Author: Shaudi Bianca Vahdat
If you’ve seen Glass Casa, the dark comedy murder mystery that hit streaming services late last year, you might have some questions about the incredible glass house that serves as the titular setting. The stunning 6,400 square foot house is located in San Diego, California, and features a private pool and jacuzzi, wet and dry saunas, an elevator, and panoramic ocean views. There are incredible architectural flourishes throughout, including the distinctive turquoise roof.
We asked writer and director Laa Marcus how she came to spend 18 days filming in this unique space, which elements of the script were inspired by the house, and how her crew managed to shoot all that glass.
This is a one-of-a-kind location. How did you find it?
I was fortunate enough to have a connection to the owner of the estate who graciously let us film there.
So did you write the script with this specific house in mind?
Absolutely, the location was the starting point of the whole project. Once I knew I had it as a resource I began crafting the story and characters to inhabit it. The house became a character unto itself and I purposely utilized every nook and cranny. I was able to spend time there during pre-production, taking photos and storyboarding shots on location which was so beneficial.
Above: One of Laa’s on-location storyboards. Below: The final scene as it appears on screen.
How much did your team change or redesign the space? Was a lot of the furniture and set decoration already there, or did you have to make significant modifications?
Most of the furniture was there already and just required some moving around, adding props and decorations. Many of the paintings were originals made by one of the owners of the house, so that was perfect. Obviously all the many photographs and children’s toys and personal objects had to be removed and replaced by the creepy set decorations we designed. But overall it was already pretty well designed and furnished. Some rooms were barely touched and others just minimally redecorated or redesigned.
Did you have any challenges while shooting with this much glass around (for example, weird reflections or lighting challenges)?
Absolutely, every scene of every day. But we knew that was a challenge going in and my cinematographer was highly skilled and knew what he was doing. There were a few times though that someone was caught in the reflection (or an actor was seen through the glass in another room) that had to be masked and fixed in post-production with VFX. That happened only a surprisingly few times though, considering how glass the casa is!
Shooting in a glass house had its challenges, but the talented crew made it work! Why did you choose to film a dark comedy murder mystery at this house?
It’s so cinematic! I love the unique design and all the glass and turquoise. It was my biggest resource to make the lowest budget film I could that looked like a much higher budget film!
Filmmaker Laa Marcus.
A huge thank you to Laa for sharing the story behind this gorgeous glass casa. Her experience is a great reminder that, with the right location, a talented team, and a bit of resourcefulness, it is possible to make a low-budget project look like a high-end production.
Haven’t had a chance to catch this Laa Marcus movie? See the house–and the wild shenanigans that go down there–for yourself. The movie is streaming now!
Please note: this interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.