Thursday, September 22, 2011

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

Saturday, March 26, 2011

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!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

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.

Sunday, February 6, 2011