Lens tests
Testing 28mm and 58mm lenses.
The Berolina and Helios tests compared distance, falloff and contrast before the film moved fully into black and white.
The film
A neo-noir narrative project in post-production.
The approach
Bars, porches, trucks, docks and night exteriors give the film a rough Kelowna backdrop for its dark humour and black-and-white performances.
James tested 28mm and 58mm lenses, black-and-white contrast, smoke and practical light at the BNA locations before principal photography. Those tests carried into the porch, bar, truck, dock and night-exterior scenes.
In post-production following principal photography and pickup days filmed from late 2024 through spring 2025.
Project details
- Release
- 2024-2026
- Category
- Narrative
- Tags
The production
Building the noir in camera.
Before principal photography, James tested old lenses, hard porch light, smoke and black-and-white contrast with Roark Critchlow at the BNA locations.
The 28mm Berolina and 58mm Helios tests helped settle the distance, falloff and contrast before the crew moved into the bar, bedroom and night exteriors.
Principal photography and pickups carried those decisions through truck reflections, alley smoke and dock scenes filmed from dusk into night.
James is directing, producing, photographing and editing the film, which remains in post-production.
Location research
Bars, porches, trucks and docks.
BNA research days found reflections, doorways, bar interiors and exterior corners that could become part of the story.
Light and smoke
Hard backlight, smoke and practical light.
The night exteriors used smoke, hard backlight and reflective surfaces in the actual locations.
Character prep
A quieter bedroom scene for Hannah.
Hair, makeup, wardrobe and window reflections shape Hannah Krostewitz's bedroom material.
Pickup days
Late 2024 through spring 2025.
Pickup days added truck, dock and night-exterior material as the edit took shape.
Additional credits
- Writer · Lead · Executive Producer
- Roark Critchlow
- Cast
- Hannah Krostewitz
- Director · Producer · Director of Photography · Editor
- James Alton
Behind the scenes
Lens tests, location studies and pickups.
Roark's lens tests, Hannah's character prep, BNA location studies and pickup work from the black-and-white production.
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