As Art Director on Where Mothbloods Bloom, my role was a departure from my typical design-focused responsibilities into a more logistical role. However, it was precisely the challenge I needed to grow. The task at hand: transform an old, dilapidated gas station into a functional convenience store on a budget of around $1000. With so little to work with, I had to get creative with local partnerships and repurposing. I secured partnerships with local businesses, borrowing products from a local brewery to fill the coolers and arranging borrowed items that helped bring authenticity to the set without blowing the budget. It was the first time I’d coordinated such an intricate collaboration, and I relished taking the lead with the designer.

We found the perfect slot machine for one of the scenes and made a ton of fake products to line the shelves. Of course, before we could do anything, we had to clean a layer of filth off of the location that seemed 10 years thick. I remember warning first-years to watch for used needles… just in case. In retrospect, it was not the safest space for a handful of 20-year-olds to be deep cleaning.

Beyond the logistical challenges, Mothbloods marked a personal turning point. Until then, my professional life was often overshadowed by Jas and his influence. However, this project began my reputation—which I was carving out independently and intentionally. Leading up to this, I’d started to form friendships within the crew and in my department, building connections with people who saw and valued my work outside of any association with him. It was liberating, and with each day, I found myself enjoying the sense of community that was forming around me.

Of course, J wasn’t thrilled. He was growing increasingly frustrated that I was spending time with new people, people who had come to respect and appreciate me. We needed to focus on Envisioned, as the team was getting ready to travel, he bemoaned. But Mothbloods was the start of something important: a critical shift, as I felt the strain of my personal and professional connection with J.