Behind The Scenes Grisly Grisell Photo Gallery

Do you absolutely love Grisly Grisell and want to see behind the scenes photos? This Grisly Grisell photo gallery is filled with all the faces you know along with the stuff that goes on behind the scenes!

You can view the photo gallery in one of two ways. Scroll through the pictures or click on the first image for a  gallery to open.

1. Behind the Scenes Grisly Grisell Photo Gallery

2. Red Carpet Premiere Grisly Grisell Photo Gallery

When we were brainstorming for our third film, Grisly Grisell came out on top because the girl in me was attracted to the fairy tale aspect of this story and I knew that we could pull off a picture book telling of the classic while improving our sets.

I also wanted a chance to let one of my actresses have the spotlight as I had noticed her talent in previous films even though she had only been an extra in Outlaws of Ravenhurst and Max & Carlota.

The most challenging part of this film was working with gun powder and creating Grisell's post-accident make up.

1. Behind The Scenes Grisly Grisell Photo Gallery

Abbey Erskine helps Michael Bowen with his gauntlet during a short break.

Lord Salisbury (Matt Bowen) reviews his lines with Lady Salisbury (Kathleen Bowen) at Salisbury Hall.

Cast members getting ready for the explosion in the opening scene.

Mary Bowen fitting Grisell's (Abbey Erskine) wedding headdress.

Cast for the Wedding Scene. Back left to right: Ridley, Grisell, Leonard, Script Supervisor Faustina Bowen, Director Mary Bowen. Front left to right: Thora, Fr. Lucas, Sid, Samuel

Mary Bowen shows actors where to stand for the explosion scene.

4. Behind The Scenes With Grisell (Abbey Erskine)

Acting in Grisly Grisell was a great experience. I really enjoyed every shoot day. Mary and Faustina were organized and made being on set very entertaining.

I’m going to start off by saying how much I admired Grisell. She was very humble and obedient to her stepmother. Although her stepmother was mean to her, Grisell never complained or showed any disrespect.

My favorite shoot day was the day we filmed the explosion scene at Castle Noz. Despite getting stuck in the tower three times, it was a fun day.

My favorite scene in the movie is the scene where Grisell leaves the convent to live with her stepmother because she did not have a dowry. It's a pivotal part and right before Grisell’s life took a wild turn.

I enjoyed acting most with Faustina. She is very enthusiastic and fun to act with. My favorite part of a shoot day was the costumes and singing VeggieTales.

The hardest part of acting Grisell was remembering what lines to say. There were days they filmed a lot of scenes and I would get confused about what lines I needed to say for each scene.

When I saw the complete movie for the first time, I really enjoyed it. It was kinda strange seeing myself so much but I thought the movie was really good.

Director Mary Bowen, Grisell (Abbey Erskine), and Script Supervisor Faustina Bowen pose for a quick picture in front of the green screen.

Bowen family poses with the Our Lady of Victory statue at the Discalced Carmalite Convent in Georgetown.

Michael Bowen (Sir Leonard) and James Phillips (Pierce Hardcastle) enjoy a little time to goof around before getting serious about shooting.

Cast for the explosion scene posing at Castle Noz.

Cast members review the script before the wedding scene.

Thomas Erskine, Patrick Bowen, Faustina Bowen and Becket Bowen in front of the green screen.

For this movie, we really wanted some nice costumes for our characters. We had fun using color to distinguish character couples and families. We were excited to do this because sometimes it's hard to follow who goes to who and which character is which. With a visual reminder, we hope that our mainly children audience can follow the storyline easier and know which characters belong to each other.

Besides the red and white rose tunics separating between Red Rose and White Rose for the men, we also had themed colors for the couples.

Lord and Lady Salisbury wear purple and sit in their purple curtained hall. Lady Whitburn wears red, which Grisell accents with the red in her navy blue dress.

The use of color and investing in a steamer really helped make the costumes look crisp. My only disappointment with the costumes is the fabric choice. The material is Halloween costume quality and did not reflect stage light the way I wanted it too.

Samuel (Becket Bowen) and Sid (Thomas Erskine) enjoy a quick moment in between shooting.

Matt and Kathleen Bowen dressed as extras with Baby René.

We'll do anything to get that perfect angle, even tear through the wall if need be!

Abbey Erskine's especially favorite part of the shoot day: make-up time!

Faustina Bowen gets everyone lined up for the pageant while Mary Bowen gets the camera in position.

Waiting on "Action".

During the early preproduction stages of Grisly Grisell, we decided we were going to focus on investing the most in sets.

Like the costumes, our sets supported the characters by taking on different hues. These colors highlighted the character's emotions and attitudes.

One of our best sets was Grisell’s chamber. We made it look homey, yet simple because this was a time when Grisell was not being given much by her step mother. We had our floor loom in the corner to suggest industry, while Grisell herself is spinning a roving which is piled in the basket beside her.

Hanging from the wall we placed some drying herbs with the compounds just beneath to show her medicinal knowledge learned at the convent. We were fortunate enough to borrow a very ornamental Prie Dieu. It features a beautiful piece of tapestry!

We wanted the nunnery to really play its part well, even though it takes such a small part in Grisly Grisell.

Since the religious at that time were well-known for their knowledge of medicinal herbs, we had the hand grinder which Sister Avice uses in the scene.

The walls we left bare and white to impress the nuns’ religious poverty. Although they live in a spirit of poverty, the nuns are portrayed filled with happiness and exultation as they enjoy flowers and their life of prayer.

For the outdoor nunnery of Wilton, we actually found a convent near us in California.

The Discalced Carmalite Nuns of Sacramento were kind enough to allow us to film at their beautiful convent. As these nuns live cloistered lives, we did not get to see them and just went, shot and left.

The road was a little steep and scared some of our actors and moms, so we will have to scout our unknown locations a little better next time!

The Whitburn Dining Hall was another fun set. We wanted to make the feeling stoic and gloomy, especially in contrast to Salisbury Hall.

The walls are hung with burgundy red to match the lady of the tower. The place is also ill-lit, setting a dismal gloom on the place.

We were quite happy with the effect of these efforts. The gloom and deep colors set the stage for Lady Whitburn’s bitter temper and constant fault finding.

For the Bruges Inn, we wanted a clean tavern, showing the days when a person could walk into one and not meet high spirited revelry.

Grisell works here with smoke always misting the set, which we provided with a bee smoker.

This was to give the effect that Grisell goes from her position of honor as a lady to being a common laborer who has nowhere better to stay than a common inn.

The beam we built with 2x4s nailed together. We placed some kegs on the table along with a pumpkin on the table to pay homage to the Cinderella nature of the story.

The mini village idea was one of the most ambitious ideas yet. We bought small cardboard buildings and green screened all the outdoor scenes onto these backdrops.

We had fun getting different buildings to represent Holland and England. Our favorite Holland scenery was the bridge, armory and the windmill.

The cardboard buildings gave a very pleasing pop-up book effect.

With the mini buildings, we were able to create little villages and shoot at Salisbury castle, Bruges, and Whitburn Tower on all the same day!

Our chapel, too, was a little cardboard building which we were able to green screen rain over.

Grisell's accident occurs at Salisbury Castle. This is her room after she is injured. We wanted to give the effect that Grisell's sickroom is one full of calm and peace.

The Salisburys themselves wear purples. We put up blue curtains and had a bouquet of lavender in the corner (to suggest a soothing scent). We are very happy with the effect.

Horse master Donna Kopsczyinski works with the actors in preparation for a horse scene. Beside her is Faustina Bowen and mounted is Michael Bowen.

"Fairest Eleanor" (Clare Uhlenkott) getting ready for the pageant.

The actors do a read through of the scene. Stacy Phillips (Mother of the Maids) defends her conduct to Lord and Lady Salisbury (Matt and Kathleen Bowen).

Michael Bowen (Sir Leonard) adjusts his armor on his willing model, Faustina Bowen.

"I have fulfilled the conditions and am a free man!"

Left to Right: Liam Castricum, Bernadette Uhlenkott, Dominic Uhlenkott, Becket Bowen, and Oliver Dahlsrud prepare for the pageant.

For this movie, we were fortunate to have been able to rent a garage for a studio. This made things much easier because we had a place to apply makeup, a small dressing room for the actors to change in, as well as sets we could set up and leave until we were done using them.

We also decided that, at the beginning of every shoot, we would start with stretches, a team-building game, a prayer and then move into the studio to start shooting.

This worked great! The actors had a chance to play with each other before getting to work, and everyone entered the day with an attitude that they were there to have fun.

The shoots themselves were very smooth. We had ironed out a lot of the lumps through trial and error and were able to eliminate much of the headache we experienced in the past.

The actors cooperated, we knew what angles looked more professional, and we were committed to asking the actors to redo until it was satisfactory.

The result: a movie about our top book suggestions for tween girls that everyone was proud to be a collaborator in!

2. The Red Carpet Premiere: Grisly Grisell Photo Gallery

After much preparation and excitement, Grisly Grisell finally premiered May 12, 2022! We had a formal red carpet premiere at our local movie theater.

After watching the movie, the guests were invited to join us for an after-party with cake and hor d'oeuvres. We hosted a silent auction and danced throughout the evening.

Faustina Bowen (Script/Actor) and Mary Bowen (Director) pose with the Grisly Grisell Movie Cover

Marquee sign displaying Grisly Grisell Premiere on Main Street

Actor Michael Bowen (Leonard Copeland) poses with the Grisly Grisell Movie Cover

Interior of movie theater decorated for our red carpet premiere.

Guests enjoyed pool, Western swing dancing and more at the after party.

Cake with Grisly Grisell written on it was served at the after party.

Stage view of audience while they watch Grisly Grisell.

The silent auction included movie props and costumes as well as locally donated items.

Movie themed center pieces decorated the tables at the after party.

The premiere was a huge success. The generous owner of the local movie theater waved his rental fee and Grisly Grisell premiered on the big screen. The theater is on the historical site registry and it was a real thrill seeing Grisly Grisell displayed on the antique marquee sign!

This was a formal event with a red carpet and all. Sticking with the theme of the historic theater and the Wars of the Roses we decorated with Old Hollywood glamour complete with red and white roses. What a memorable evening!

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