Voyeur
Grey, a private investigator, is hired to dismantle a massive drug operation. She finds herself in a predicament as the affairs have become entangled, and the evidence is becoming increasingly unclear. Grey must connect the dots before time runs out.
About the Project
Role: Production Designer
Project Type: Student Film
Principle Photography: January - February 2025
Status: Post Production
Mission
Voyeur is a film noir-style film, but set in the modern day. With Voyeur, the director and I discussed the main goals for the project, which were the green drug vials. The entire story revolves around this drug, as it is a life-or-death matter. We wanted it to glow, but practically. That was the most challenging thing to figure out. We could add a light inside the vial, but it would only allow light to pass through a particular part. I decided to try out glow-in-the-dark paint. This would be charged via lights in between shots and would emit a ghostbuster-like green liquid. For the sets themselves, the motel was built on a soundstage. It was a 360-degree set to give the camera the most leeway and avoid worrying about where the motel's "world" ended. The motel served as Grey's house, not on wheels. Her car was her home when not on contract. The motel feels more like a temporary place for her. She is there to hide out and avoid being seen, as she would compromise the investigation. During the diner scene, we were very strapped for budget, and a diner booth was not achievable for us; however, the director envisioned it happening in a diner. I created some sketches and made a diner booth from apple boxes, fabric, string, and some hand props. When they walked into the room on production day, they took a double-take and were in awe.
Pre Production
Throughout the pre-production process for Voyeur, the director emphasized the use of the color red in lighting. We also aimed to create a sense of film noir, but in a more modern storytelling style. The sets themselves and the props were essential as they were the things that moved the story along. The audience is putting the pieces together in real time, while Grey is figuring it out.
