ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

12 years, 2 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Comfortable working class farmhouse... Just a thought but those pics don't scream that to me. Not just the decor but I think maybe even the room proportions feel like a house built in the 80's as opposed to being what even an aspirational working class family might have. That said, bit of dressing and it might not be an issue.

For pack shots for cereals etc you may get away with printing your own from an image search then sticking them on a modern box. Depends how foreground they are!

12 years, 2 months ago - Peter Butler

Hi Jane/Paddy,

Thanks for the amazing advice.

Boot sales and charity shops are a good idea. I was also thinking of places like Freecycle and Gumtree. Also like Paddy mentions, prop shops might be a place to go although this is a micro budget so I don't know how much they charge for this stuff?

I don't think it's going to be an issue finding items in terms of electrics and furnishing. I think the real issue is trying to source throw away items like bathroom products and like Paddy mentions, cereal boxes and other food.

I've contacted a set designer so hopefully she can give me some advice but I'll also follow your suggestion Paddy om contacting prop shops.

Thanks again both of you. I'll let you know how I get on.

12 years, 2 months ago - Dan Selakovich

I think you're going about this the wrong way. I was an adult in the 80s, and this place could be just fine. But here's the deal: the look of the location should be based on the character. For example, if whoever lives in this house is a hedge fund manager, then no, it won't work. That would require heavy 80s trends. But if it's a single mom with 2 kids, this would work fine. As Paddy mentions, I'd be more worried about props and set dressing. Those should scream eighties. A 17 year old in 1982 that's into punk might have a Sex Pistols poster on her wall. A nerd kid might have tons of "Star Wars" models. Know what I mean? Start with the character and work from there.

12 years, 2 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Maybe dress it with some period elements. It doesn't look particularly 80's per se, but some props could likely sell it. The 80's spanned a decade, so no single look, but by and large colours were brighter with abstract squiggles. Think black, red and chrome for manstuff.

12 years, 2 months ago - Peter Butler

Sorry I've never been very good at the different classes in society. It's just something that I never really thought about. I always just thought working class could include anyone that works.
I totally forgot about Middle class :)
So to clear that up I'd actually say they were upper middle class. So yes quite different to working class!

Sorry about that.

12 years, 1 month ago - Dan Selakovich

Well, the last thing you want to do is base your look off other movies or sit-coms. This reminds me of a shoot I was working on, and noticed the art department looking at episodes of ER. When I asked them why, they said they needed to know how an emergency room looked. I made them go to the county hospital to take pictures. A "poor" hospital is going to be drastically different here. The set of ER was more well stocked than most private for profit hospitals! So not only did they get the look right, but we saved a ton of money. Surely you know someone that fits your profile where you could ask for a peek at their old photo album?

12 years, 2 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

You'll find everything and more and a million suggestions from any decent prop-house. Yes, they charge, but on the plus side, you're not stuck with a load of old crap afterwards - they take it back!

Packaging is always a big giveaway - breakfast cereals like frosties with squat milk bottles had a very distinctive 'look' at the time. Pepsi and Coke (or hey, even Tab Clear if you want to shoehorn!) looked very different and that will help sell a shot.

Athena was at the top of its game back then, so posters were a regular feature. Warped clip frames for them if you're feeling fancy. Every home would have both the Radio and TV Times, so another visual clue.

One strongarm technique is to alter the grade to the period. You could even shoot on VHS and get the sub-youtube look we all knew and bore. Also remember in the 80's, lots of stuff was leftover from the 70's - everyone didn't buy a new set of everything at the turn of the fashion, most houses made do rather than race to MFI regularly.

12 years, 2 months ago - Peter Butler

Forgot to add that this is a family of four, he also has a younger brother.

12 years, 2 months ago - Peter Butler

Hello Dan,

Thank you so much for your input. I'm glad you're also someone that believes character is everything.

I wouldn't say I'm gong about this the wrong way. Although I agree that I should have given you more information on what the characters that occupy the house are like

The house is to be based in quite an isolated area, which is why we felt a farm house look could work quite well. The family is working class but fairly comfortable, which is why we were looking at four to five bedrooms.
The story revolves completely around the child who aged 14 and is quite into his technology. So we're going to decorate his bedroom with things like a Zx spectrum and other gadgets from this era.

So in your opinion does this house fit?

12 years, 1 month ago - Peter Butler

Hi Dan,

If the size of your house reflects exactly what class system you're in. Based off of Americans Sitcoms, all Americans must be at least Upper Middle class? :)

Yeah I thought the internet would be great. Maybe I'm just using the wrong search terms but I'm finding most images are either US based kitchens and bathrooms or as you mentioned, heavy 80's trends like bold coloured shapes.

12 years, 1 month ago - Peter Butler

Yes it would end up like Chinese whispers, a copy of a copy.

It's not too much of a problem finding photos from albums that my parents own. The main issue is getting items that people would usually throw away. Things like food and bathroom products.

12 years, 2 months ago - Jane Hamer

Forgot to say, I know you need to source them and that's the problem, so, charity shops are fantastic for sourcing what you need, particularly the crockery and soft furnishings like cushions and bedding. You'll find loads of ornaments in there.

Car boot sales is probably even better for finding your stuff. It will be so cheap and you'll have such a laugh getting them. Haggle and tell them it's for a film and I bet you'll get a wonderful response.
:)

12 years, 1 month ago - Dan Selakovich

Must remove myself, being an American. But since we live in the internet age, perhaps it wouldn't be difficult to find photographs from the exact demographic and era your story is about. Memory is selective, after all.

12 years, 2 months ago - Peter Butler

Hi Paddy,

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Yeah I grew up in the 80's so I should really be an expert but it made me realise that it's one thing being completely authentic and another just fooling people long enough to believe. It's knowing what things would definitely give it a way that it isn't 80's that I'm concerned with.

The film is set in the late 80's although there isn't actually any reason why it couldn't be set in the early 90's. We just wanted to have enough of a contrast from today.

In the bathroom I was thinking of set dressings like the old Matey sailor bubble bath and an old 80's waterproof radio. I still don't know how to source any of this. Ebay is great for some things but most of the everyday throw away items are almost impossible to find.

In the kitchen I was thinking of adding an old fridge and mircowave. If I can get hold of an old Soda stream as well then that would be a good touch.

Would be great to get some input from others on things they remember from the 80's and where I can get them from.

Thanks again for your help.

Peter

12 years, 2 months ago - Jane Hamer

Hi Peter,

I know your search must have been gruelling, but if I'm honest it doesn't ring 80s to me - however, I'm from a working class background and so I'm not sure how the other half lived. It was all cheap melamine cupboards and beige bland tiles. It rings upper middle class to me, and I'm not sure what sort of class your screenplay is written for? If it is upper class then you should be alright with props and a few added things. I still think you could get away with it so long as you can get the right props and soft furnishings.

I think the key to making it work for you is to get the soft-furnishings right. Whenever you look at stuff like cushions and curtains they're always a dead give-a-way. You could get a table cloth for that table and seat cushions. You could source the right tea towels and oven gloves and put them hanging on the cooker to hide it somewhat, and do some clever angled shots - as it's guaranteed to somehow end up in shot or cause you problems.

Again, getting the right bedding and curtains for the bedroom would help. There was a lot of awful diagonal striped bedding around, and the moment you see it, it screams 80s - I'm sure you'll remember what I'm on about. There was a lot of cheap veneer furniture. The sideboards, or half sideboards were so popular and I see them in charity shops today going very cheap. Could you maybe get some of that for the hallway and bedroom? The best examples are in Shane Meadows, 'This is England.' I think you'd get loads of ideas from watching the film and the series. It would give you ideas of what you could obtain cheaply or even borrow. I bet you could borrow friends/family's small furniture for your shoot.

I think the bathroom is fine. Shame about the velux window though. Could you perhaps cover it, or get a blind? I can't see the mirror enough to comment, but I'm sure you could change it just for the shoot. Again, the right towels and products will age the room.

I think you could make it work so long as you get the soft furnishing right, and if you can get hold of authentic appliances such as a toaster, kettle, cups, plates, ornaments and tea towels etc.

I'd definitely put down lino in the kitchen and carpet (patterned) in the bedroom and hall. There was an awful lot of brass ornaments around too, even an old portal telly in the kitchen would help.

Good luck with it all :)