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Mia 

Burghardt

SITUATION

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Lovespelled is a narrative short film exploring queer love through the lens of magic, identity, and belonging. Created collaboratively by a group of 20 filmmakers, the project blended fantasy with emotional realism. As the Production Designer, I worked closely with the Director and Director of Photography to bring this magical world to life.

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TASK

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My role was to visually shape both worlds in the story. The mystical, witchy origin dimension and the grounded, modern world the witch enters. 

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  • Designing and sourcing wardrobe and costumes that reflect character development and world-building

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  • Leading art direction to create visually distinct spaces for each dimension

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  • Producing set design and props, including magical elements

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  • Creating graphic design assets where needed to support the visual narrative

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ACTION TAKEN

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  • Met regularly with the Director and DP to align the visual tone of each dimension with the emotional arc

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  • Coordinated with actors to select and style wardrobe that felt authentic and symbolic

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  • Sourced and designed key set pieces that reinforced the contrast between the witch’s mystical origins and the real world

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  • Led the on-set art team to ensure styling, continuity, and design details were consistent and intentional

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  • Created magical props and subtle visual cues to support world-building without overpowering the love story at its center

RESULTS

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  • Helped bring Lovespelled to life as a fully produced short film, blending fantasy and emotion through thoughtful design

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  • Created a visual language that clearly differentiated the two worlds while keeping the story emotionally grounded

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  • Supported smooth production through careful prep, collaboration, and on-set problem-solving

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  • The final film offered a tender, magical take on queer love and was well-received in internal screenings and peer reviews

PERSONAL IMPACT​

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Lovespelled was a chance to be part of telling a love story that felt both otherworldly and deeply human. Working on a queer narrative meant a lot to me personally. It reminded me how important it is to help create stories that reflect a wide range of identities and relationships.

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This project pushed me to be more intentional about how design influences emotion. I had to think not only about what things looked like, but what they made the audience feel. It deepened my appreciation for visual storytelling as an emotional tool, not just an aesthetic one.

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