The production

The Grand Scheme is a short comedy film written, produced and directed by Matthew Mirams. The story travels through the five stages of life, with each stage told through a different film genre, moving between funny, strange, poignant and theatrical moments.

My role

I worked as Director of Photography, supporting the director’s vision for a fast-paced, witty short film with a polished cinematic look. The production involved long takes, large ensemble scenes and lighting setups that allowed actors to move through complex blocking without losing the rhythm of the comedy.

The visual approach

The cinematography needed to move smoothly between different genre worlds while still feeling like one connected film. One sequence begins in a medical operating theatre, then transitions into a larger warehouse-style film set, revealing the behind-the-scenes world of the story and the playful film-within-a-film structure.

The camera and lighting approach was shaped around performance, movement and timing. Large ensemble scenes needed enough freedom for the actors and director to keep the pace alive, while still giving each location a clear visual tone, from theatrical interiors and restaurant scenes to darker night settings and the film’s quieter final moments.

Credits

Written, directed and produced by Matt Mirams

Director of Photography: Filip Laureys

Camera Assistant: Reza Zaki

Edited by Sonya Veljanovski

Cast includes Scott Major, Kym Valentine and Laila Thaker