BALLOON ANIMALS
PROJECT
Balloon Animals
DIRECTOR
Anna Baumgarten
TYPE
Narrative
PRACTICES
Pre-Production • Live-Action Production • Post-Production & Finishing
1
INT. SUPERMARKET - NIGHT
A conventional grocery store in middle America. Florescent light floods the space, softened by dimmed display cases. We see the empty frozen food aisle, employee breakroom, produce aisle, etc.
ROGER
What's the occasion?
KASEY
Little brother’s birthday
BRINGING A LATE-NIGHT STORY TO LIFE
When the director approached us with Balloon Animals, we knew the challenge would be more than just working within the constraints of a real supermarket—we had to craft a visual language that enhanced the story’s emotional depth. Our goal was to take what was on the page and bring it to life through cinematography, blocking, and performance.In pre-production, we conducted camera and lens tests to establish the right look, ensuring the visuals complemented the film’s tone. Casting was also key—we needed actors who could deliver nuanced performances under tight time constraints. We held detailed shot listing sessions, rehearsals, and blocking run-throughs to make sure every choice—camera movement, framing, or stillness—served the story.Shooting overnight with limited flexibility meant adapting in real time. We structured the schedule to prioritize light-dependent scenes first, giving us the freedom to cheat night later in the shoot. Challenges inevitably arose, but our focus remained on making every shot a storytelling tool, using creative angles and movement to reveal subtext and deepen the characters’ interactions.
Despite the constraints, Balloon Animals became a visually and emotionally cohesive film—proof that intentional filmmaking can transform limitations into creative opportunities.
