Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1533577
As a designer, beyond the practical aspect, I saw ramps as interesting arrays of lines and perspectives which could help define the aesthetic of the film. After researching the specs of various types of ramps, the crew custom-built them for the Brooks' residence, the neighbor's house, the classroom trailer, as well as a special metal ramp for the family's minivan. To ensure authenticity, I worked closely with an accessibility team led by Danielle Strnad that put my designs to the test. At certain junctures during the building process, they would do site visits and would point out any potential oversights or problems that would need to be addressed. For a scene where Melody has to ride down a street, potholes and cracks were filled to create a smooth level path for the motorized wheelchair. The School Since Melody is in the sixth grade, many important scenes were set at her school, a campus with a main building and a separate temporary trailer for the "special ed" students. The production purchased and towed an oversized trailer to the location and placed it next to the school. We converted it into a classroom for the special ed students, played by young actors with a scope of diverse abilities. We added low-profile windows that overlook the athletic field, reminding us that sports and athletics are mostly out of reach for these students. The crew also built a long ramp so that Melody could ride as fast as she wanted to. We resurfaced the cement playground and garden for maximum mobility. Our lead actress Phoebe is incredibly nimble and fast in her chair, especially when she knows she has a reliably flat path ahead of her! When Melody is finally integrated into the main building as a sixth-grader, we created Mr. Dimmings' classroom from an empty space. The incredible art team (Heather, Jordan, Emily, Genevieve, Maddie, Thalia, Sioux) spent weeks handcrafting every single drawing and art piece, every certificate, every quote and sign and even coffee cups, creating a vibrant classroom which Melody tries to integrate into. A. SIXTH-GRADE CLASSROOM. SET PHOTO. B. SPECIAL ED TRAILER CLASSROOM. SET PHOTO. C. SCHOOL PLAYGROUND GARDEN. SKETCHUP MODEL BY EMILY TAM. . D. SCHOOL PLAYGROUND GARDEN. SET PHOTO. C A B D