Tuesday, December 26, 2017
BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN
BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN
Ill be taking part in a workshop being in Bucharest, Romania this October. Its gonna be a blast, and I am really excited to be a part it. More information here.
"The first Concept Art based workshop happening in Eastern Europe, will hit the streets of Bucharest Romania in 22nd till the 25th October. Come prepared, this will not be your usual fancy instructors opening up PSDs and improvising a presentation. These heavyweights of concept art and illustration will be on their toes, all willing to provide the best educational, inspirational, motivational event possible to the participants!"
Behind the Iron Curtain website
Available link for download
Sunday, November 12, 2017
behind door 1 The Conscious Pig
behind door 1 The Conscious Pig
I have a colleague who loves to apologize for his misogynistic comments. To begin, hell say something completely moronic, or something completely understandable--doesnt matter. What matters is that his incredibly astute and sophisticated understanding of feminist linguistic politics sends up a flag for him (go ahead and read something into that, if you can manage not to lose your lunch over the idea). The opportunity to bask in the glory of his brilliant realization overcomes him and he stops, always mid-sentence. "Im sorry. That was sooo mis-aaaah-gynistic." The ensuing conversation always involves at least three more opportunities for him to say misogynistic and at least one, but probably two opportunities to say some form of the word patriarchy. For a kicker, he always concludes that his original stupid-ass point must stand and that he has a bona fide need for the allegedly misogynistic term or concept. (This is just what the world needs, linguistic BFQs.) Listening to his self-congratulatory musings on the oppression of women is one of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon. (Can you see me batting my long luxurious Sienna eyelashes?)
---
Ive been lurking around here for a long time but havent managed to put up a real entry yet. Does this make me a slacker? That would be interesting since just being here seems to make everyone else a slacker. Nevertheless, I feel like a slacker for failing to post. So I thought Id debut with a theme that might provide me with more ideas for secrets to reveal later. If youre brave enough to join me in this game, just jump right in with "behind door #whatever.comes.next". My plan to help muddy the identity waters is to draw from lots of places and previous experiences, with just a dash of a pure fiction. That way the personalities wont add up to anything identifiable, or if they do add up to something-- You know the standard disclaimer.
Available link for download
BEHIND THE SCENES ON A SOUNDSTAGE
BEHIND THE SCENES ON A SOUNDSTAGE
When you watch a movie or a TV show, you rarely think about the set design, unless it’s something fabulous like Something’s Gotta Give – the movie that influenced interiors for years. Most sets aren’t that noteworthy.
But…but…
Now that my new favorite show Outlander is in Season II – in Paris, 18th century Paris, no less, the sets are fabulous and drool worthy. But, although the setting is Paris, most scenes are filmed at castles and gardens in Scotland and England – locations that are substitutes for Paris, such as Wilton House was. The exterior scenes were filmed in Prague, not Paris. Not one scene was filmed in Paris – at all.
The majority of the scenes take place on the soundstage that is located in Cumbernauld, Scotland. Certainly not Paris. It’s hard to imagine how a soundstage in Scotland can become 18th Century Paris, but it does.
Recently Starz published pictures of the soundstage showing how the different sets were created. Since one of the most exquisites sets is Claire & Jamie Fraser’s Paris Mansion – I thought I would show you how the soundstage set goes from this:
The empty soundstage in Cumbernauld, Scotland – this soundstage then becomes Jamie & Claire’s Parisian house:
Yes. That huge, empty soundstage becomes this set – which is so beautiful that when Caitriona Balfe who plays Claire first saw the set, said she wanted to move in here, for good.
Besides Starz releasing behind-the-scenes photos of the sets, they also showed the working models – something I wish they had done on Season One!
The Production Designer is Jon Gary Steele, who is incredibly talented and the Set Decorator is Gina Cromwell. What’s the difference between the two? Steele designs the sets themselves – he’s the “architect” – while the Set Decorator actually does the interior design. She shops for the furniture and accessories, just like any decorator would do. I’ve never really understood the difference before between those two, until I saw the working models and drawings – and realized that the Production Designer is probably an architect, or at least has drafting experience.
This is the to-scale model of Jamie & Claire’s apartment in Paris. Jon Gary Steele drew the plans by hand and then had the model made, which is, in turn, used by many of the other departments. In this plan, there is the 1) Exterior Courtyard 2) Winding Staircase and 3) Two Rooms: Living Room & Bedroom/Dining Rooms. The Exterior Courtyard is between the two rooms. Surrounding it all is a large hall that is completely wallpapered in a tapestry!
This view of the model shows the Exterior Courtyard – in the middle. The room on the left is the living room. At the right is the bedroom/dining room. You can see that the hall behind the rooms has its own tapestry wallpaper – laid out TO SCALE!
A model of the winding staircase with a to-scale actress to be sure it all is correctly proportioned. Behind the stairs is a large oval oeil de boeuf window, which is typically 18th century.
The set is starting to be built. The rooms are all upstairs so that their French Doors will overlook the courtyard, as they would in real life.
This is the FOURTH soundstage that Starz/Outlander has built in Cumbernauld, Scotland for this series. Just imagine for a minute the amount of business this one show has brought to this quiet region.
Cumbernauld, a new Scotland town of 50,000 – was just recently developed in the 1950s as an offshoot of Glasgow. Once Outlander is canceled (NO!!!) then other movie productions can rent out the soundstage. Cumbernauld is hoping to become a destination for film, just as Hollywood is, and then Vancouver became, and on and on.
The building of the apartment continues. In the center – is the Exterior Courtyard which is located on the ground floor. The apartment is on the second floor, which allows the French Doors to look down onto the courtyard.
Realize, also, that the apartment is just one of four main sets built on these soundstages: The Apothecary, The Brothel, and Louise’s Apartment are also built from scratch.
And the scaffolding goes up to build the winding staircase with the oval window.
A peek at the staircase. This will be where many important scenes will take place.
The two rooms of the apartment – with the exterior courtyard below. Those are the windows where the French doors will be.
Inside looking out the French doors with their Juliet balconies, overlooking the courtyard. The walls are painted a French blue/green with gilt moldings.
The crown moldings are gilded, along with pilasters.
Real wood flooring – in a Chevron Pattern. (Notice, this is not Herringbone. In Chevron the points meet flush. In herringbone, the points are staggered:)
Personally, I wish they had chosen to use the Versailles Pattern. After all, this is 18th century France – and they are hanging out with the King of France at Versailles! But maybe Versailles Parquet was just TOO expensive to replicate.
The Set Decorator has shown up with fabric to test against the wall color. How many times have we all done this!!?!
The Hallway: the tapestry was painted on canvas. Amazing! Since it was on canvas, it will be able to be used again on another set.
The arch in the Exterior Courtyard is built – the arch is where the carriages drive through. Above is the apartment, overlooking the courtyard.
And, here we go! Claire is in her carriage in the streets of Paris! Just don’t tell her she is actually in Prague. Caitriona said when she heard Season 2 was in 18th Century Paris – she was so excited, until she found out they weren’t going to Paris but were going to be filming in Prague and Cumbernauld. Major disappointment – although everyone ended up loving Prague.
The Courtyard:
Now, this is Hollywood magic. Claire’s carriage is seen in Prague – going through the arches to her apartment. And then…..
Viola! Her carriages goes through the arch in Prague, and ends up at the Courtyard on Cumbernauld, Scotland’s soundstage.
The soundstage Courtyard. Not quite 18th century cobblestones, but they are a good substitute.
The courtyard. That’s the front door to the apartment. I just wish the stone was a bit more cream than beige. That’s more in keeping with 18th century Paris.
Claire, in her apartment, looking at the courtyard from her Juliet balcony. I love this “Dior” dress.
Every detail is thought of: park benches, fountains, lanterns.
The front door with brass hardware and antique French lanterns.
The Entry Hall:
The entry hall – with its stone floor. The door opens to a niche with a beautiful vase. At the left is a sconce and a bust.
And here – Claire returns home; her butler lets her in. She’s not accustomed to such luxury! Just a month ago she was struggling in the freezing Scotland, and now she is a Lady Of Leisure in Paris, which makes for much conflict.
The Stairs:
<Available link for download
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
behind door 4 The Cowardly Angel
behind door 4 The Cowardly Angel
I knocked on Angels door, but there was no answer. I knocked again. Nothing. But I just saw her walk in, and unless she escaped out the window-- I went to my office and rang her phone. Busy. Maybe that explains it. Thirty minutes later the phone was still busy, so I returned to the door and banged vigorously. "ANGEL open the door!" The door opened. "Oh, I didnt know it was you!"
The Angel puts her home phone number on her syllabus and gives her cell phone number to every member of the faculty and staff at the university. She is warm, friendly, open, and accessible. Everyone loves her, and everyone thinks she is their best friend. Thats why right now shes hiding in the dark listening to the knocking and the ringing. She cant make it stop, and she cant possibly do all the things people want her to do. Its not humanly possible.
The Cowardly Angel is not a gendered identity, either (though the hiding-in-the-dark strategy might be). The first person I met like this was a powerful male figure in my discipline. College deans and university presidents are often like this, politicians, too. Still, I never really understood the phenomenon until the day I stood outside Angels door and discovered that she had the ability to sit there in the dark and listen to the knocking.
Disclaimer: Although I do think that all those people have some breaking point or way of dealing with the bottom line, I think their strategies vary, and this hiding in the dark is not the strategy of a famous person. Those people are behind door #3.
Available link for download
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Behind the Scenes of a Styled Editorial
Behind the Scenes of a Styled Editorial
A Derby Wedding from Logan Cyrus on Vimeo.
Heres a look into the behind the scenes of shooting and styling an editorial. Im the girl obviously with the camera and lots of "behind" the scenes angles, if you get what I mean. ;)
Available link for download
Monday, September 11, 2017
Behind The Crown–Part Two
Behind The Crown–Part Two
In the last blog post - “The Crown - Part One” – we examined the movie sets that were used to portray both Buckingham Plaza and Clarence House. Today, in “The Crown - Part Two,” we will discuss Sandringham House, the Queen’s country house located in Norfolk. Today, Sandringham is where the Royal Family spends Christmas. The entire extended family gathers on Christmas Eve for dinner and then, the next day, they attend Church services on the estate.
Since we are now celebrating the Christmas season – I thought this would be the perfect time to visit Sandringham !!!
Sandringham Estate.
Since the Elizabethan Era, there has always been a house of some sorts standing on the Sandringham land, and in 1771, a new, large, white manor known as Sandringham Hall was built there. Later, Queen Victoria’s son, The Prince of Wales, aka King Edward VII, was searching for a country house for himself and his new bride, Princess Alexandra. In 1862, his duchy purchased the white manor house for the newlyweds. The Prince’s father, and Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert, had wanted his son to have his own estate to further the idea of the royals as being genteel landed Country Gentlemen. The Sandringham Estate was chosen in part because the shooting was excellent and also because the Norfolk landscape reminded the young Princess Alexandra of her native Denmark.
The comparison between Norfolk and Scandinavia is not an accident. Sandringham lies right off the North Sea on the area called Doggerland, which is where there once was a land bridge between England, and Scandinavia. Since the lands were once linked, it is no wonder the area reminded Alexandra of her homeland.
The royals Alexandra and Edward VII
As the young couple began having children, they quickly outgrew their new house. To make room for a larger home, the old white house was demolished, save for its Conservatory, which was incorporated into the new house.
The Garden Side: Here is the original white manor house before it was torn down. To the right of the house – you can plainly see its red brick conservatory. The conservatory was NOT torn down, but instead was kept and turned into the billiards room for Edward VII. This move was very important since the red brick Jacobean facade of the conservatory provided the design for the new Sandringham House. Later – a new, one story wing was added to the right of the conservatory/billiards room to house a bowling alley!!
A photo of the original red brick conservatory which remained from the old white house. If the conservatory had not be save - Sandringham House would look completely different today.
A rare rendering of the newly built Sandringham House, showing the then one story wing to the right of the house which housed the billiards room and the bowling alley. Later, after a fire, a second story was added onto this wing, creating what the house looks like today. This is the only photo I could find of the complete house with its original one story wing!! And I tried…trust me!!!
A side view of the new billiards room and the new one story wing that housed the bowling alley.
Queen Alexandra took this photo of her grandchildren at Sandringham House from the Garden Side – with awnings at the windows! Those beautiful trees must have died over the years. Today – the lawn on the garden side is bare of trees.
And today – from the Garden Side. The main section is on the left. In the center is the original conservatory and to the right is the wing that King Edward VII added to house the bowling alley. On top of that one story wing – after the fire - he later added the second story, along with 18 bedrooms. The second story was forever known as the “Bachelor Wing.”
The Front Side: 1870 - The view of the original house from the Front Side. The entrance to the house is under the porte cochere. To the far left is the back side of the original conservatory turned billiards room. Later, Edward VII added a new ballroom and clock tower wing – that had it’s own entrance on the Front Side. What is interesting is that the stone arched entrance seen here at the very left side is no longer there – it was incorporated into the ballroom wing when it was added. This is a very rare view of Sandringham House without the ballroom wing – again, the only one I could find!!
And today. The ballroom wing is at the far left. After Edward VII added the two wings and the 18 bedrooms to the second floor, major alterations at Sandringham stopped. Until Queen Elizabeth, that is. She had 90 rooms demolished from the over 350 rooms palace!
An aerial view of the Front Side clearly shows the ballroom wing that was added to the courtyard. Notice the backside of the long wing on the garden side – it looks very plain, even unfinished in this view!! This is the area that was damaged in the fire and 18 bedrooms were added on top of the wing.
Another aerial view of the house from the Front Side with the Ballroom. To the left is where the museum is now housed. You can also see one of the lakes in this view.
Another view of the entrance court – with the ballroom at the front center in the middle of the long facade. A larger view of the rather plain facade on the left wing. In the 1970s, Queen Elizabeth had 90 service rooms on the south side torn down to make the estate more efficient. Is it possible that these rooms were a part of this area and that is why it looks so forlorn? In the bottom very left corner –the tiny white round building is the original Victorian game larder. Sandringham was said to have the largest (or second largest) game larder in existence.
Close up stylized view of the entrance court with the Porte Cochere. Across is the Ballroom Entrance in the Clock Tower.
The Garden Side: Notice the beautiful brick work on the bowling alley wing.
A side view of the original Conservatory from the white manor house – with its three brick arches. This entrance – on an angle – was a later addition which leads to both the dining room at the left and the billiard room at the right of the door.
The north side of the original wing. The Jacobean architecture on this section is quite attractive. King Edward VII’s suite of offices opened up to this side of the house. These extensive gardens were a much later addition.
The most picturesque view of Sandringham House is taken from across its pond.
The first royals to live at Sandringham House: Seated, Mary, Duchess of York, with Prince Edward of York (later Duke of Windsor), Queen Alexandra (with Prince Henry, later Duke of Gloucester) and King Edward VII. The Duke of York, later King George V, is standing behind his mother and wife.
When Sandringham House was built by Edward VII, all the modern amenities of the day were used, including gas lights, flushing toilets, and a shower! After he saw an American styled bowling alley at another grand house, Edward promptly had one built at his own house. Years later, he had the two lanes removed in order to create a large library – something he had also seen at another house. Apparently its shelves were filled with pretty, but worthless books that had to be discarded later in order to make room for more appropriate books. Alexandra was unhappy about the loss of the bowling alleys, which she had enjoyed.
Today, the Sandringham Estate is located on over 20,000 acres and it is one of just two private homes owned by the Royal Family. When the Duke of Windsor abdicated the throne, he had to sell his personal ownership of Sandringham House to the new king, his brother Bertie. Balmoral, the Scottish estate, is the other private estate of the royals.
While Sandringham House is large with over 300 rooms – most are said to be relatively small, especially the bedrooms. Sandringham has the reputation of being a very comfortable family home. Previous generations of royals used the estate much more than it is used today, when the Queen visits only during the deepest winter months.
While the Queen stays ensconced at Sandringham from Christmas Eve until February – the holiday decorations are kept up until after she leaves. The Queen also marks the anniversary of her father’s death at Sandringham – where he indeed, did die in February of 1952. Bertie was also born on the estate at York House, along with all of his siblings. John, his tragic brother, also died there, too.
Many other royal have either been born or died at Sandringham including Queen Alexandra and her two sons Albert Victor and King George V, who all passed away there. King Olav V of Norway (a grandson of King Edward VII) was born on the estate in 1903. And famously, Diana, Princess of Wales was born on Sandringham – at Park House - where she grew up before her father moved to Althorp when he inherited his title. Today, Park House has been turned into a hotel for disabled guests by Queen Elizabeth. William and Kate live at Anmer Hall which is also on the estate, although a few miles away. Previously, Anmer Hall was the country home of the Duke of Kent.
Sandringham Estate is historically most famous for its excellent shooting and over the generations, scores and scores of royal shooting parties have been hosted there. The shoots were legendary – during Edward VII time, over 14,000 birds were recorded shot during season. Rabbits were another popular target. Nothing was wasted and birds and rabbits that were not used at Sandringham or by its guests were delivered to the hospitals and other charities. The excesses of Sandringham’s shoots are today reviled by the public.
Along with hunting, Edward was a very talented horse breeder. He established the Royal Stud at Sandringham which produced two legendary racehorses, one which won the Triple Crown in 1900. The Queen is very active in Sandringham’s Royal Stud. A new sculpture of her legendary horse, Estimate, was just unveiled in the front courtyard.
Besides sports, Sandringham’s gardens and lakes are also popular attractions and through the years, the estate land has been well cared for. Since the 1950s, over 2 million trees have been planted on the estate. King George V even planted an apple orchard there and today, its apples are prized, and the juices are quite profitable.
After King Edward VII died in 1910 his wife Alexandra continued to live at Sandringham House until her death in 1925. The then King George V and his wife Mary stayed at York Cottage all those years until his mother’s death. Normally the non-ruling spouse moves out of the royal house immediately – but since Sandringham is privately owned, the King had left the house in his will to his wife. Today, the sovereign wills the house to his heir instead.
Recently, it was reported that Prince Philip was gradually relinquishing control of Sandringham estate to Prince Charles. I do wonder what will eventually happen to all their houses. When Queen Victoria died, her heir Edward VII gave her country house Osborne House to the government. He loved Sandringham and did not want to give it up for Osborne House. Today, Prince Charles loves his own county house, Highgrove, so much and has put his entire soul into its gardens, that I can’t imagine he will sell it and move to Sandringham or Windsor when he becomes monarch. And then there is the heir-apparent Prince William. He just spent a small fortune (actually a large fortune) renovating Anmer Hall – it’s difficult to imagine he will just sell it and move on to Highgrove. I’m sure the royals have a plan for all their real estate – they just haven’t told us yet!!!!
I found an unfinished floorplan of Sandringham and added the room labels. Some of the labels may not be absolutely accurate. I tried!
Sandringham House - The Interior:
When you enter Sandringham at the courtyard – you first walk into the Entrance Hall that is attached to the Saloon, above. The Saloon has two sections: the single height Entrance Hall and the double Height Saloon section. This room once doubled as a ballroom – until the wing with the new ballroom was built. The Saloon here looks like a hunting lodge, which Sandringham really is. The gas lights and the large mantel are no longer in the present Saloon.
BEFORE: A closer view of the tall, former mantel in the Saloon.
