Production Image of the crime scene evidence by Chicago Unit Still Photographer Rashad Anabtawi — THIS IS MY LIFE

Set Photography

Unit Still photograph of the safety meeting by Chicago Set photographer Rashad Anabtawi

It seems at first glance that student films are notoriously exclusively filmed in apartments or dorm rooms; but rather, it is a world wherein many students are taught to make boring films in the same old apartment and bar setups. Films that push the boundaries in terms of content are often more enjoyable to work on. Films that allow for diverse creative expression will usually result in a wide array of media that can be used for promotional and/or marketing material for the production to use.

Unit Still photograph of the Camera Operator Hex Yang testing the Camera movements by Chicago set Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Set Photograph of the cast and crew Setting up for the Take by Chicago Set photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Set Photograph of the first Assistant Camera Setting up for the Take by Chicago Set photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Unit Still photograph of the camera package by Chicago Unit still photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Behind The Scene Photograph by Chicago Set Photographer Rashad Anabtawi of the Monitor with Playback

Production Still of the Talent Acting by Chicago Unit Still Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Production Still of a bloody arm by Chicago set Photographer Rashad Anabatwi

Production Still of the prop ring used for production by Chicago Set Photographer Rashad Anabatwi

Set Photograph of the grip Setting up the light by Chicago Set photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Set Photograph of the Second Assistant Camera behind the camera by Chicago Set photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Behind The Scene Photograph of the Steadicam operator by Chicago Set photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Unit Still Photograph of the Steadicam operator by Chicago Set photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Ali Mango and Gabriel Jung were working on a student set, and it was to be a night shoot for all 4 days of shooting in order to work with everyone schedules. Ali Mango was the assistant director on this set, so it was easy to go up to him and just ask him that for the next shot to schedule a few extra minutes in order to get some production stills for the promotional material for the film. This was key to work with the actors and actresses in order to create a one sheet or possibly some marketing material.

Behind The Scene Photograph of the Assistant Director by Chicago Set photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Production Still of the Murder weapon props by Chicago Set Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Unit Still Photograph of the digital Image Technician set up by Chicago Set Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Unit Still Photograph of the digital Image Technician computer by Chicago Set Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Unit Still Photograph of the digital Image Technician color wheels by Chicago Set Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Unit Still Photograph of the Digital Image Technician and the Director by Chicago set photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Production Still of the crime scene evidence by Chicago Unit Still Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

FUN FACT: The first location was shooting at an Airbnb house. There was another set photographer who was in charge of the production still images that were to be used in the actual film as prop crime scene photographs. The morning the pictures were to be developed at a Walgreen near set, the police were called in by the understandably freaked out staff members; detectives were called in! As it turned out whoever delivered the sealed negatives to the Walgreen employees forgot to tell them this was for a film set. But surprisingly, one of the detectives had actually been college friends with the host of the Airbnb home. And so, the misunderstanding was cleared up and the photographs were printed.

Unit Still Photograph of the camera crew and camera set up by Chicago Set Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Unit Still Photograph of the camera crew filming by Chicago Set Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Unit Still Photograph of the Second Location by Chicago Set Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Unit Still Photograph of the gaffer and second assistant camera by Chicago Unit Still Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Unit Still Photograph of the cinematographer and camera crew by Chicago Unit Still Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Unit Still Photograph of the Camera operator and second assistant camera by Chicago Unit Still Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Unit Still Photograph of the camera crew and talent by Chicago Unit Still Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Unit Still Photograph of the camera monitor by Chicago Unit Still Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Unit Still Photograph of the action by Chicago Unit Still Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Production Still of the one Sheet Marketing options by Chicago Unit Still Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Production Still of the one Sheet options by Chicago Unit Still Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

For the second, and primary, location the producer Madilynn Graefen was kind enough to let us shoot in her family home. The basement was old and relatively unused, so the art department had a lot to work with in order to combine prop elements with real elements in order to create a terrifying scene. It did rain a few times and that was not too much of a problem since we were prepared.

Behind the scenes Photograph of the set design location by Chicago Unit Still Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Behind the scenes Photograph of the set dressing by Chicago Unit Still Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Behind the scenes Photograph of the set design by Chicago Unit Still Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Set photography of the set design for the murder basement by Chicago Unit Still Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Production Still of the Talent preforming by Chicago Unit Still Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Set Photograph of the digital Image Technician set up by Chicago Unit Still Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Unit Still Photograph of the digital Image Technician set up with the Digital Image Technician and Cinematographer by Chicago Set Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Behind the scenes photograph of the cast and crew rehearsing by Chicago Unit Still Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Unit Still Photograph of the cast and crew rehearsing by Chicago Unit Still Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Behind the scenes photograph of the talent by Chicago Unit Still Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Behind the scenes photograph of the camera filming by Chicago Unit Still Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Set photograph of the cast and crew rehearsing by Chicago Unit Still Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

Production Still of the Missing poster by Chicago set Photographer Rashad Anabtawi

This was a dark crime script which revolved around rape and the survivors' long journey to rediscover who she is, and how it is she is to continue to build and trust in relationships. This set was filmed in 4 nights and it was definitely hard on the body and mind yet undoubtedly worth it!