Op Verzoek – Design & Production Internship
Harpy Films
Director: Myrte van der Molen
Designer: Bas Giesen
Role: Set Builder / Production Intern

Project Overview

Op Verzoek is a short film about an 11-year-old girl, Maya, who struggles with autism and the way she relates to the world around her. The film takes place in two contrasting environments: the warm, intimate space of Maya’s bedroom and the more cold, disconnected adult world. The set for this project was built in an old gymnasium, which presented unique challenges but also provided an interesting backdrop that helped bring the story to life.

As the production designer, my role was to create these environments, often working hands-on to bring the vision of the film to life, especially given the limited budget and resources. The was built in an actual old gymnasium, which presented unique challenges and opportunities. Inside this unconventional space, I constructed five distinct environments, including Maya’s intimate bedroom and the colder, more disconnected adult world. I was responsible for sourcing and arranging furniture, props, carefully selecting each element to reflect Maya’s emotional and sensory journey. Transforming a gym into a believable, functional set pushed me to be resourceful and highly creative, and it became one of the most rewarding parts of the project.