Watching Heaven Fall
by This is Lorelei
Treatment by Nic Boozang
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STATEMENT
‘Watching Heaven Fall’ is about watching society collapse and still having to entertain.
It’s about watching the call-to-action slip past you and how silly that feels.
As artists, it’s near impossible to feel motivated to make art in 2026 (let alone for commercial purposes). The world seems to be burning around us. And at times, our passion and what we do to make a living makes us feel... ridiculous.
For this pitch, I wanted to go literal.
SYNOPSIS
In ‘Watching Heaven Fall’ – Nate and his band dress in inflatable animal costume and play for a kid’s birthday party. The kids jeer and enjoy the music while a cloud swells in the background. Lightning strikes. Tornadoes form. And pandamonium breaks out. But the band needs to keep playing, as the fire encircles them, if they want their cash.
‘Watching Heaven Fall’ is about watching society collapse and still having to entertain.
It’s about watching the call-to-action slip past you and how silly that feels.
As artists, it’s near impossible to feel motivated to make art in 2026 (let alone for commercial purposes). The world seems to be burning around us. And at times, our passion and what we do to make a living makes us feel... ridiculous.
For this pitch, I wanted to go literal.
SYNOPSIS
In ‘Watching Heaven Fall’ – Nate and his band dress in inflatable animal costume and play for a kid’s birthday party. The kids jeer and enjoy the music while a cloud swells in the background. Lightning strikes. Tornadoes form. And pandamonium breaks out. But the band needs to keep playing, as the fire encircles them, if they want their cash.
APPROACH
SLOWMOTION + 16MM + LONG SWEEPING ZOOMS
Shooting on 16mm Film + Slow-Motion (60 to 120fps) will create a surreal, yet gritty feeling. I’m aiming to create hyper-reality.
Shooting style will largely be on tripod. We’d use long zooms, that at times swing into the subject.
Tight detail shots will emphasize the chaos but keep things composed. See more in CINEMATOGRAPHY and STYLE below.
Shooting on 16mm Film + Slow-Motion (60 to 120fps) will create a surreal, yet gritty feeling. I’m aiming to create hyper-reality.
Shooting style will largely be on tripod. We’d use long zooms, that at times swing into the subject.
Tight detail shots will emphasize the chaos but keep things composed. See more in CINEMATOGRAPHY and STYLE below.
PRODUCTION DESIGN
![1.1]()
![1.2]()
PROPS
Simple primary colored (nongendered) props (See 1.1), For example:
- Balloons
- Table scapes
- Small ball pits and inflatable balls
- Piñata and confetti in animal form (See 1.2)
LOCATION
House can be medium size. Ideally with white picket fence with Midwestern essence.
Think Chicago suburb-style homes found in Oak Park or River Forest with lushy & grassed backyards and ornate detailing. (See 1.3)
Simple primary colored (nongendered) props (See 1.1), For example:
- Balloons
- Table scapes
- Small ball pits and inflatable balls
- Piñata and confetti in animal form (See 1.2)
LOCATION
House can be medium size. Ideally with white picket fence with Midwestern essence.
Think Chicago suburb-style homes found in Oak Park or River Forest with lushy & grassed backyards and ornate detailing. (See 1.3)
COSTUMES
Animals of all kinds – ideally those found on Americanized re-tellings of Noah’s Ark (i.e. Pigs, Horses, Unicorns, Zebras, Giraffes. They should be:
- Inflatable
- Show face
- Easy to access during Halloween & Cheap
See 1.4-6 for other examples.
Animals of all kinds – ideally those found on Americanized re-tellings of Noah’s Ark (i.e. Pigs, Horses, Unicorns, Zebras, Giraffes. They should be:
- Inflatable
- Show face
- Easy to access during Halloween & Cheap
See 1.4-6 for other examples.
STORYBOARD
(references for general idea only, not style)
00:00 - Intro
- title card + long sweeping zoom shots. small vignettes of band mates costumes: chicken foot taps on drum, cow hooves strum guitar, giraffe head bounces and sings into mic, etc.
- title card + long sweeping zoom shots. small vignettes of band mates costumes: chicken foot taps on drum, cow hooves strum guitar, giraffe head bounces and sings into mic, etc.
00:20 - Party Scenes, Kids Cheering
- introduce space: children in crowd with kazoos; balloons, cake, piñata; white-collar parents; a hyped dog (See 2.1-3)
- tight and chaotic
- suburban backyard
- introduce space: children in crowd with kazoos; balloons, cake, piñata; white-collar parents; a hyped dog (See 2.1-3)
- tight and chaotic
- suburban backyard
00:45 - First Signs of Heaven Fall
- ‘God forgive us, we didn’t care at all’ ︎︎︎ first signs of clouds swell. Band is scared (See 2.4)
- A Big Fat Dad (See 2.5), holding bucket of cash, stares menacingly at band. So they keep playing.
- ‘God forgive us, we didn’t care at all’ ︎︎︎ first signs of clouds swell. Band is scared (See 2.4)
- A Big Fat Dad (See 2.5), holding bucket of cash, stares menacingly at band. So they keep playing.
00:50 - Piñata
- Kids beat piñata open in slow-motion (See 2.6-7)
- Money falls out. Parents are pocketing some.
- ‘That debt is due today!’ ︎︎︎ Band looks out at sky getting way bigger and closer.
- Kids beat piñata open in slow-motion (See 2.6-7)
- Money falls out. Parents are pocketing some.
- ‘That debt is due today!’ ︎︎︎ Band looks out at sky getting way bigger and closer.
01:21 - Hell Breaks Open
- The frames get chaotic now.
- ‘God forgive her, she didn’t care at all’ ︎︎︎ kids finally notice, parents notice... and pandemonium breaks out at first full chorus!
- Tornado forms in sky (Cheesy CGI) and Nate looks up to notice (See 2.8-9)
- The frames get chaotic now.
- ‘God forgive her, she didn’t care at all’ ︎︎︎ kids finally notice, parents notice... and pandemonium breaks out at first full chorus!
- Tornado forms in sky (Cheesy CGI) and Nate looks up to notice (See 2.8-9)
1:49 - Vignettes + Performance Shots
- Band Plays Song while Wind Whips + People Run in Foreground
- Fire encrouches the band. They keep playing. Minor VFX/Poorly Composited (See 2.10)
- More Potential Vignettes (See 2.11-15)
- Unbothered neighbor in pool
- Kid in Spiderman costume tries spraying the fire
- Bucket of cash dumped on fire and floating thru air
- Cash floats thru air
- Moms on knees praying
- Kids running in every direction
- Band Plays Song while Wind Whips + People Run in Foreground
- Fire encrouches the band. They keep playing. Minor VFX/Poorly Composited (See 2.10)
- More Potential Vignettes (See 2.11-15)
- Unbothered neighbor in pool
- Kid in Spiderman costume tries spraying the fire
- Bucket of cash dumped on fire and floating thru air
- Cash floats thru air
- Moms on knees praying
- Kids running in every direction
02:23 - Band Breaks and
- ‘God forgive us, we didn’t head the call. Mother Mary, we let it be too long‘ ︎︎︎ Big Fat Dad runs off + Band finally stops playing and attempts to put out the fire (See 2.17)
- Potential vignettes, all in slow-motion:
- Tries to open the hose
- Takes hoodies off and tried batting the fire
- Stacking deck furniture to barricade.
- Drum kit burning up
- ‘God forgive us, we didn’t head the call. Mother Mary, we let it be too long‘ ︎︎︎ Big Fat Dad runs off + Band finally stops playing and attempts to put out the fire (See 2.17)
- Potential vignettes, all in slow-motion:
- Tries to open the hose
- Takes hoodies off and tried batting the fire
- Stacking deck furniture to barricade.
- Drum kit burning up
2:57 - Fire Wins
- Flames cover the frame (Cheesy CGI). Nate smiles as he accepts fate. (See 2.18)
- Fade to white.
- Flames cover the frame (Cheesy CGI). Nate smiles as he accepts fate. (See 2.18)
- Fade to white.
03:05 - Nate Snaps Awake
- After the final strum, Nate snaps awake. He’s wearing a suit (See 2.19)
- In a wide, we see he’s dressed sitting on a bus stop. He wipes his eyes with his sleeves.
- After the final strum, Nate snaps awake. He’s wearing a suit (See 2.19)
- In a wide, we see he’s dressed sitting on a bus stop. He wipes his eyes with his sleeves.
CINEMATOGRAPHY and STYLE
- 1.78:1
- 16mm Film 2-Perf
- Telephoto Lenses (75mm and 100mm) and Zoom Lenses
- Slow Motion (60/120fps) and Regular Speed
- Largely Tripod
- 1.78:1
- 16mm Film 2-Perf
- Telephoto Lenses (75mm and 100mm) and Zoom Lenses
- Slow Motion (60/120fps) and Regular Speed
- Largely Tripod
FRAMING and COMPOSITION (examples below)
- ‘Dirty’ Frames with Mix of Foreground Elements
- Exagerrated Singles and Insert Shots
- Soft Natural Low Contrast Lighting with Tinges of Brights for Surrealism at Key Moments
- ‘Dirty’ Frames with Mix of Foreground Elements
- Exagerrated Singles and Insert Shots
- Soft Natural Low Contrast Lighting with Tinges of Brights for Surrealism at Key Moments
COLOR and LIGHTING (examples below)
- Warm + Reds/Greens + Medium Saturdated Tones
- Light Contrast, Soft Lighting. Layered Shadows
- Nostalgic and Realistic
- At times, heavy backlights to imply surrealism
- Warm + Reds/Greens + Medium Saturdated Tones
- Light Contrast, Soft Lighting. Layered Shadows
- Nostalgic and Realistic
- At times, heavy backlights to imply surrealism
References Used:
Wet Hot American Summer (2001)
Hot Rod (2008)
The Sweet East (2023
Juno (2007)
Red Rocket (2001)
Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005)
Wendy and Lucy (2008)
Eighth Grade (2018
TEAM
NIC BOOZANG
DIRECTOR
A director and producer based in NYC.
Clients include Moncler, Carhartt WIP, Creature World, Nike NYC, and Jenkem Magazine. For artists, his commissions include Navy Blue, Victor Internet, and Keegan Konsor.
His focus lies in queer and surreal images.
His work has been nominated for UK Music Video Awards, and featured in New York Times and The Fader.
Featured directing work:
- Navy Blue - ‘Commencement’
- Moncler Footwear AW 2026 Campaign
- ‘Ham Cubed’ Unreleased Short Film, starring Simpletown and Keegan Konsor
DIRECTOR
A director and producer based in NYC.
Clients include Moncler, Carhartt WIP, Creature World, Nike NYC, and Jenkem Magazine. For artists, his commissions include Navy Blue, Victor Internet, and Keegan Konsor.
His focus lies in queer and surreal images.
His work has been nominated for UK Music Video Awards, and featured in New York Times and The Fader.
Featured directing work:
- Navy Blue - ‘Commencement’
- Moncler Footwear AW 2026 Campaign
- ‘Ham Cubed’ Unreleased Short Film, starring Simpletown and Keegan Konsor
OWEN SMITH-CLARK
CINEMATOGRAPHER
A DP living and working in New York and Los Angeles.
His works and collaborations span narrative, fashion, music video, advertising, and fine art mediums. His work has been exhibited at MoMA, The Foam Museum in Amsterdam, Toronto International Film Festival, The International Center for Photography, Locarno Film Festival, and Nowness.com, among other platforms and venues.
Selected credits:
- The Non‑Actor (2025, short film) – director of photography; starred Maya Hawke and Victoria Pedretti. Selected for TIFF
- Tourmaline (music video for Earl Sweatshirt) – director of photography
- Chinches (2023, short film) by Renell Medrano – director of photography
- Chasing Pink, Found Red (2019, short film) directed by Tyler Mitchell – director of photography
Cinematography work:
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CINEMATOGRAPHER
A DP living and working in New York and Los Angeles.
His works and collaborations span narrative, fashion, music video, advertising, and fine art mediums. His work has been exhibited at MoMA, The Foam Museum in Amsterdam, Toronto International Film Festival, The International Center for Photography, Locarno Film Festival, and Nowness.com, among other platforms and venues.
Selected credits:
- The Non‑Actor (2025, short film) – director of photography; starred Maya Hawke and Victoria Pedretti. Selected for TIFF
- Tourmaline (music video for Earl Sweatshirt) – director of photography
- Chinches (2023, short film) by Renell Medrano – director of photography
- Chasing Pink, Found Red (2019, short film) directed by Tyler Mitchell – director of photography
Cinematography work:
Thank you for your time.