Against a post-dawn March sky, Cardiff’s historic Coal Exchange silently welcomed cast and crew to the set of “Casimir Effect,” a science fiction romance/thriller. In the late 1800s this site bustled with business near the city’s docks, but on the first day of filming, the venerable structure was a mere shade of its former glory.  Although plans are in the works to expand the building’s current use as an entertainment venue, several floors of would-be offices stood empty. For one week in March, however, the Coal Exchange thrummed with the creative energy that heralds a new future for independent filmmaking.

Just as Cardiff determinedly strives to balance historic old and business-friendly new, so do the cast and crew of this futuristic film. They relied on some of Cardiff’s old buildings for film locations as part of their creative approach to making their independent short feature. Writers/directors/producers Gabriel Strange and Lydia Wood emphasize that “we want to showcase local talent, give people an opportunity to be creative and show the world what they can do.” They also want to prove that their strategy for low-budget filmmaking results in a high-quality story that gains positive attention from the film industry.

Symbolically as well as creatively, lead actor Gareth David-Lloyd well represents the project. The Welsh actor gained fame as Ianto Jones on BBC’s “Torchwood,” especially in the critically acclaimed “Children of Earth” miniseries, which just received 6 Bafta Cymru nominations. His hometown of Newport may be only a few miles from former Torchwood locations, but David-Lloyd’s portrayal endeared him to fans around the globe. “Casimir Effect” may similarly launch the cast into higher-profile, internationally recognized roles.

In addition to starring as Dr. Bob Cameron, David-Lloyd is the film’s executive producer. This role, he notes, allows him to become “a consultant as well. I had three years on a set [with "Torchwood"]. I’ve written in the past and directed and developed my own stories in one way or another. I want to help the project as much as I can because I believe in it.” Everyone, from actors to runners, shares this willingness to make “Casimir Effect” a local success story in an international market.

The Alchemy of Production Design

Filming in the Coal Exchange provided Strange and Wood with plenty of room for their creative vision within the film’s limited (£10,000 or $14,600) budget. Getting the site as a primary interior location turned out to be the easy part. Strange explains that they “just asked the [owners of the] Coal Exchange, and as they [want to] cater to the creative sector, it was an opportunity for them to help us and get some recommendations from us.” The only stipulation was that shooting remain in a specific area and all evidence of “Casimir Effect” be removed after the film wrapped.

Like ancient alchemists, the film’s creative team turned everyday items into cinematic gold. They transformed peeling hallways into a modern military facility and warmed cold, bare rooms into a suitable setting for romance.

Although “Casimir Effect” tells the story of a time traveler trying to avert a paradox that can destroy humanity, it primarily is a love story. The sets sometimes became the backdrop for intimacy, sometimes dramatic confrontations; they included claustrophobic corridors and the long staircases and scaffolding required of an escape route. On site a week before filming began, the crew redecorated rooms along one floor to become anything the production needed, including the practical (space for make-up and wardrobe, props and equipment, and the ever-popular green room) as well as the creative (sets ranging from the laboratory to the bedroom).

Production designer Dale Jordan Johnson worked closely with Strange and Wood to develop a color scheme and set dressing that would show up well on camera, be possible to create in the Coal Exchange, and reflect changes in the script’s timelines. Lighting fixtures, for example, not only had to work but needed to belong in a distant future. According to Johnson, the color scheme behind “the [more recent] 2050 timeline is predominantly blue with strips of orange. The end of the universe timeline is predominantly orange [with] tears of blue coming through it.” Why orange as a main color? “Orange is a color of aggression and, also, if you go into the center of the planet, it gets hotter, and that’s the feeling I got for the end of the universe.” The strategic use of complementary colors and attention to details representing each timeline in the story allowed the filmmakers to achieve the futuristic look they wanted (with as few rooms to repaint as possible).

As with any older building used as a film location, the Coal Exchange posed typical problems: electrical outlets that sometimes didn’t work, lack of soundproofing, and rooms not exactly sized for film crews. Filming a shower scene required a logistical ballet among actor, director, cinematographer, and make-up and wardrobe personnel. Runners often begged workers renovating nearby floors to turn off radios or stop hammering while the camera rolled. The unheated building forced the crew huddling quietly behind the camera to wear jackets throughout the shoot. The cast wasn’t so lucky. Their on-screen wardrobe included tank tops and pajamas, so the actors kept coffee and coats just off camera. Nevertheless, without such a low-cost location to provide so much versatility, “Casimir Effect” would have had to cut corners in other areas. Strange and Wood believe that a high-quality story requires high-quality production values, and the majority of the film’s funds ended up on screen.

Low-Cost Locations in the Future of Independent Film

To make a low-budget film that looks expensive in the theatre requires lots of creative planning, and Wood and Strange are clearly up to the task. All the hard work of preparing the location for filming paid off in the production’s big-screen look, and audiences who see “Casimir Effect” at festivals around the world next year will be transported to places and times far from Cardiff’s Coal Exchange.

Wood and Strange encourage other independent filmmakers to inventory local buildings, especially beautiful old structures that may be slated for renovation or demolition. These locations may help create the right ambiance for a film, and they often can be temporarily remodeled to suit the filmmaker’s vision. As well, collaboration between local businesses and filmmakers can help promote both.

The duo’s approach to filmmaking earned them the attention of the UK film industry. In part because of their innovative use of buildings like the Coal Exchange, Wood and Strange were invited by industry representatives to participate in a workshop emphasizing the re-use of derelict buildings.

The filmmakers’ reputation is growing throughout the UK. Strange seems surprised but pleased that “some of the people we are working with have been talking to other people [who are] looking at a new way of filmmaking, and then they have come back to us to get a deeper insight into how we did it.” Turning underused buildings into a filmmaking goldmine is a feat of cinematic alchemy, and these young filmmakers are leading other independents into an exciting future.

For more information about “Casimir Effect” click here.