From inspiration to execution: creating ‘soa’
Our first Blog Post!! We are excited to take you on a little trip through the behind the scenes of our first ever House26 short film, ‘Sound of Addiction’. In this blog post, we will delve into the inspiration behind the film, the challenges we faced during production, and the incredible experiences we had during our two days of shooting in sunny Dorset.
Inspiration Strikes:
Our Co-Director and Executive Producer Sammy Seeley, designed the initial stimulus behind ‘Sound of Addiction’ whilst sitting in the bath in a Vice documentary black hole. The rise of Fentanyl in the USA has seen a rise in addiction like nothing else with the drug commonly known as the ‘zombie drug’ due to its devastating side effects. Inspired by some of the harrowing stories conveyed by the Vice documentaries, Sammy thought this could be a new take on the classical ‘zombie’. A disease that mutated from Addicts biting each other to get that extra hit of someone else’s blood to the addiction mutating to a hunger and greed for human blood and skin. This is where we introduce the ‘Addicts’ in our story, a group of zombie-like characters, a reflection of some of the grim realities of addiction. The story follows a team of five former soldiers / firearms police, codenamed the ‘Vipers’ as they embark on a high-stakes mission to infiltrate an eerie and long-abandoned rehab centre turned cult; driven by the singular goal of locating and recovering a girl named ‘Maria’. However, what begins as a routine operation takes a spine-chilling turn, plunging them into a nightmare when they encounter the unimaginable.
Pre-Production Challenges:
Securing a single location for our film was a crucial part of our pre-production process; due to the nature of us working on a limited budget and only two shooting days. Luckily, through good friends, we found the perfect spot at Southover House, an exquisite Manor House with a grand exterior and traditional accents that would provide an excellent backdrop for our story. In assembling our cast, the accuracy of tactical movements was paramount. Given Sammy’s background as a former Royal Marine, his expertise ensured that our actors executed their roles with authenticity. Melisa, our Co-Director and Producer embarked on a search for the perfect individuals to portray ‘Addicts’. After extensive discussions and deliberations, a dedicated team of ‘Addicts’ and ‘Vipers’ emerged as the chosen ensemble to furnish our film.
Memorable Moments:
Shooting a short film with a tight budget and a two-day shooting schedule brought its share of surprises and swift decisions. Fortunately, our dedicated cast and crew made it all run as smoothly as possible. A highlight for us was witnessing the remarkable transformations of our ‘Addicts’ through the outstanding makeup and special effects work of Tara and Gi. The stunts, choreographed and performed by John, added a level of action to our fight scenes that exceeded our wildest expectations.
Logistical Coordination:
Our close-knit crew, some of whom we have collaborated with many times, ensured a seamless production process. We appreciate our crew’s familiarity with each other’s styles and expectations on set, making everything move efficiently with that unspoken shorthand. We also enjoyed welcoming new additions to our filmmaking family as well with new crew and cast.
Technical Challenges:
Although we had initially planned to shoot with a Red Helium, some unforeseen circumstances led us to the Sony FX3, which turned out to be a happy accident. The camera’s dual base ISO capabilities and low-light performance proved invaluable during our late-night shoots, allowing us to capture stunning imagery even in challenging conditions.
Shooting Schedule and Pacing:
Sammy and Melisa love very long takes and one-shot scenes; which meant rigorous choreography and extensive blocking with our actors. This was extremely important whilst trying to achieve an element of perfection in a 3 minute hallway clearance one-shot. The complexity and length of the scene took us some time and lots of effort which led to delays. However, thanks to our exceptional Assistant Directors, Omer and Sam; we were well-prepared for potential setbacks and were able to keep the production on track.
Post-Production Magic:
The post-production phase has proceeded at an astonishing pace, one of the quickest we’ve ever experienced. Our goal was to release the film before Halloween and we are gonna make it! Within just two days of editing, we had a picture lock, allowing us to focus on sound design and visual effects. The sound mixing from our sound recordist, Max, played a crucial role in keeping the post-production process swift and efficient; ‘Thanks dude!’
As we wrap this behind-scenes journey of ‘Sound of Addiction’, we’re incredibly grateful for the talented and dedicated team that brought this project to life. Stay tuned for the release of our little film and we’ll hope you’ll join us on our storytelling journey as House26 Productions.
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