The filmmakers were inspired by a Ken Burns documentary set in the same kind of environment and thought they could use that germ of an idea to expand into this fictional story. The script was written in 2019, before the pandemic, but this story proves timely with characters talking behind masks in order to avoid what is blowing about outside and inside their heads. It serves as a nice metaphor as well as providing a few jump-scares but is more psychological than anything that will make you hold your breath.
Location Set House
Me working on a car rig
Sarah Paulson, Alona Jane Robbins & Bill Hick on set
Cinematographer Zoe White masterfully captures the air itself as dangerous, shimmering with tiny particles that never quite settle. You can feel Margaret's paranoia mounting as she fights not only the elements but her mind. Every shot subtly conveys that something isn’t quite right.
To achieve this psychological horror, we shot on the Arri Alexa 65 Mini, with Cooke Panchro lenses. Additionally, we had a handful of diffusion filters that we constantly had in front of the camera to really allow the light to refract of each individual grain of dust that was literally piling up!
Actual Dust Storm
Zoe White and Crew setting a shot for Amiah Miller
Myself and my 1st AC Meghan Noce
One detail that is quite obvious and cannot go without being pointed out is the harsh environment was but necessary for the tone of the film. The New Mexican desert during the monsoon season provided a beautiful backdrop and the realism to portray a period piece.
This obstacle for the Camera Department was, “how do we shoot 360 and able to hide our equipment and while blowing massive amounts of dirt directly at the camera”?
A lot of compressed air was used on this job, needless to say!