A Conversation with Angels

The segment Cohabiting Glory's screenplay was completed after repeated viewings of Louis Malle's Le souffle au coeur (1971). Daniel Heater, originally hired to operate the boom mic and to create a soundscape for the film, spoke French at a graduate level and, before filming, was preparing to participate as King Theseus in an advanced placement performance of Phèdre by Jean Racine at the University of Michigan. Based on his musical talent and ability to speak French on cue, he was immediately cast in the role of Rene Benoit, despite the role originally being written for a man in his (late) 40s.

In an alternate frame story to segment The Sociable Spirit, the character of Tobias was a delivery man visiting the home of an affluent Italian baron. As originally written, the segment was far more lighthearted and comedic in nature with the baron taking the character to a private lake from which he could not escape. This footage was shot on a one day pass at the estate of automobile pioneer Henry Ford, with exclusive permission from the Ford family. All buildings are part of the original home and powerhouse still standing on the grounds. When the frame story changed, the only building left in the project was a small white house, which functioned as a playhouse for the Ford children.