February 24, 2026
Shot Talk – The Singers with Dir. Sam Davis & Production Designer Michelle Patterson
Summary
We had the chance to sit down with Sam Davis and Michelle Patterson for an in-depth discussion about their Oscar-winning short film The Singers.
From finding the actors from viral videos online, to directing and shooting the film on 35mm, to how Sam’s background in documentary filmmaking was crucial to laying the groundwork for their shooting schedule, we break down the creative process that helped make the award-winning film that was recently acquired by Netflix.
Key moments
- 00:01:34 Why the Film Resonates: Underdogs, Community & Vulnerability
- 00:02:50 How Sam and Michelle Met & Came Together for the Project
- 00:03:25 Sam's Documentary Background & the Decision to Self-Shoot
- 00:04:42 The No-Script, No-Slate Workflow
- 00:06:09 Dressing 360 with No Script: Michelle's On-Set Approach
- 00:08:02 Finding Characters in Real People
- 00:10:18 Location Challenges: Stripping Out the Moose Lodge
- 00:13:08 The Vision Document: Lighting & Visual Inspiration
- 00:17:11 Michelle's Lookbook: Tarkovsky, Lynch, Paris Texas & Yelp Bar Photos
- 00:19:16 A Director’s Nugget: Simple Concise Direction
- 00:23:04 The No-Schedule Shoot: Four Days of Controlled Chaos
- 00:27:07 Sam and Michelle’s Favorite Shots
- 00:30:35 Closing Reflections: Take Big Swings, Never Play It Safe
