1781
Written & Directed by Ethan Fuirst
2020
1781 is a short film written and directed by Ethan Fuirst. Taking place in the final years of the Revolutionary War, 1781 is the story of two young men, both soldiers, who meet by happenstance in the woods on their respective journeys of escape. While they bond over their decisions to change their circumstances they share a poignant moment of romance.
The costumes for this short film were inspired by period depictions of The Revolutionary War such as famous paintings by Trumbull, Peale, and Copley. The main characters, William and Sam, represent two ends of a spectrum. William is a defector from the Colonial Army, he is in uniform, has status, but an obvious product of wartime activities. Sam, anxiously escaping slavery, wears a coat not his own; oversized, worn. His adventure has taken many days and he has been with the elements. Both coats are handmade and paired with period specific undergarments and accessories found through reenactment resources from my Colonial hometown of Lexington, MA.
Video password: 1781film
BILLY
Written & Directed by Will Nichol
2021
BILLY is a short film written and directed by Will Nichol. Joe, coming to terms with his sexuality, seeks the attention of his crush, Jack at a NYC house party. Joe combats the social pressures of his male friends who seek to meet girls. Anna, the popular girl Joe has a romantic past with, complicates his intentions.
Taking inspiration from coming of age dramas of our time like HBO’s Euphoria or Gossip Girl, I strived to emulate the creative and purposeful act of “party dressing.” Males vs. females, peacocking, dressing up, gender performance, sexuality all come into play. The subdued, dark-tone, intentionally masculine world of the men is juxtaposed to the flamboyant and decorative world of the women. Anna and her best friend Cath are both dressed to impress in sequins, eyeshadow, bangles. Their looks are curated, adventurous, and evoke an air of confidence. The men come from another world, all in dark tones, solid colors, maybe just one chain necklace as an accessory. The fight for balance is a main theme in this short film. Clothing is an essential tool of identity, which these young people strive to control.
