Exchange

Narrative Film from The New School Cinema Project Workshop (2019)

11 minutes

Role : Art Director & Assistant Editor

Conlan Carter (Direction & Screenplay), Jonathan Souza & Harshal Alurkar (Producers), Arnold Trevino, Racheal Worthington, Chris Costa, and Lottie Gurvis (Actors), Eliza Kamerling-Brown (Director of Photography), Ryan Weaver (Editor), Joshua Bieber (Composer), and William Cusick (Executive Producer)

A young man in New York, who is suffering from HIV as well as agoraphobia and germophobia, tries to overcome his troubles by starting a date one night, but something unexpected happens.

Official Selection at Reel Out Charlotte, Louisiana LGBT Film Festival, 1CLT Film Festival, Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival
Winner Best Short Viewer’s Choice Award at Reel Out Charlotte
Finalist Rainbow Cinema Awards

Art Direction

I did art direction for this movie. Art direction practically includes planning and designing all the props, costume and location, setting the mood & key colors, creating artworks required for the scenes, monitoring and arranging props during the production, etc. It is crucial to keep making close, frequent discussions with director, producers and cinematographer in pre-production stage.

Editing

I also worked as assistant editor in the post-production. Had several meetings for discussion with main editor, director and cinematographer, did sharing & gathering opinions on current cuts, reflecting opinions onto the current cuts, sound matching, color correcting. While I was doing actual cuts based on opinions of members and myself, I realized that editing is very instinctive job. It might be very logical and systematic process for somebody else, but for me, it is quite close to that “follow my gut.” Firstly clear my mind and brain as much as possible and always try to keep my eyes fresh, not to be filled with my previous experience or knowledge of the film I’m working. And watch the current edit with new and fresh mind to make objective decisions. I think the key of editing is to make people understand and have empathy on the characters and story, and the style goes to the next. Style might be something that automatically achieved or given when we follow the story.

Still Cuts

Poster Design