Charlie Wilson's War
Challenge: Build a massive Afghan refugee camp
Mike Nichols' latest political satire ranges from the inner sanctum of a U.S. congressman to the makeshift battlefields of Afghanistan, but the critical scene -- the turning point in convincing Charlie Wilson to aid the Mujahedeen -- occurs at a refugee camp where he sees firsthand the carnage inflicted upon the residents by their Soviet occupiers.
Challenge: Build a massive Afghan refugee camp
Mike Nichols' latest political satire ranges from the inner sanctum of a U.S. congressman to the makeshift battlefields of Afghanistan, but the critical scene -- the turning point in convincing Charlie Wilson to aid the Mujahedeen -- occurs at a refugee camp where he sees firsthand the carnage inflicted upon the residents by their Soviet occupiers.
Big Apple, wide range
Crews use different corners of Gotham for films
With the New York skyline changing on a daily basis, lensing in the Big Apple can be a tricky, painstaking task. Yet with the city's 2005 Made in New York incentive program in full swing, 129 films have taken on the difficult job of transforming Gotham into a vision of the past, present and future.
Crews use different corners of Gotham for films
With the New York skyline changing on a daily basis, lensing in the Big Apple can be a tricky, painstaking task. Yet with the city's 2005 Made in New York incentive program in full swing, 129 films have taken on the difficult job of transforming Gotham into a vision of the past, present and future.
The Darjeeling Limited
Challenge: Assemble a full-size train set worthy of Wes Anderson's runaway imagination
Ninety percent of the train scenes were shot on a movable set that consisted of a 10-car Indian North Western Railway train crafted by production designer Mark Friedberg and his team.
Challenge: Assemble a full-size train set worthy of Wes Anderson's runaway imagination
Ninety percent of the train scenes were shot on a movable set that consisted of a 10-car Indian North Western Railway train crafted by production designer Mark Friedberg and his team.
300
Challenge: Outfit an army of iconic Spartans
It wasn't history but Frank Miller's stylized graphic novel that served as the primary reference for the Spartans' striking red capes and leather loincloths in "300."
Challenge: Outfit an army of iconic Spartans
It wasn't history but Frank Miller's stylized graphic novel that served as the primary reference for the Spartans' striking red capes and leather loincloths in "300."
New frontiers
Designers gun for fresh Western
America's indigenous film genre is the Western, and its visual conventions are known the world over: The villain wears black, vast open landscapes serve as backdrop, trains and horses dominate, and towns are dusty and roughhewn.
Designers gun for fresh Western
America's indigenous film genre is the Western, and its visual conventions are known the world over: The villain wears black, vast open landscapes serve as backdrop, trains and horses dominate, and towns are dusty and roughhewn.
Atonement
Challenge: Restage the Battle of Dunkirk -- in a single shot
On the seaside promenade at Redcar, a depressed beach town on England's northeast coast, 1,500 period-costumed local extras helped re-create the WWII evacuation at Dunkirk, France.
Challenge: Restage the Battle of Dunkirk -- in a single shot
On the seaside promenade at Redcar, a depressed beach town on England's northeast coast, 1,500 period-costumed local extras helped re-create the WWII evacuation at Dunkirk, France.
Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Challenge: Design gowns worthy of a queen
Shekhar Kapur's "Elizabeth" sequel was awash with blues -- and not by accident. "We used color to tell the story," explains costume designer Alexandra Byrne, an Oscar nominee for her work on the original. "Blue is the color of yearning and immortality, themes that dominate the film."
Challenge: Design gowns worthy of a queen
Shekhar Kapur's "Elizabeth" sequel was awash with blues -- and not by accident. "We used color to tell the story," explains costume designer Alexandra Byrne, an Oscar nominee for her work on the original. "Blue is the color of yearning and immortality, themes that dominate the film."
The Golden Compass
Challenge: Envision a fantasy London
The London of "The Golden Compass" owes a debt to the unrealized vision of 17th-century architect Christopher Wren.
Challenge: Envision a fantasy London
The London of "The Golden Compass" owes a debt to the unrealized vision of 17th-century architect Christopher Wren.
Hairspray
Challenge: Turn John Travolta into a 300-pound woman
Fans know John Travolta by his baby blue eyes, a strong, cleft chin, dark hair and thick eyebrows. For makeup effects designer Tony Gardner, that meant preserving those traits when transforming the star into middle-aged hausfrau Edna Turnblad.
Challenge: Turn John Travolta into a 300-pound woman
Fans know John Travolta by his baby blue eyes, a strong, cleft chin, dark hair and thick eyebrows. For makeup effects designer Tony Gardner, that meant preserving those traits when transforming the star into middle-aged hausfrau Edna Turnblad.
Lust, Caution
Challenge: Re-create World War II-era Shanghai
Production designer Pan Lai relied on extensive research and memory for his re-creation of Shanghai and Hong Kong during WWII.
Challenge: Re-create World War II-era Shanghai
Production designer Pan Lai relied on extensive research and memory for his re-creation of Shanghai and Hong Kong during WWII.
No Country for Old Men
Challenge: Give Javier Bardem a nightmarish silhouette
In his novel "No Country for Old Men," Cormac McCarthy makes little mention of his cold-blooded hitman's physical appearance. The Coen brothers, however, have captured a chilling vision of Anton Chigurh, aided by a pageboy haircut sure to make the shortlist of Hollywood's most memorable 'dos.
Challenge: Give Javier Bardem a nightmarish silhouette
In his novel "No Country for Old Men," Cormac McCarthy makes little mention of his cold-blooded hitman's physical appearance. The Coen brothers, however, have captured a chilling vision of Anton Chigurh, aided by a pageboy haircut sure to make the shortlist of Hollywood's most memorable 'dos.
Sweeney Todd
Challenge: Imagine a signature look for the characters
"Oh, you know ... black-and-white horror movies?" That was Tim Burton's brief to repeat collaborator (and Oscar-winning hair and makeup artist) Peter Owen on "Sweeney Todd."
Challenge: Imagine a signature look for the characters
"Oh, you know ... black-and-white horror movies?" That was Tim Burton's brief to repeat collaborator (and Oscar-winning hair and makeup artist) Peter Owen on "Sweeney Todd."
Youth Without Youth
Challenge: Simulate reverse aging
For Francis Ford Coppola's latest film, makeup artist Peter King was charged with aging the main character, played by Tim Roth, 65 years -- from 35 to 100 -- in reverse, while his love interest rapidly ages forward.
Challenge: Simulate reverse aging
For Francis Ford Coppola's latest film, makeup artist Peter King was charged with aging the main character, played by Tim Roth, 65 years -- from 35 to 100 -- in reverse, while his love interest rapidly ages forward.
Zodiac
Challenge: Build the Bay Area of 30-plus years ago
Authenticity was key in re-creating director David Fincher's vision of a working-man's San Francisco terrorized by serial killings circa 1969.
Challenge: Build the Bay Area of 30-plus years ago
Authenticity was key in re-creating director David Fincher's vision of a working-man's San Francisco terrorized by serial killings circa 1969.
-- Advertisement --
