The Drowning of Arthur Braxton
Based on Novel by Caroline Smailes
Feature film adapted for screen and directed by Luke Cutforth
Produced by Fireflight Films Ltd.
Starring Johnny Vegas, James Tarpey and Rebecca Hanssen
The story is part tragedy, part coming of age of a schoolboy who's life is turned upside down in every aspect. One day he meets a mysterious girl and the love that grows between them feeds him the strength to persevere through his troubles.
I worked as an art director, prop-maker and set dresser on this film. One of the set's I built was a well. As one of the actors were to fall into the well, we had to make the interior soft. We used a paddling pool which we lined with expanding foam that was sculpted and painted to look like rock. To protect the pool's lining we fixed chipboard to the pool's posts and built a single wall of stone and mortar around the chipboard panels. I sculpted, painted and textured the interior of the well with an assistant to match the exterior rocks.
Hand drawn plan and section of the Well set, rendered with watercolour
Well building process and final product
