'Lucky Them' Set Dressing - Before and After

Here's an example of 'Before and After' shots, showing what the Art Department does to a location. Our job is to make an environment that tells the story. And that allows the actor to inhabit the character in a believable way. Sometimes we find a location that doesn't require a lot of changes. Other times it's more of a blank slate. 

Here is a shot of the place that would become Ellie's (Toni Collette's) desk at the offices of (fictional) Stax Magazine:

   And here's the same spot, after Set Dressing:

Here's a shot of the empty space that would become her apartment:

And here's the same room, during Set Dressing:

Petra's work on 'Lucky Them'

My daughter Petra (12) helped out in the Art Department for Lucky Them. 
In the story, there is a character who is a musician that disappeared at the height of his fame. We visit his childhood bedroom, where I imagined he had surrounded himself with pictures of his heroes. Petra and I drew a bunch of portraits of musicians, and hung them all around this abandoned bedroom. She did a great job, and her portraits (of Patti Smith, Ella Fitzgerald, Robert Johnson, Joan Jett, Chrissy Hynde, etc) made the scene. When the movie comes out, look for her name in the credits!

LUCKY THEM

Here are some photos from the production of 'Lucky Them'

.

LUCKY ME

This winter I worked as Production Designer for a film called 'Lucky Them'. It was a Megan Griffiths film,  with Toni Collette and Thomas Haden Church starring. It was a great project, and a lot of fun. I worked with a terrific crew, and had an excellent Art Department. Here they are:
I'm on the left.  Then Kari Lefevre (Props); Jenn Godwin (intern) poking her head in; Behind her is Jeff Crow (Swing); Erin O Kay (On Set Dresser) in the orange sweater, Tania Kupczak (Art Director) up front, and Aaron Fink (Driver, Art Assist) on the right. 
An excellent crew, that made an ambitious shoot into a smooth-running pleasure.

SUGAR MOUNTAIN PAINTING

Kurt Dammeier, the Big Cheese at Beecher's, just commissioned a new painting.  He just purchased and built out an amazing space above the Beecher's flagship store in the Pike Place Market. It's a gorgeous space with a 180-degree view of the Market below, and Elliot Bay beyond. I made a painting of a Seattle urban landscape for the place, which will be rented out by the Inn at the Market.  I feel very lucky to have been asked to be a part of the coolest space in town.

ACME ART DEPARTMENT

I have to do some serious catching up. If I'm not posting anything to the blog, it's probably because I'm busy. Here's a little something that I just did with Michael Clinard for Adweek. I made the Loony Toons props. Seriously -- if you haven't already, you should check out this guy's work.