Gooey
October 17, 2023
‘Guilt brings Katie to the Stevenson household, where the increasingly foreign side of her family celebrates the dormant grandfather’s birthday. She tries to belong, but under the watch of her grandmother, nothing is safe.’
Working on Gooey was a challenging but illuminating experience. I played several, small roles, but they each gave me insight on the different corners of film production. It was my first time as a production manager or art director, but the two went hand in hand. I spent a lot of time with the rest of the group finding the film’s aesthetic, and narrowing down how to achieve it. Gooey plays on many horror tropes: the distant family, the old house, the transforming body, the secret. Designing the set and props to reflect this was essential, and the team’s cinematographer, Alexandra, contributed greatly in creating the right visual environment.
I had the most fun working on the makeup design; I had never tried special effects before, but I hoped for a long time to incorporate it into my work. I had great help from my mother and a family friend, who both had experience in dramatic makeup. This, paired with the director Luciana’s strong creative vision, led us to making what I believe is a very effective use of practical effects.
I learned the most in being a first assistant director, as there were moments were we had to adapt to circumstances on the spot. Improvising when making a film is difficult, but I tried my best to plan ahead, even if this meant stepping in as an actor. Ronan, our sound designer and editor, worked hard in the film’s final stages to deliver the best possible experience. A lot of time and effort was put into it, with a lot of good communication within the group, and I’m very proud of the final product.
Watch Gooey here: https://vimeo.com/874001088
– Ewan Hicks
