So there I was in October 2023, standing face-to-face with Death in Lola's Attic in The Rocks.
This project sounded like something out of a fever dream: create a mysterious, haunting teaser for an escape room where people have to save their cat from the underworld. Sounds pretty normal, right?
Working with creator Seymour Nixen on "Lilies and Dust" for Sydney Fringe Festival was one of those projects that gets your heart racing. We had barely any time to shoot, harsh sunlight streaming through the windows when we needed moody and dark, and a room full of dusty antiques that somehow needed to tell a story.
The weird thing about working with constraints is they actually make you more creative.
That blazing Sydney sun that was blowing everything out spawned an idea for a dramatic reveal moment that became the key shot!
My favorite moment came near the end when I grabbed some actual dust from the room to create in-camera particle effects. It looked absolutely magical floating through the air, giving everything that otherworldly feel we were after.
Pro tip: next time I'm definitely bringing fake dust - sneezing while filming is not fun.
Pro tip: next time I'm definitely bringing fake dust - sneezing while filming is not fun.
The whole experience taught me something important: sometimes the best shots happen when you stop overthinking and allow yourself to be affected by a space. Most of my favorite moments in the final teaser came from wandering around that antique-filled room and seeing what caught my eye.
Which leads to another important note: the right space will give you the shots you need. The incredible amount of time & effort that Seymour put into crafting the experience space meant that every corner of the environment was a vibe.
Which leads to another important note: the right space will give you the shots you need. The incredible amount of time & effort that Seymour put into crafting the experience space meant that every corner of the environment was a vibe.
This is exactly the kind of quirky, experiential project that gets me excited. There's something special about creating content for events where people will actually step into the world you're helping to build.
Got a creative project that needs some visual storytelling magic? I'd love to chat about bringing your vision to life. Drop me a line – let's make something awesome together!
