Winnipeg filmmaker, Paula Kelly, has a script in development for a feature film entitled, Emily Blake. As a means of promoting the concept of the film project, I was asked to produce a website that outlines the story and look of the movie.

Using an assortment of photographs from the 19^th century as well as several digital reproductions of Vilhelm Hammershøi paintings, each page was given its own distinctive look within the overall visual design.

Flash® was used sparingly – simply fading text in and out on the home page. A very nice and simple string of JavaScript called, jQuery Panel Gallery Plugin 1.1, developed by a gentleman at Catch My Fame helped to display a selection of images that showcased the desired palette and artistic motif.

A considerable challenge and exercise in problem-solving occurred on the biography page. Even after revisions, Paula’s bio felt too long, at least visually. It pushed the other information on the page down below the fold. The viewer wouldn’t necessarily know to scroll further down the page to read any additional information. At first I thought of simply having a read more link that took the reader to a .pdf document with the expanded biography. That just seemed too cheap and easy. Then I considered two separate pages for each bio, but that seemed so unnecessary.

Thankfully I remembered how some websites show/hide portions of content to maximize real estate. After a lot of searching and disregarding bloated and overly complicated examples, I found this snippet that works really well. Now both bios appear immediately above the fold and, if desired, Paula’s can be expanded to reveal more of her credentials.

Over time, as the production gets further into development, more information can easily be added: cast, crew, productions stills, trailers, festival screenings, and reviews.