The cast of Born This Way: Mark Evans as Steve, Sam Lee Baladejo as "Jack", Aphrodite Armstrong as "Madame Lapoosie", and Jim Bray as "Adam"
Synopsis
Inspired by decades of pop culture and classic sitcoms, Born This Way is a queer satire film that pokes fun at the heteronormative world that we live in. Adam and Steve, a married gay couple, adore their flamboyant and colorful lifestyle in the suburbs of San Diego, CA, alongside their 17-year-old son, Jack. Since his birth, Adam and Steve have given Jack the queer childhood they always dreamed of. Jack's grown up in a home full of love and pride, but as he begins his senior year of high school he wants to make his own choices for once. When Jack starts to exude what some might call heterosexual behavior, Adam and Steve's lives hilariously turn upside down as they struggle to accept their son for who he is.
Director - Sky Dexter • Cinematographer - Brandon McGee • Production Designer - Timothy Shibles
BTS Photographers: Catherine Fazlulahi, Rugile Zemaityte, Hanna Le, and Megan Smailes
Set Design & 3D Renders
3D modeled in SketchUp > rendered in Lumion > plated in Adobe Photoshop
First and Second Set Design Passes
Early Lookbooks
Graphics
Inspired by the pop culture wall art in celebrity homes like RuPaul's and Elton John's, I always envisioned having extravagent wall decor in Born This Way. Due to the lack of time and a small art department spread amongst several thesis films, Midjourney was used in order to accomplish the workload. These images were created during the summer of 2023, not long after my peers and I were introduced to Midjourney. As an artist, I want to acknowledge the negative impact of AI-generated art and prioritize real, genuine artwork moving forward. While UNCSA is an educational setting, I've since learned and come to understand that AI is a danger to the integrity of art and our environment. I look forward to working with professional graphic artists throughout my career. Please know that all graphics created for this thesis film are out of love and admiration for its subjects and a testament to our flamboyant lead characters.
Construction & Timespan Photos
Pre-production Art Dept BTS by Megan Smailes
3D Miniature
1/2" = 1'0" foam core model last updated on November 18, 2023 (Work in progress)