News in Production Design World

I am sorry to my reader(s) for being MIA. I had a rough go when my baby-my golden retriever was diagnosed with a heart tumor and was gone within 3 months later. Broke my heart. Then, thankfully, it has been an incredibly busy time filming a feature and a TV show and doing some print and showroom work.

So in Production Design World:

Congratulations to all the Creative Arts Emmy Award Winners!!!
Best Art Direction - Multi-Camera Series
"Hot in Cleveland"
Best Art Direction - Single-Camera Series
"Boardwalk Empire"
Best Art Direction - Miniseries or Movie
"Mildred Pierce"
Best Art Direction - Variety, Music or Non-Fiction Programming
"2010 MTV Video Music Awards"
Best Costumes - Series
"The Borgias"
Best Costumes - TV Movie/Mini-Series
"Downton Abbey"

There is a new prop house in LA devoted to death-type items called Morgue Prop Rentals, which I am super excited about! I could have used him so often (open a location in NYC-hint, hint).  Tip of the hat to you, sir.

A quick blurb on "Pan Am"'s sets from the NY Post. They built the sets in Steiner Studios in BK, the major airplane set for only $100,000, which I think is cheap for such a giant build. It's nice to see a boost in TV shows filming here after a handful left.

The ADG's 16th annual Excellence in Production Design Awards is honoring Robert Boyle, William Darling and Alfred Junge into its hall of fame on Feb. 4 for their outstanding Production Design, unfortunately posthumously. Myself, I am looking to have this occur before the later. Production designer Tony Walton will receive the ADG's lifetime achievement award.

• Robert Boyle's highlights included "North by Northwest", "Marnie", "Fiddler on the Roof", "Private Benjamin", and my personal favorite, "Troop Beverley Hills"and he lived to be 100! He was nominated four times for and Oscar and once for an Emmy. He received an honorary lifetime Oscar in 2008 for Art Direction and ADG awarded him a lifetime achievement award in 1997.

courtesy of MGM

• William Darling was there during the large studio days. He won 3 Oscars, most notably for "Anna and the King of Siam" (1946) and was nominated for 4 more in the 1930s-40s.
• Alfred Junge was around during the in the beginning of film, who started out in Germany before coming to Hollywood in the 20s. He won one Oscar for "Black Narcissus" (1947) and nominated for "Knights of the Roundtable".
• Tony Walton is mainly an art director for theater. He's been nominated for 12 Tonys and won 3. His first film was Mary Poppins as a costume designer and thus got nominated for an Oscar for Best Costumes. He has been nominated for 3 others and won for "All that Jazz". He has also been nominated for 2 BAFTA awards and won an Emmy for the miniseries "Death of a Salesman". (On a side note, he used to be married to Julie Andrews in the 60's.

I am loving this new re-designed set of "Castle" by Alfred Sole that the LA Times showcased.  Sole was even courteous enough to provide us with where he got items and paint color.

courtesy of LA Times/Tim Swope

UNDERWORLD 4: NEW DAWN STARTS FILMING (Production Stills)

Underworld 4: New Dawn has started filming in Vancouver, Canada that will be due out Jan. 2012. Kate Beckinsale is returning as Selene. Her hubby, Len Wiseman, has not returned to direct. They have been able to make this vampire/werewolf series not too cheesy by adding the mature Kate Beckinsale, good costumes and art direction, and a good DP. Here are some stills of the wardrobe and behind-the-scenes construction. 

IF YOU WONDERING: PROP GUNS

Here is a featurette from the tv show White Collar of their prop guns with their prop master, Duke Scoppa.  You get to see them go to the company Weapons Specialists, which I've used before and a most amazing Prop Closet (Oprah voice)! They shoot here in NYC, too (added bonus). I would have liked it to go a little more in-depth of him on the job and not so basic, but an overall good learning experience for beginners.

ADJUSTMENT BUREAU INTERIORS

Apartment Therapy did a lovely article on the interiors of the Adjustment Bureau  that can be found here. Not only did I of course love the men in suits, but Matt Damon's character's apartment. I'm glad others have noticed it as well.  Thank you to Set Decorator Susan Bode-Tyson and Production Designer Kevin Thompson for giving some much loved eye candy!

Collections of Decor

I love putting collections together on my sets. Here are some of my favorites that I've seen others do.

Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon SuperBowl Spot

I was watching the SuperBowl with some film friends so when this came on there was a lot of shouting going on. Only Michael Bay can shut down streets in Chicago for Massive Explosions!


Transformers 'Dark of The Moon' Super Bowl Trailer (720p) from Michael Bay Dot Com on Vimeo.

My favorite SuperBowl Commercial of All-Time

What's yours?

The Cinematography of True Grit

Brilliance at work. Every shot. Sigh.

Wes Craven does re-shoots for Scream 4: A Bloody Lesson

Cornstarch + Corn syrup hardens in the cold.

Want in a film: Elie Saab Spring 2011 Couture Show

If only I had an event to wear these at! I would never take them off! I am sure they will be seen at the upcoming Oscars. Of course I covet them for a film.

The Best Perfume Commercials done by Film Directors and their Muses--Part 1

These are my favorite perfume/cologne commercials that were done by film directors and their muses. It seems Chanel & Dior are in a tight competition.

Director Guy Ritchie and Jude Law for Dior Homme

The commercial has lovely shots, perfect choice of music and sexy actors, and of course the Dior clothing and Dior red to add to it makes it one Fierce commercial. 

I love her light on her vanity next to her on the left!

I am next featuring David Lynch & Marion Cotillard's film for Dior-Lady Rouge, which is a series of also Lady Grey and Lady Blue. I am not a fan of the music or the videos, but had to mention it because I am a huge fan of Marion. You can see for yourself the video here.

I become like a giddy school girl everytime I see this! The color, the location, the music, the wardrobe, the shots!!! It is sheer perfection-Sofia Coppola directing for Miss Dior Cherie:

Director Joe Wright and Keira Knightly for Chanel Coco Mademoiselle

Estelle Warren for Chanel No. 5


Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Audrey Tautou for Chanel No. 5


Director Baz Luhrmann with Nicole Kidman and Rodrigo SantoroThis advert is known as being the most expensive ad ever made. It costed more than $25 million! The sets are stunning and the dress Nicole Kidman wears was made specially for her is a work of art.

Director Martin Scorsese and Gaspard Ulliel for Chanel Bleu
I love, love, love Martin Scorsese, so I had to love this ad too, an instant masterpiece in my eyes. 

Stay tuned for Part 2, the making of these films!

Cool Artist: Isaac Salazar

I'd love to see some of these in store windows! I wish my brain had thought this up!

To Explain My Job Better....

And I thought it was just me

Location Scout: Rockland Psychiatric Center, NY

I am a huge fan of Scouting New York's Blog. His recent posting caught my eye (click here to see more images) -a gorgeous psychiatric center that doesn't need much help from the art department at all. 

Gorgeous Sand Sculptures

During Christmas time in Melbourne, Austrailia there was an AMAZING sand sculpture exhibition with sculptors from around the world. I would have loved to watch them work! Sand as a medium to sculpt must have been a giant pain. The theme was "creepy crawlies", but seemed to end up more whimsical and film-themed, which I don't mind at all.

Photos: Graham Denholm / Getty Images AsiaPac

Zombie Survival Guide

83rd Annual Oscar Nominations Announced-Congratulations!!

The 83rd Annual Oscar Nominations for 2010 were announced this morning. Of course, I must list the best in the creative area and a big CONGRATULATIONS to them!!!! The Oscars will be awarded live by hosts James Franco and Anne Hathaway on February 27, 2011.

ART DIRECTION:
Alice in Wonderland (Walt Disney), Robert Stromberg (Production Design), Karen O’Hara (Set Decoration) - I am not in complete agreement with this. Although I worship the ground Tim Burton walks on, I had issues with the usage of visual effects in this movie. I like to see a marriage between the two with some practicals that blend into the CGI, even in a dream world. Don't even get me started on Avatar....

 

 

 

Courtesy of Walt Disney

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (Warner Bros.), Stuart Craig (Production Design), Stephenie McMillan (Set Decoration)- Hands down a huge fan of the whole series. I've said it again and again, it is why I do what I do.

Courtesy of Warner Brothers

Inception (Warner Bros.), Guy Hendrix Dyas (Production Design), Larry Dias and Doug Mowat (Set Decoration)- Gorgeous dream worlds, but some of them I couldn't help but feel like I've seen before--the asian setup in Kill Bill vol. 1 and the mountain setup in Charlies Angels:Full Throttle, just with different set decorating. Loved the hallway effect and PERFECTION with the suits!

Courtesy of Warner Brothers

The King’s Speech (Paramount), Eve Stewart (Production Design), Judy Farr (Set Decoration)-Gorgeous! I love, love, love a period piece and so does the Academy. Everything was perfection, even the acting.

Courtesy of Paramount

True Grit (Paramount), Jess Gonchor (Production Design), Nancy Haigh (Set Decoration)-At this time, I have not had a moment to see it, but I will add my addendum later.

Courtesy of Paramount

COSTUME DESIGN:
Alice in Wonderland (Walt Disney) Colleen Atwood
I Am Love (Magnolia Pictures) Antonella Cannarozzi
The King’s Speech (The Weinstein Company) Jenny Beavan
The Tempest (Miramax) Sandy Powell
True Grit (Paramount) Mary Zophres
MAKEUP
Barney’s Version, Adrien Morot
The Way Back, Edouard F. Henriques, Gregory Funk and Yolanda Toussieng
The Wolfman
Rick Baker and Dave Elsey
VISUAL EFFECTS:
Alice in Wonderland (Walt Disney) Ken Ralston, David Schaub, Carey Villegas and Sean Phillips
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (Warner Bros.) Tim Burke, John Richardson, Christian Manz and Nicolas Aithadi
Hereafter (Warner Bros.) Michael Owens, Bryan Grill, Stephan Trojanski and Joe Farrell
Inception (Warner Bros.) Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley and Peter Bebb
Iron Man 2 (Paramount and Marvel Entertainment, Distributed by Paramount) Janek Sirrs, Ben Snow, Ged Wright and Daniel Sudick

Beautiful Moments in film from 2010

Kees van Dijkhuizen’s Cinema 2010 took over 300 hours to complete and is a reflection on this past year's films. Enjoy!!



Here's the list of all the films used in case you were wondering....

Thing I need in a film-Yacht Strand Craft 166

How James Bond is this boat? I need to put it in an action movie! Sleek and gorgeous, it is stunning on the water-the Strand Craft 166 -length about 50 meters, can accommodate 8 people in 5 large luxurious cabins, each equipped with 52-inch screen, which is controlled by iPad, a garage for your car, and a jacuzzi in the front of a bridge. It has a pair of engines with a capacity of 5,766 horsepower, with a rocket booster that has a power of 5600 hp.