VOICES
CONCEPT
I often find myself struggling with a range of emotions - happiness, fear, anger, and anxiety. These feelings often keep me up at night, but they also help me stay sane. I wonder if I'll ever achieve my desired future or if I'll fall into despair, affecting my loved ones.
Now, let's talk about grief. We all experience it at some point in our lives, and it's hard to express. Do we share it or keep it buried inside? I find it difficult to cope with grief due to its emotional weight. I want to visually represent this experience to help others going through the same thing feel less alone.
STORY
Io recently lost her mother, but she decided to isolate herself from her family and friends during the mourning period. Despite receiving notifications from everyone looking for her, Io is unsure if they are genuinely concerned about her well-being or not.
Io was the last person to see her mother before her passing, and she wonders if her family thinks she is to blame. She is uncertain if the notifications are real or just her imagination. She is struggling to process her thoughts and emotions.
Io, what are you really thinking? Will you be okay on your own? Let us hear your voice if you’re willing to follow us into guilt or towards acceptance and growth?
CREDITS
Written and Directed
Nera Hamzah
Edited, VFX, Colorist, Compositor
Nera Hamzah
Assistant Director
Anderson Ballantyne
Io Rei / Actress
Sofia Papuashvili
Director Of Photography
Sebastian Aldo Widjaya
Gaffer
Sebastian Aldo Widjaya
Sound
Sam Clark
Sound Designer
Dylan Gorenberg
Production Assistant
Vidal Chavarria
ArtCenter College of Design
GIL & ROY Props
Valentin Salembier
Equipments and Rentals
Mentor / Instructor
Miguel Lee
Special Thanks
Elaine Alderette
Ming Tai
MOODBOARDS
INSPIRATIONS
STORYBOARDS
Moodboard References
I was inspired by the works of other creatives who express distress or eeriness in their scenes by utilizing the environment as if it were alive. This symbolism represents the duality between their inner and outer voice. The moodboard inspired me to consider the overall tone of the story, and how I want the character to act and feel throughout the narratives.
Texture References
The moodboard represents the duality of inner and outer voices and inspired me to compare it with negative space in different mediums. Just as broken pottery is repaired with metallic lacquers in the Japanese art of Kintsugi, healing our broken places can make us emerge stronger and more beautiful.
Lighting References
I drew inspiration from my personal experience of grieving and decided to experiment with warmer room lighting. Warm lighting creates a nostalgic feeling and no matter where I go, my room is always bathed in warm light. I still wanted to keep the room dimly lit to reflect the way we often push warm, optimistic light into the far corners of our room or mind.
Color and composition references
I was inspired by the way Wes Anderson uses color in his films, particularly his ability to create a coherent visual experience by matching the color palette of each scene with the lighting used. As for composition, I looked to F.W. Murnau for inspiration. Specifically, I was drawn to his use of shadow and shape blocking, which I used as a supplement to the lighting reference.
Storyboard Sketches
This is the final version of my storyboard sketches. They have gone through multiple edits and changes as I went back and forth between the idea of having the anxiety manifest into reality or if it should just be something in my character's head. I also had many ideas for how to progress the story using deliberate movements and camera positioning.
Bedroom Moodboard
I want to create a bedroom with a specific emotional ambiance. I want it to feel very clean and sterile with no sentimental belongings or excessively cluttered and messy. I think both extremes can evoke a sense of emptiness and depression. I want warm lighting to accentuate and reflect the character's true emotional state.
CHARACTERS AND VISION LOOK
Io Rei — Concept and Moodboard
Rie's tumultuous upbringing led to her inner turmoil manifesting as Ürs, demons only she could see. These demons flooded her with both good and bad options. Now, Rie must choose to either succumb to the negative influence of the Ürs or learn from them and choose a better path. The decision is hers to make, and she has the strength to choose wisely.
The Ürs (Voices) — Concept and Moodboard
Rie’s nameless demons, the Ürs, are a manifestation of her evolving emotions towards her social life. Though they may appear demonic, not all of them are evil. They wear masks to conceal their faces, mimicking Rie's own tendency to mask her true emotions. Despite their unsettling appearance, the Ürs are Rie's only friends in her loneliness, offering her different options for action. Each option, while potentially leading Rie down a dark path, also presents an opportunity for her to overcome her fears and become her best self.
Concept Design: Photo Bashing Design Interpretations
I created some photorealistic visuals using my rough storyboard sketches. I shared them with my cinematographer and assistant director, and we had a group conversation to discuss how to stage the scenes on filming day. We also talked about finding the appropriate lighting, tools, and equipment for each shot. Later, we processed a proper shot deck list and made sure to check off the boxes during filming day.
PRODUCTION PROCESS
After finalizing pre-production and collaborating with the crew, I began production, ensuring all processes were efficient while still adhering to my creative vision.
Scouting Actress
I've posted a job listing on Backstage to find the best candidate for a film project. I also invite people who may fit the criteria when I come across them. That's how I found Sofia Papuashvili, an actress who showed interest and was eager to provide materials for us to do the shoot.
Location and Props Scouting
I searched for shooting locations on Peerspace and found a few potential options. After contacting the renters and visiting the locations, I chose one with the best natural lighting for filming. I also handled the insurance for renting the location, as well as the necessary lighting and props.
Filming
On the day of filming, my small crew and I got straight to work and had a very productive 8 hours of filming and setting up. As it was my first time directing the shoot, I was grateful to have a great core team to help me bring my vision to life.
Curating scenes
Throughout the creation of my short film, I made adjustments to the original storyboards and layouts. With the help of an assistant, mentor, and cinematographer, I successfully captured all the necessary footage for the final version of the film.
Compile and Composite
I alternate between using After Effects and Premiere to compile my raw footage. I add visual effects such as tracking text messages and phone screens, color correct the footage, and insert smooth transitions between some shots to ensure the flow between scenes is seemless.
Sound Effects
Finally, I added sound effects to each scene and adjusted their volumes and transitions to create a natural yet immersive audio experience that matched my vision. I had to balance the sound effects so that they wouldn't overwhelm the audience with too many visual and audio cues.
