My goal for this project was to communicate the dissonance between the characters through subtle set dressing choices and costumes that alluded to the characters’ inner lives. Ms Taylor’s demure, bright tones contrasted the world built around her, implying she’s overcompensating for her insecurity. Miles is wearing the least comfortable school jumper you could imagine, with scuffed shoes and a messy backpack. Mr Geoff is inconspicuous, dressed in a plain, professional outfit that says what you see is what you get.

The key focus when designing and dressing the set was adding texture and depth to the bare, lifeless space we were shooting in. It being a windowless room, I shifted from my original plan to rely on neutral tones and included warmer hues to complement the increasingly warm lighting plan. For the hallway scenes, the primary concern was covering the walls with realistic materials and concealing the location’s identifying characteristics. This process

Executing the production design for Detention demanded more meticulous observation and continuity tracking than I’d ever expected. I worked with a talent art department to place every poster, adjust every costume, and straighten ever chair. I met with the cast for measurements and applied their makeup, reset the mise-en-scene every take, and liaised with the script supervisor to make sure nothing slipped through the cracks.