76
P E R S P E C T I V E | N OV E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 5
and Gortimer falls through a sinkhole and into a mysterious abyss where
he finds a boy with golden eyes. Since the scripted action could not be
accomplished in a location space and the original budget was unable
to accommodate the construction required to film the sequence, we
had to do the unthinkable, ask the studio for more money. In order to
successfully pitch what I had in mind, I brought in Assistant Art Director
Jerry Ortega to help create a design that captured the mood and action
of the sequence.
By designing a 24-foot elevated and enclosed crawl space set (all built
in a small side yard of the house), the burden of filming underground
was eased, and access was available for camera-tracking moves, lighting
and the special effects flooding rig necessary to ensure the safety of
a 12-year-old star. A removable section of false floor was created for
Gortimer to fall through, and a three-quarter round, 10-foot diameter
pit filled with gold glitter and mica-flecked foam completed the look. The
