe, but as you walk the circumference, there are small spaces you must walk through that basically become wind tunnels, and well… it was a VERY windy summer day in Berlin. Honestly, if I ever though that I would actually be flown away by the wind, this was it. I actually thought the wind was going to push me off the Dome of the Berlin Cathedral. Can’t believe I’m saying that…

Stop #15: Parochialkirche Church
All day I had seen posters throughout the city advertising a Summer Solstice Music Festival. I discarded them because I thought I’d obviously need a ticket, so I just focused on my planned destinations. By around 7:30 pm, I started to hear voices singing among the trees— almost angelic. I was so drawn by these voices that I abandoned my plans to visit one last museum to follow the songs.
The more I walked and heard the voices, the more I allowed myself to get lost in Berlin and turn off google maps. I eventually discovered that the voices came from an adult choir singing their own reigniting of famous Queen songs. It was then that I realized that the Summer Music Festival was a tradition in which people go out into the streets and sing for free. It was probably one of the coolest moments of that day— heck, of my entire trip.
I walked around and found more choirs all around the plazas singing their favorite songs and having fun. Eventually, I made my way to a small church where I saw different choirs go in.
I sat in a corner and spent about an hour inside that church. I drew the altar, the people, and the architecture— trying to capture the incredible beauty I was witnessing. But what really made the whole moment special, were the voices of the choirs echoing inside the walls. What an experience…
Sometimes I wish I had recorded their performances, or taken more pictures of that church, but then I remember how disconnected I was from the world… in a good way. I allowed myself to lose track of time and just sit and witness the beauty.
Stopping and just being in the moment is probably the biggest lesson I learned on this day in Berlin. Taking photos and running around getting to different destinations is great, but taking it all in once in a while is not so bad either.

So, that was my day in Berlin. Not bad for a little over 30 hours! I was truly impressed with every aspect of the city— the transportation, the food, the architecture, the parks… everything. Looking back at that day, I really cannot believe everything that I was able to see, but hopefully next time I’ll be able give myself at least a few extra days in the city…

or simply give myself extra hours by not sleeping… architecture school trained me well for that.

001 | Bikes of Antwerp

October 06, 2018

“ I am a bird ”

That’s all I could think when I hopped on a bike on my way back to the Antwerp train station.

I write this with the most sincere thought in mind— biking your way through a city changes everything.

Walking is great, but with time being my most prominent antagonist, wheeling at three times the speed was a no brainer for me. Also, dehydration is real, and the burning sun wasn’t on my side that particular summer day.

Biking through Antwerp not only made me feel like Superman, but it also made me think deeply about my experience of the city through its relationship to this amazing (and sometimes problematic) form of transportation.

Here are my biggest takeaways from my biking adventures in Antwerp, Belgium:

I totally felt like a local. The tourists I saw were mostly concentrated at the museums and city center— not at the neighborhood park or local grocery store. With the bike and only my backpack, I felt like a college student just riding from school to my house admiring just another day in the city. In my opinion, this is the best way to experience a foreign town. Even though I was still a tourist, blending in with the locals allowed me see the city in a unique perspective and not as a complete outsider.
In some aspects, I felt a lot safer. I had no major safety issues in Antwerp, but we should aways be cautious when exploring new cities, especially alone. Having a bike allowed me to explore deeper into unknown neighborhoods and simply get lost in the city instead of sticking to the touristy areas all day. If I happened to make a wrong turn in a dark alley, I was happy knowing that I could pedal away quickly instead of attracting attention with my weird speed walk.

On the other hand, bikes can be a lot more dangerous than cars. I loved biking through Antwerp, but bikes are fast… and bikers will probably not stop at a high speed bike lane just because you’re walking where you’re not supposed to. On my one day in the city, I saw two bikers get hit by cars and three bikers run into pedestrians. Everyone was fine, but one of the biggest lessons I learned that day is that being attentive to your surroundings is a must… because the city ain’t stopping for you! Also, helmets aren’t a bad idea at all.

Confidence levels went up. When you feel confident about where you’re going in a strange city, the world is your oyster. Being able to get in and out of places quickly with a bike, made me a lot less scared or unwilling to take risks and discover the city on my own. Also, when you integrate with a city in a bike lane— moving at the same pace of other bikers and pedestrians— you feel like you truly are in another universe not because it’s a different country, but because, for a moment, it feels like that is your life. It’s very cool.
Of course thought, I was always careful to never stay alone for too long if I did turn into a strange neighborhood. Blending in is awesome, but still use common sense and remember that you actually don’t know the city 100% !

Overall, if you’re careful, want to see twice as much in a day, and you want to feel like a bird, I’d say riding a bike in Antwerp is the way to go.

Just experiencing this one day as a biker in Antwerp opened my eyes to the importance of safe and abundant bike lanes in a city and the role it plays in every day urban activity.

Now the question is, how can Houston and other larger cities benefit from these transportation strategies? We’re talking about a differently scaled city, but in the long run, applying similar tactics in terms of bike lanes and public transportation could be a game changer in the way urban life could be in these more populated cities.