Portfolio

Below I have posted the pages of my portfolio. This charts work created whilst studying an MA in Production Design for Film and TV, work on my undergraduate degree as well as previous work I have done for theatre, film and TV. It also includes art work I have created in my spare time. From time to time this will change as I update and modify my portfolio (so please ignore the date above!), the version below is my most recent and most successful in communicating my work so far. Click the first image to cycle through each page at a time. Enjoy!

 

Design for Steampunk Film: Constructing the Nautilus Set.

Having constructed a rough model for the interior and exterior of the Nautilus I had a strong idea of what I was going to build when it came to the final interior model of the set. I now had to consider the interior detail of the set and the style I wanted to create within the separate sections. The Grand Salon and Library would be the most lavish. Most of the scenes would take place within them and they were significantly larger than the other sets so I spent alot of time considering how they would look. Where as, the Engine Room and Bridge were, while still impressive, more functional and practical spaces that would be responsible for the running of the submarine. I based the architectural design of the interiors on a number of sources. Mainly Victorian machinery and ironwork, however based on Captain Nemo's heritage I also incorporated Indian motifs as well as references to the ocean itself.

White card base marking the outline of the studio the set would be constructed within to scale.

Main Salon section outlined and beginning to build up.

Ground plan for cabins and Library section at upper most end of set.

I wanted the grander areas of the set to strike a balance between industrial, exposed engineering and ornate details built into their surfaces. In my research of Steampunk works of art I have found the most successful design are those that make use of and emphasize the way things have been put together and work but in a way that shows all the detail that is worked into them, e.g. pipes, gears, bolts, etc. I wanted the Nautilus interior to give away a lot of what it was made of and show just in its surface how it had been assembled. So I wanted the sheets of iron bolted together to be on show, but then on top of this Nemo has added architectural reliefs in the intricate detail that is worked into the huge ring of metal framing the main porthole.

This detail was based on Ancient Indian designs I found on temple walls, carved into stone pillars and painted motifs.

Indian relief patterns.

Constructing one of the Salon wings with main viewing porthole.

Salon begins to take shape.

 

Front on view of porthole with Indian motifs.

 The pillars that form the 'ribcage' of the Grand Salon were designed to be both functional and dramatic. As the Salon is quite a large open space the structure would need a great deal of support, so I designed them to give a greater sense of depth, as well as breaking up the space into a more dynamic area to shot scenes. As with many aspects of the design throughout the Nautilus they were made to show detail in their construction as well as more decorative sections on the inner surfaces.

Ancient Indian Pillars, one example of the research I drew inspiration from.

I began adding in the column of pillars.

Completed row of pillars.

View from across the Salon.

Leading down from the Bridge above I designed an elaborate staircase that created a grand entrance into the Salon. Such a large staircase would never realistically be constructed within a submarine due to its size and weight but as I was developing a more fantasy-esque style to the novel I didn't worry to much about the realism. 

Construction of the staircase begins.

Staircase with detailed carpet design.

The elaborate staircase would create a dramatic entrance to the Salon.

The Bridge and cargo entrance sections were built separately from the main Nautilus build. As I developed these two sections I added in a number of props and extra detail to give an idea of the layout of these areas, such as racks of harpoons, barrels and the helmsman's wheels.

Separate Bridge and Cargo deck section, with corridor leading to staircase at the rear.

Cargo deck set with harpoon racks and barrels to give a feel of the dressed layout.

View down into the cargo deck, Nemo's crest is visible on the floor.

Inside the cargo deck.

Bridge interior with added helmsman's wheels.

Two separate set sections coming together, the size of the base outlines the studio size.

The novel describes how Nemo's cabin is quite modest and monk-like. I designed all the cabins to follow this simple style which while comfortable would contrast with the Salon and Library sections on either side of the cabin section. After all, Nemo and the other characters would be spending very little time within these spaces so they were designed with this in mind.

Outer corridor of cabin section.

Looking down into the cabin section.

I spent a good while designing the Library and it quickly became my  part of the set. I decided to place it at the forefront of the Nautilus. As Nemo is a well educated man I wanted to create an area separate from the rest of the submarine where I could sit in piece as he read certain works or charted new journeys. Placed opposite the door to his cabin, the Library is designed to have all the lavish and comfort of a stately home. Wood paneling and detailed fittings frame the set and at the end of the rows of bookshelves a small staircase leads up to a glass globe were Nemo could sit and read in a leather-bound arm chair as the Nautilus travels below the waves right infront of him, creating an almost temple-like area of meditation and calm.

Outer structure of the Library, which becomes curved at the far end before the glass dome.

Adding the frame to the front.

Outside clad with removable walls.

Close up of Library interior.

For the engine room I decided to construct it in a different way to the rest of the model. For most of the model I had focused on the close up detail of the set but for the engine room I decided to paint it and give an impression of the colour palette I would use, I felt this was a more successful way of communicating my ideas than simply making a white-card model like the rest of the structure. 

I built the Engine room separately from the main set as it would be painted before fixing to the main model.

Painting the individual pieces of the model.

Engine room finished with just the brass and copper frame marking the walls left to attach.

The main set nears completion.

As the model would need to be observed close up I built many of the sections with removable pieces so clearer views could be given of the inside structure. Also, as the model would be part of the end of year exhibition I raised the bridge section off the ground and mounted it higher so it could be viewed more easily from all sides of the model. 

Staircase with top corridor leading to bridge, this was built into both the main model and separate bridge section.

Top corridor removed to reveal staircase and Salon section.

Library with panels closed.

Library walls opened to show interior.

Salon wing removed to show interior.

With the models complete it was time to set up for the end of year exhibition. As well as the interior and exterior models I had built I also painted a number of enlarged tech drawing s to show the interior detail of the Nautilus presenting its tone and textures. I also created a series of model shots where I had lit the model.

For the exhibit I presented the two scale models and presented a number of photos and tech drawings giving an insight into the interior.

Enlarged tech drawings showing the surface texture in enamel paint.

Interior of the Library lit to give a better idea of how the actual set would appear.

Below are a number of photos taken from the finished set model, many I included in my final portfolio once the MA had finished. Others were taken while I experimented with lighting but are interesting to look at as they created alot of atmosphere within the model and represent a lot of what I had learnt while doing while doing my Masters.

Cargo deck lit from the Bridge.

Salon and corridor lit to see how lighting from different sources would contrast together.

Salon plainly lit from within, I tried experimenting with how the exterior would look through the multiple portholes.

Salon with a warmer hue of lighting, here you can see Nemo's organ with squid built into it.

Library observation section.

Shot through forward porthole into Bridge and beyond.

Above shot of Salon.

Porthole with scale man to give perspective.

Shot taken further back, squid organ in the foreground.

Cargo deck with added prop details.

Bridge showing inner details, I imagined the raised dais would either have a table with Nautical charts spread across it or a Captain's chair for Nemo to command from.

Library model shot.

Salon wing through the arches or 'ribcage' of the Nautilus.

Completed model of the Nautilus set.