Marfa Stance - Isabel & Helen

One of the most ambitious shoots I've been part of as a DOP a three-day large-scale studio production at The Backstage Centre in Purfleet, bringing the Marfa Stance universe to life on film.

Creative Directors: Isabel & Helen

DOP: James Dougan & Rich Luxton
Edit: James Dougan

The concept, conceived and directed by Isabel & Helen, was built around a physical, interchangeable grid system, moveable colour-blocked plinths on wheels, each holding a piece from the Marfa Stance collection, arranged and rearranged by hand within the frame.

My job was to find a way to capture the full scale and logic of the system cinematically. We rigged cameras high above the studio floor on a walkway, shooting straight down into the grid as the blocks moved below in a wonderful choreography of people, colour and clothes.

To light the space we built two giant softboxes attached to pulley systems, allowing us to raise and lower them throughout the shoot to create different qualities of light and falloff across the grid. We also shot close, finding the detail and craft in the garments themselves as the looks came together.

Marfa Stance film title card over overhead grid showing full outerwear collection on colour plinths, x Isabel & Helen, DOP James Dougan
Marfa Stance film still: two performers symmetrically placing quilted jacket onto blue plinth, overhead, DOP James Dougan
Marfa Stance film still: overhead shot of performers arranging outerwear on coloured plinths in grid, DOP James Dougan
Pre-production 3D overhead render of modular Marfa Stance outerwear on plinths with mannequin figures, DOP James Dougan
Marfa Stance film still: silhouetted figure seated at plinth on lit yellow-gridded floor, overhead angle, DOP James Dougan
Colour-blocked plinths on yellow-gridded studio floor under suspended softbox, Marfa Stance fashion film, DOP James Dougan
Marfa Stance film still: overhead wide of performers in white coats placing garments on plinths, x Isabel & Helen, DOP James Dougan
Marfa Stance film still: close-up of feet walking across yellow-gridded studio floor with motion blur, DOP James Dougan
Marfa Stance film still: performers in white coats moving through colour-blocked plinth grid with garments, DOP James Dougan
Marfa Stance film still: wide studio shot of performers in white coats moving through colour-blocked plinth grid, DOP James Dougan
SmallHD monitor showing model in Marfa Stance long coat on yellow-gridded studio floor, fashion DOP James Dougan
Flanders Scientific monitor showing overhead view of Marfa Stance garments on colour plinths in grid, DOP James Dougan
Overhead BTS view: two large softboxes flanking colour plinths with Marfa Stance garments, crew working, DOP James Dougan
Overhead walkway view of performers placing Marfa Stance garments on colour-blocked plinths in grid, DOP James Dougan
Overhead walkway shot of single performer on lit studio floor with softbox, Marfa Stance, DOP James Dougan
Pre-production 3D overhead render of Marfa Stance accessories, hoods and coat on colour plinths, x Isabel & Helen, DOP James Dougan
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