01 / BREAKDOWN
The premise
A traveler takes shelter in a stone cottage, hears howling and bolts the door. Then he becomes the threat the door needs to contain.
ORIGINAL SHORT / HORROR
The Beast Within
He locks the cottage door to keep something out. Then his hand begins to change.
02 / BREAKDOWN
The character
Woody Watts used a photograph of himself as the visual reference. The AI-assisted character work aimed to preserve his recognizable features as the character, wardrobe and anatomy changed.
03 / BREAKDOWN
The production decisions
Cold moonlight and warm firelight establish the room. The hand locking the bolt had to remain consistent with the hand that transforms. The creature was directed toward the appearance of practical prosthetics and a suit, rather than claiming a practical werewolf was filmed.
04 / BREAKDOWN
The sound
The bolt, footsteps, breathing, tearing fabric, claws and door impact carry the physical transformation. The sequence was developed around clear action and sound, rather than disconnected dramatic images.