Shooting Day
The day we aka my brother and I filmed Insanity was a whirlwind of activity. It began while the sun was still shining, but with a tight deadline ahead, we had no time to lose. It was just my brother and me, fueled by sheer determination, setting up shots, adjusting angles, and ensuring every scene was perfect. As the night wore on, fatigue set in, but we kept pushing forward, knowing we had to see it through. By the time we finished at 4 AM, we were exhausted, yet there was an undeniable sense of achievement, like all the hard work, the late hours, and the challenges had truly paid off. But my brother also demanded that I take him to a Pizza dinner the next day so that was also something.
Production BTS
Props, Costume/Set Design, Lighting
Earlier that day, I went up to my storage room to paint the toy gun. This was done hastely because it took just 30 minutes for the paint to be sprayed on, and to dry.
For the kill table I wanted to show how symmetrical the killer is, as shown in may of the kill scenes in Dexter. But at the end I found it rather strange to look at because the table looked somewhat empty. Hence I also decided to put random sheets of paper and books to give significance to the whole section. Moreover I also decided to label the beakers with names of sedatives nd other chemicals, I also placed injections and other medical equipment like a patient history holder. The main thing in context was the medical bag, in which various scalpels and scissors were present; ultimately giving a whole surgeon-killer scenario vibe.
Since the table was looking too void, I decided to put lamp and books here too. The books chose were a semiotic code themselves as the audience can read their titles as "Dark Psychology" & "The Art Of Being Alone". Both of these can come as a hint on screen that the surgeon is actually a delusional individual with his mind only spinning around his own thoughts. Moreover I also put an injection too just to add upto the left out space. Following this, I also placed an xray as a cherry on top. Since the lighting wasn't upto the standard for now, hence I took a picture of the "complete kill table" and put it in a 3d rendering software to render a perfect prop bucket interacting with the environment.
Then was the time to create the dead body. Obviously we couldn't have continued with having my smallest brother go under the sheets. Hence we decided to actually just put a bunch of clothes together, shape them as in a human body; then put red colour on it as if blood.
"My brother helping me make the dead body #BTS"
The warm light that is visible from the corner of the sofa is actually the same sporlight I used for my preliminaries. In addition, I used a "Samsung 20k mAh Power Bank" to light this up and on 20 percent it kept the light on for the whole night. Since I had two of these power banks I used the other one to light up the ring light. So in the frame of the camera, I was able to get that low key lighting I wanted to capture. Moreover the way the ringlight lit up the body area was eough to capture the assets on the sofa, combined with the geaming warm light from the corner.
With the main set design & lighting expenditure complete, now was the time to move on with the costumes. Before that I want to address that the dining table and other background attracting objects were covered with clothings they are not visible.
For the costume I had already been deeply inspired by "Dexter" and how he just wears normal clothes during his kills to connect with the victims. The only thing that he buys or uses are the kill equipments and tools. Hence I decided that The Surgeon Would also wear a typical T-Shirt and sweatpants. For the equipments and headwear he wears; I decided to go with the whole surgeon look with a mask, medical cap and gloves.
As we set the scene and prepared to roll, we began shooting our first few scenes. At first, I tried to stray from the storyboard, experimenting with different angles for the same scene. But improvising at such a crucial stage turned out to be a mistake. Once I stuck to the script, I started getting the results I wanted, though it was still a process of trial and error. Some shots came out shaky, while others had lighting that was either too bright or too dim. Post production could have helped with some of these issues, but for quick lighting adjustments on set, I turned to Manual Camera DSLR Lite. There were two reasons for this choice; I had already used it for one of my preliminary task and it was free, easy to use, and simple to understand.
Acting & Filming
The most critical aspect of my project was the on camera performance, and that spotlight was my little brothers. From the start, he was the emotional center of the story. Though he was young, he demonstrated a profound sense of the character and brought it to life with remarkable emotion and presence. Whether it was the moments of silence or fear, he brought each moment with a sense of honesty that made the narrative feel real. His performance was the majority of the story. His facial expressions, gestures, and responses provided a strong sense of realism to the film. He was not merely acting; he was becoming the character. His power of keeping the audience (even me) engaged without overacting demonstrated a natural talent that imparted a strong emotional depth to our project.
As the narrative unfolded, I added a psychological twist. That is where I came in as the doppelganger. I acted out the darker side of his character, intended to portray his inner anger and the dark side of his mind. My part did not involve any words, but through precise movements, intense glares, and deliberate use of space, I was able to bring forth the unnerving tension the story required. Visually, we employed lighting, close ups, and dress similarity t some extend to identify a distinct contrast between the actual character and the doppelganger. Emotionally, the contrast was also evident. My brother's character was emotional and reactive, whereas the doppelganger was cold and mute. The contrast served to convey the internal struggle with the voiceovers backing this up.
Even though I showed up later in the project and contributed to the mystery and richness of the story, it was truly my little brothers persistent performance that held the film together. His presence made everything feel real and provided meaning to the emotional journey we were attempting to convey. Ultimately, acting in this project was not simply about acting before a camera. It was about conveying a message through emotion, movement, and expression.
Cinematography
Hence here is a deep breakdown of how each and everyshot was interpreted and finalised for the film.
The aperture is set at f/2.0 which creates a shallow depth of field and isolates objects like the items on the table such as a bottle and a bowl while keeping the background blurred. This brings an intimate focus to the scene and draws attention to specific elements that reflect the character’s fragmented and obsessive mindset. The ISO is at 885 which brightens the low light environment but also introduces slight noise that adds to the gritty and unsettling atmosphere of the killer’s mental turmoil, which will be fixed to get sharpened video through Post production. A shutter speed of 1/33.3 seconds allows enough light to enter the sensor while also making room for the darkness to overhaul the scene that can hint at hallucinations or a sense of instability. With an exposure value of -1.6 the shot is intentionally darkened which deepens the shadows and heightens the suspense while reinforcing the tension in the climax scene.
In this scene, the surgeon’s shadow drinking the medicine plays a key role in building tension and mystery. The aperture is set at f/2.0, making the shadow stand out by softly separating it from the background. This creates a strong contrast that draws attention to the act, making it feel even more ominous. The ISO is at 797, ensuring the shadow remains clear against the dim lighting without making the rest of the scene too bright. This helps maintain the eerie atmosphere. A shutter speed of 1/30 seconds allows enough light to bring out the shadow’s movements, while a slight motion blur could add a sense of desperation and instability. The exposure value is at -1.6, making the scene darker, deepening the shadows, and adding to the suspense and unease.
The aperture at f/2.0 keeps the focus on key elements in the frame, likely making the shadow the center of attention as it drinks the medicine. With a shallow depth of field, the background fades into darkness, giving the shadow an eerie, almost unreal presence. The ISO is set at 333, keeping the scene dark and moody while still allowing enough light to reveal details in the shadow, adding to the suspense. A shutter speed of 1/30 seconds captures the movement clearly. The exposure value at -1.4 deepens the shadows even more, reinforcing the unsettling and foreboding atmosphere.
This scene’s settings bring out the suspense and detail in a way that draws the audience into the moment. With an aperture of f/2.0, the focus stays locked on the main subject, most likely the scalpel and bloodstained bandages, while the background fades into a soft blur that enhances the intensity. The ISO of 1090 ensures there is just enough light to keep the dim setting visible without taking away from the moody and shadowed atmosphere. The shutter speed of 1/33.3 seconds captures the act of drying the scalpel smoothly.. The EV of minus one deepens the shadows just enough to bring out an ominous and unsettling tone.
The aperture of f/2.0 creates a shallow depth of field, drawing attention to the shadowy details while keeping the background softly blurred, adding to the sense of mystery. The ISO of 935 provides just enough brightness to highlight the darker tones of the shadow and surroundings, while the slight grain gives the scene a raw and unsettling texture. The shutter speed of 1/20 seconds ensures clarity but allows for slight motion blur if there is any movement, subtly reinforcing the eerie tension. The EV of minus 0.6 deepens the shadows just enough to make them more dominant, heightening the overall atmosphere of unease.
The aperture of f/2.0 draws attention to the key elements on the table, such as the gloves, watch, and books, while softly blurring the background to create a more intimate and focused composition. The ISO of 1133 allows enough light to illuminate the dim environment, keeping the shadowed areas visible without losing the raw, gritty texture of the scene. The shutter speed of 1/16.7 seconds increases light exposure, making the static details crisp and clear. The EV of -0.6 deepens the shadows just enough to intensify the suspenseful atmosphere. This careful balance of settings pulls the viewer into the scene, reinforcing the unsettling tone of the story and making every detail feel deliberate and immersive.
Another thing I wanted to express was the "Focus Pull Scene" during the after cleaning of the scalepl. This was also done using the same app and manuel focus; to emphasize on the gun placed on the table. The focus shifts from the forground to the middle ground then slightly to the background towards the end.