Blood of the Bear is a fictionalized tale of William Faulkner's childhood. In it, a young Faulkner is on a hunting trip with his father and grandfather after a bear (Old Reelfoot). During the trip he learns to think for himself and it becomes a rite of passage for him to discover his own future. The set was an intimate abstract version of a forest. The floor was covered with burlap and black scrim was hung on the sides to give the space some depth and tree shapes and birch branches were spaced throughout the upstage area to add to the forest look.

The lighting became crucial in such a small area, flashbacks, time changes and location changes were prevalent through the script. I used a series of breakup templates from the sides and the front to add texture and create the look of light falling through trees. In addition, a clear wash helped with illumination, adding warmth to scenes and to help give a unified look to the space. The two lighting ideas also helped with the emotional battle William was undergoing, being unsure if he wanted to follow a life in tune with nature or a more civilized city life.

Flashbacks were lit with a single source in a saturated amber, leaving long shadows through the space. In addition, the birch and tree silhouttes on the scrim were backlit, giving the entire space a very different look. The bear itself was never seen, and was more a metaphor for the vehicle of change for William. It was given several specials as well, with a raw, claw-ripped texture that illuminated young Faulkner as he fought with it on and offstage.