Scale Models
Scale models built at a 1 ft-to-1 inch ratio, from a personal recreation of my own bedroom, to a mixed-media set built for a student film.
From scrap measurements to carefully crafted and painted scale models, each project calls for a creative approach to its own unique set of challenges. As Production Designer for the student film Most Likely To, I built this model as part of shaping the film's overall look. The set needed clear focal points for actors to live amongst the action while still communicating color and layout to camera and lighting. Balancing that with a trashed house party scene, filled with consumables, meant figuring out how to let the scene read clearly while still holding onto a sense of chaos.
I photographed the finished model under a range of lighting setups to test how the colors and details would translate to screen.
Behind-the-Scenes
All models begin with a set of blueprints detailing the exact measurements of the space, along with architectural elements like windows, doors, baseboards, and trim. Sometimes these first measurements are roughly jotted down, but they carry the information I need to get started.
Once the layout is polished, I decide on a ratio to scale the build down to. My models are made using foamcore — walls are dry-fit assembled first to confirm the measurements are accurate, then details are added using a variety of papers, paints, and modeling pastes to get the final look just right.
The Results
The bedroom model remains a personal favorite as proof of concept for translating real measurements into an accurate, fully realized miniature space. The set for Most Likely To went on to screen at multiple film festivals, where the production won several awards.
Most Likely To
My Bedroom
