Essential viewing for any producer or director considering shooting their next project on stage, this featurette covers all the issues you’ll encounter in planning, building and striking a set – including the all-important question: how much will it cost? I share everything I learnt about working with sets while making the demo sequence for my fantasy-adventure feature The Dark Side of the Earth, starring Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock), Kate Burdette (The Duchess) and Mark Heap (Spaced, Green Wing).
preproduction
The Dark Side of the Earth: Workshop Tour
Step back to November 25th 2008, halfway through construction of the set for The Dark Side of the Earth’s pilot scenes, and take a tour of the workshop. Featuring an interview with the elusive Ian Tomlinson, production designer extraordinaire. Filmed by Gerard Giorgi-Coll.
Cannes 2010 Video Blogs
These video blogs form a tour of and a guide to the Cannes Film Festival and market.
The Dark Side of the Earth Podcast #7: Make It Sew
Costume maker Eve Collins discusses making the dress for the film’s lead character Isabelle.
The Dark Side of the Earth Podcast #6: Paint Drying
Scenic Artist Elaine Carr talks about painting and texturing the set for the airship’s training room.
The Dark Side of the Earth Podcast #5: What to Wear
Production of the insanely ambitious British fantasy adventure movie The Dark Side of the Earth begins with a single pilot scene, set aboard an airship travelling to the dark side of the Earth. Costume designer Katie Lake explains how she came up with the look for the leading lady’s dress.
The Dark Side of the Earth Podcast #4: Set Up
Production of the insanely ambitious British fantasy adventure movie The Dark Side of the Earth begins with a single pilot scene, set aboard an airship travelling to The Dark Side of the Earth. Construction Manager Gus Wookey discusses the challenges of making a metal airship out of timber.
The Dark Side of the Earth Podcast #3: Suit You
Production of the insanely ambitious British fantasy adventure movie The Dark Side of the Earth begins with a single pilot scene, featuring the paranoid Maximillian Clarke. Grant Pearmain of FBFX (Troy, Gladiator, Star Wars: Episodes I & II) demonstrates progress so far on Max’s germ-defying bio-suit.
The Dark Side of the Earth: Previsualisation
Here are a selection of the videomatics I’ve created to plan some of the complex sequences in The Dark Side of the Earth.
The Dark Side of the Earth Podcast #2: Puppet Test
Production of the insanely ambitious British fantasy adventure movie The Dark Side of the Earth begins with a single pilot scene, featuring a Victorian swordfighting robot. Director Neil Oseman and Sword Master A. J. Nicol put the puppet robot through its paces. Filmed by Gerard Giorgi-Coll and Simon Willcox.