The Sky Is Falling: On The Aesthetics

"I wanted to do a very visual film with minimal dialogue and let the images be the main catalyst to propel the story forward. Film has always been a visual medium and you have to be able to tell stories in a single frame. People really do not talk too much in real life and are very introspective in nature. I wanted to have the feel of the old European movies where you let the story unfold by itself instead of staging them and making them look rushed.

The films of my father, Celso Ad. Castillo are definitely strong influences when it comes to the visual sense, composition, pacing, and letting the actors work their way up to certain points or feelings that needs to be conveyed. I wanted the film to be a throwback to the 70's horror films that scared people by showing less. I also wanted a classic 70's horror film score with only piano and guitar. With the sparse musical accompaniment, it created a surreal atmosphere for the film.

The advent of the Dogme95 movement has made films daring again as it brings back the adventurousness of the French New Wave movement and I wanted to bring the same kind of passion to my film. Following the Dogme95 aesthetics was very liberating and it works for this type of film. Shooting hand-held with all natural lights served as the perfect compliment to show the process of disintegration."