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CABBAGE

USC Senior Thesis Film

Directed by Destinee McCaster

Production Design by Luke Cahill

Art Direction by Jilmil

Anchor 1

LOGLINE

"Desperate to salvage their livelihood on a dying cabbage farm, a grieving couple desperately wager their love with an ominous "Magic Man" who exchanges their dreams for something far more priceless."

CHARACTER INSPIRATION

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Magic Man

Concept Research

FOAM MODELS & FLOORPLANS

THE PROCESS

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For the exterior cabbage patch, the biggest challenge was using the condition of Abraham and Mabel's farm to symbolize the toll that Magic Man and his curse takes on their marriage. To establish the struggles of their livelihood in the opening scene it was essential to have a rotting field with a lack of growth. This would set up Abraham's frustration and his insecurities of not being able to provide for his family.

Initially the house we used on our location had a plaster facade which we removed to reveal a beautiful, weathered surface made from vertical wood planks. The dark stain and natural rot of the wood provided great contrast against the lighter dirt which aided the film compositionally. In addition, it also gave us an exterior that more closely resembled Magic Man and his unnatural effect on nature.

For the surrounding exterior, we minimally dressed the house with clotheslines, rocking chairs, 19th century farm tools, and other greenery. This helped establish a distant and limited style of living as well as emphasize Mabel and Abraham's isolation and dependency on one another. It was important to the director to draw upon the 'fable-like' nature of the script and create a 'bubble' around Mabel and Abraham.

RAIN MACHINE TEST SHOOT

The most critical part of choreographing our work for the exterior locations was the rain and storm effects. Since we had no power or water on location we created a budget-friendly rain machine using an IBC tote, PVC pipes, sprinkler heads, and a water pump. Powered by a generator, we were able to start and stop the rain on important beats of the story.

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For the bedroom, we initially made plans for a build in which the key focus was centering the crib in the center of their household. The reason for this was to center the 'heart of their home' around the biggest hope and tension of Mabel and Abraham's marriage. It was also intended for blocking purposes as when Magic Man enters the space, the crib is in his direct pathway, giving him a clear idea of how to exploit the couple. To further ground this anchor, we salvaged the form of a fireplace, placarded it with strips of wood and stones, and then re-stained it with dark shades of brown and black. This also helped motivate lighting and atmosphere.

BEFORE V.S. AFTER

BEFORE V.S. AFTER

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For the bedroom, we wanted a place of contrast for the film- a place where Mabel and Abraham can exist without Magic Man's grasp. In the script, he asks "to partake in their marriage" and they adamantly say no. Their bedroom is a reflection of that sentiment. Of the love they once shared and the life they hoped to have one day. Because of this, we created a space with little contrast and lots of flowy soft textures.