1. agoge (dir. ven gialouris)
SHORT
A story about the fractured friendship of two boys, Ven’s vision for this film was heartbreakingly delicate. With understated, gentle performances around heavy themes, it was tonally similar to Hiroshi Ando’s Blue and Bruggeman’s Station of the Cross.
Given that most other aspects of the film would be soft touch, affecting the audience subconsciously was key - the use of colour would have to be the lynchpin of the visual story. In researching a boy coming-of-age, I looked to Gus Van Sant’s Elephant, Lukas Dhont’s Close, Van Groeningen’s Beautiful Boy and the works of Vivian Maier.
We kept a consistent triage that would be seen in every shot: bright or faded yellow, teal blue and marone. Yellow for caution and innoncence destroyed; pale teal blue for soft masculinity and detachment; and maroon for institutional aggression. When they couldn’t be in the background, these three would be in amongst props or accessories.
Set dressing was kept minimal, with items placed hovering above ground and near windows, leaning into that delicate tension and verismilitude.
detention scene
changeroom scene
props
with thanks to crew:
director - venianmin gialourisproducers - marco alexiadis & adam daniel
1st ad - gilbert kemp attrill
extras ad - kate hardy
unit manager - jack colwell
dop - petra leslie
production designer - abbey ling thorley
art director - ella drinkwater
set dresser - elena hale
1st ac - james blackley
2nd ac - wentian jin
editor - james thomas
costume designer - tess streilein
costume assist - adrienne andrews
key grip - chris davies
gaffer - willow driver
hmua - kayden cook & julian bowles
sound recordist - gareth edwards