Casting and costume

 CASTING AND COSTUME

Clem

Casting- When casting Clem, I wanted a skilled actor who could portray her both as anxious and slightly timid in the opening sequence, and then slowly as more double-crossing and deceiving as the film progresses, following the development of her guilt. One of the key moments I kept in mind when looking for someone to play Clem was their ability to perform the nightmare sequence, as this was quite intense, featuring lots of screaming. I eventually found actress Isabel Hetherington, who was perfect for the role, as her previous acting experience allowed her to bring nuance to Clem's character, and was enthusiastic to perform the more intense scenes. 

Costume- For Clem's costume in the opening sequence, I wanted her to look shaken and unprepared for the weather, as she wouldn't have thought about dressing appropriately following her circumstances. therefore, I decided to have her wear just a thin jumper, compared to Violet who wars a coat and scarf. In terms of makeup, I had her wear some slightly smudged mascara, to create the impression that she'd been crying but attempted to clean herself up. I also placed some fake blood on her hands to create the illusion that she'd carried the body into the boot of her car. 

Violet

Casting- When casting Violet, I was looking for someone who could act very level-headed and competent, hence why Clem called her to deal with this situation. I also wanted someone who could act logical, and provide a more human response to the situation, as demonstrated when she states 'You Killed someone Clem', and 'I think we shouldn't see each other for a while'. I casted Esme Willitts-King as I felt she displayed the sense of competence and logic in real life that I was looking for in Violet's character.

Costume- In the opening sequence, I wanted to represent Violet's sensible nature through her costume, and so had her dress appropriately for the weather, in a scarf and jacket, unlike Clem, helping draw a stark contrast between the two characters.