Behind the Scenes - SAints of the Old City

SOTOC is an ongoing film project, exploring real and imagined history of Brockton, my native city. Sarah Walsh, who appears in the film and wrote an article about it describes the project as, “a meditation on how to tell, revise, bury and unearth again the traces of utopian thought in urban space.”

Work continues as we film and integrate the demolition of historic buildings. As the project develops, we show versions of the film as “street screenings” in outdoor sites in downtown Brockton, for viewers to encounter.

I built the Angel of History suit out of metal recovered from demolition sites. It’s jointed like a suit of armor and well-balanced, but very heavy. Danielle was attached to the set for support. Alaina, in the field above, was able to balance it solo.

We built this set after one of our primary shooting locations was demolished. We created the faux brick surface with plaster, muslin, and paint. A couple years after shooting the angel sequence, my studio building was demolished with this set still inside.

Come to think of it, we’ve used a lot of plaster on this project.

And a lot of books. This is the floor of the angel set.

Here’s an 8ft pulpit made of books in my backyard (my neighbors love me).