Julie Tancill
Art Director - American Yearbook
Not many of you may have been aware during shooting, but Julie was diagnosed with cancer in the weeks prior to production. She didn't feel sick, but immediately began treatment, which to her credit accounted for only a few missed days on set. I immediately told her she could leave the production if she wished or I would work with her to stay on board the project. Julie was a fighter and was so dedicated to the film that she wanted to work it out. Which of course I was happy to do. And to this day I am so glad that I could give her the chance to keep going, because we all know what a killer job Julie did on the movie. Like all the artists that contributed to this film, she made a huge stamp on the visual style and success of the film. Like all the cast and crew that put so much hard work and love into the creation of this film, I will always be in her debt and have a fond place for her in my heart. She took just as much a leap of faith on me as I did on her. I'm really glad she was able to see the finished film this past December.
Julie helped out the production in countless additional ways than just her job as Art Director. As well as dressing the sets, and helping find difficult props such as the brass knuckles, she provided wardrobe assistance for the female roles, and even was a backup makeup artist for many days on the shoot. She did everything from painting blood on Nick's shirt, to holding a light for an hour outside the window simulating the moon, to the amazing intricate decoration of Will, Amanda, and Kristy's rooms into which I know she put extensive research, thought and passion into creating. She fabricated an amazing broken car window out of random shards of glass, recreated a spray-painted word on glass by hand-cutting the image out of plastic, and spent dozens of hours shopping (using only public transportation) in San Francisco for her props and decorations. Her contributions were heartfelt and enormous, and she will be terribly missed.
- Brian Ging
Director - American Yearbook
Julie applying makeup to actor Jon Carlo Alvarez.
Having a laugh with Director Brian Ging while dressing a classroom scene.
Girl chat with Sound Recordist Jennifer Derbin.
Applying blood to actor Nick Tagas during the shooting scene.
A silhouette of Julie in one of the high school location's many hallways.
Applying a handmade "spray painted" word to the windshield so we
didn't have to use spray paint.
With help from Heather Van Atta, she assembles glass shards to
fabricate a broken truck window.
Mugging for the camera in front of her completed masterpiece!!
Hanging on set with 2nd A.D. Heather Van Atta and actress
(in funny makeup) Giovannie Pico.
With actor Nick Tagas doing some last minute dressing of her
favorite set, Will's Bedroom.
Dressing Will's Bedroom with actor Nick Tagas in bed, while
D.P. Dan Coplan, and Jennifer Derbin set up.
Getting ready to go out on the roof just outside that window to shine
a light in to simulate the moon for a tough shot. She was out there
quite a while. She volunteered because we couldn't put a light stand
out there and she was such a trooper.
Taking a well deserved rest after dressing this living room. She even made
the
curtains, pillows and such all by hand. Bravo Julie!!