Production Designer Inma Cook discusses her approach to designing the look of the Sorority locations and some of her favourite set ups.
What drew you to the project?
I have worked with James and some of the other crew members before, so knew I would love to work on this feature with them. The script had such an emotional back story, with a range of different and interesting characters, that I thought would make it an interesting production to design.
What are the challenges of working on a micro budget?
Working with a micro budget can be challenging because you have to be creative with what you get for the film. It becomes a lot more hands on, compared to larger budget films. It can be easy to create a design and image of what you’d like, however being able to get it all on a budget can be difficult. It ultimately comes down to prioritising what props are more essential. I really wanted to show that the sisters had lived in their house for a long time, therefore I had to find a way of getting enough props and set decor to show a realistic home. This meant considering the unnecessary clutter that people collect and keep in their home. Charity shops become your best friend – lived in props sold at a cheaper price!
How did you prep for the film?
I always go through the script first and colour co-ordinate everything into different categories, so I know exactly what I need for each location. Working alongside James really helped me understand and get to know the characters, as he had such a clear image of his story. This made the design process go smoothly. Once I had an idea of who they were I could start to consider what they would surround themselves with. I am a very visual person, therefore creating mood boards and using apps such as Pinterest, helped build a story. I created mood boards for each scene and location so I knew exactly what I wanted and needed. I also made a spreadsheet which I used throughout prep and also shoot days which meant I had all the information I needed for each scene in one place.
What was your favourite location in the film from a design point of view?
It is hard to choose just one, because so many elements come into this. But if I had to chose, it would probably be Sarah’s bedroom followed by the party scene. Sarah’s bedroom was where I had the chance to add the most attention to detail. Sarah is so connected to her writing, that her desk area is her world. Everything she holds close to her is there – from her childhood memories, to her favourite books, and even the future she sees for herself through the university brochure. This was probably the one place in the film where I could add her entire character into one small space, and that was a really fun and interesting design opportunity.