Builds For “The Leaves”

I love making stuff. The films I get involved with always seem to result in fun builds. It’s possible I’m getting my priorities backwards.

Old Book

Start with a real old book.
Raid Bart Howard Chandler Christy’s jaw-dropping “Lady of the Lake” illustrations for artwork. (You know him from his WWI propaganda posters.) Put together a pre-1960’s-looking dust jacket, pre-yellowed and sun faded.
Thin, distress and tear the edges. Rub salt on it to dull the finish. Just generally give it a hard, long life.
And… old book.

Board Game

Can’t imagine why no one snapped this sh*t up at Goodwill…
But it’s perfect, except for a few things.
Staples does color printing rather cheaply.
Measure once…
Cut twice. Spray adhesive is way too fun. (Not an endorsement of huffing.)
Every box of a certain age seems to get crushed. Wish I’d thought of a way to age the masking tape. (It tends to yellow, curl, turn brittle, and separate.)
“Distress”
Similar procedure for the board itself: Nonsense artwork, spray-adhesed to a couple pieces of chip board from good old Artist & Craftsman. (Say hi to Disme.)
Maybe not “hero” props, but good enough for 2K!

Rain & Sun Shirts

Can’t pay your actors? Create a thematic element/easter egg they can wear home. (Also, feed them well!)
Laura’s shirt was a new one for me: Permanent fabric paint. Other than that, just a standard sticky-back-plastic stencil. (Thanks again, Disme!)
Iron for permanence when dry.
Rob’s was a more standard sprayed bleach stencil shirt, although I’ve never tried to do lettering before.
Tape off the overspray areas, mist with bleach until light enough, let dry, rip everything off and stuff it in the dryer.
Nukulur poweird!

Stills From “The Leaves”

Shaoul Chason in "The Leaves"
Shaoul Chason in “The Leaves”
Sheri Lee in "The Leaves"
Sheri Lee in “The Leaves”
Kayla Caulfield in "The Leaves"
Kayla Caulfield in “The Leaves”
Michael Wayne Smith in "The Leaves"
Michael Wayne Smith in “The Leaves”
Rob Harrison in "The Leaves"
Rob Harrison in “The Leaves”
Laura Sacchetti in "The Leaves"
Laura Sacchetti in “The Leaves”
"The Leaves"
A film by Matt Rasmussen