Ashtewan Portfolio - Umich Application

On Gallows Hill - The Bonds We Build When Facing An Insurmountable Challenge

I had the great pleasure of being invited to shoot narrative and behind-the-scenes photography on the set of On Gallows Hill, a UofM student-led film that drew on the talents of the local communities around Toledo and Ann Arbor.

This film, named for the fictional town it takes place in, is set vaguely in the Midwest between the 80s and the early 2000s. It is about a young man turned vampire trying to find his place in this new world. The vampire rules are the same as always, except in this story the vampires have to drink the blood type they were born with. Matt Bishop, the film’s protagonist, must drink type-O blood.

The Trouble With Shooting a Vampire Feature Length Film

At its onset, there were issues that plagued the set. Timelines and expectations were unrealistic; camera gear and lighting equipment were unreliable, and cast schedules were tight and couldn’t accommodate shifting timelines. But these problems can happen on any set, the unique hurdle with this film was that it was a vampire flick; 90% of the outdoor scenes needed to be after dark. This meant that if you were called to be on set you were likely going to be on set until 2 in the morning, and with all the issues compounding you had to be prepared to be there as late as 7 AM.

This meant three things for the people in the production. They had to be committed, they had to be mature, and they had to get along.

Committed

Unpaid and underappreciated, the team gave their all to participate in and elevate this production. In the above photos you can see hints of the various problems that dragged the first shoot well into the AM. Makeup and hair were executed to a high degree, but together they consumed more time than production and direction had budgeted. Technical issues required creative problem-solving, and the team had to be patient. The second scene began shooting 4 hours later than anticipated.

Cast and crew did not complain but their fatigue was evident. Mistakes began to happen, and technical issues flared up. Lighting ran low on power and had to cut off when a car drove by, and the camera could not gather enough light. This slowed progress but did not stop the team from persevering. Director of Photography Jamal Jackson retrieved his personal camera, and everybody started planning the subsequent shots. Sam and Rohan took it upon themselves to keep spirits high by getting into playfights, improv sessions, and cracking jokes. Sydney offered people seats and stories, Matt and Brian started hosting competitions; if they couldn’t stay busy they stayed happy.

The Blood Room and Your Ego

Pictured above are key moments from filming in the Blood Room. The four shooting days spent in the basement of an abandoned warehouse were by far the tallest hurdle this team had to endure. This space was moldy, dusty, and littered with trash. It was a group effort to manage the minuscule and cluttered room, our exposure to mold and mildew, and the sticky sweet corn syrup-based fake blood that eventually covered every surface. A number of team members fell ill; a malady that came to be humorously known as blood room bronchitis.

Each of these days shot well into the AM as setup could take up to 8 hours longer than expected. It was a crawl that continued even after shooting began as our Directors of Photography were meticulous and executed shots to a high degree. The team was frustrated by these issues, not to discount the last-minute changes and the mismanagement of extras. The demise of the movie was nearly met when highly time-consuming and costly costume elements were axed at the last moment, wasting 8 hours of the art team’s time.

The production survived because the crew cared enough to support the individuals who needed it. This was one of many ways the team showed affection for its members; it was not uncommon for members to surprise each other with gifts, favors, and thoughtfulness. So when push came to shove, those who struggled could let go of the ego, sacrifice their time and money, and move forward to the best movie possible.

At the cost of this suffering, we came away with highly engaging scenes, a final product the entire team was proud of, and immutable bonds. The team persevered and left the blood room victorious.

More than Getting Along

This team, while sometimes at odds, has formed the basis for lifelong friendships. The OGH text thread is still active and vibrant, more projects are coming together as art books are developed, and there’s an order out for Tshirts being made.

The members are dispersing to chase their goals. Some are considering transferring colleges, some have graduated, some live together, some moved far, some stayed near, some members are helping each other get jobs, and some aren’t making movies at all, but it’s clear they won’t soon forget this experience; a bond forged in ambition, maturity, self-sacrifice, and commitment.