Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1109293
8 2 P E R S P E C T I V E | M A Y / J U N E 2 0 1 9 Without a lot of time spent inside character dwellings, it was decided most interiors should feel similar in their lack of personality. Colorful yes, but devoid of most personal possessions. Valuables would be traded on the black market in exchange for more essentials needed for survival. Namely, food, water and batteries. I was fortunate to enlist three incredible illustrators. Joanna Bush, John Eaves and Kate Emery were all tasked with the challenge of translating my rudimentary location sketches and then rendering them into "wonderfully ugly" concept illustrations. The goal was to keep the renderings somber in tone. Not exactly dystopic, but moody just the same. To convey ever-present overcast skies, a subtle fog layer and frigid air temperature. With a collapsed infrastructure, the city is literally eroding and rusting. To enhance this concept, Graphic Designer Karen Sori created various corrosive, bleached and distressed finishes. Printed on a clear vinyl and static materials, the Art Department applied these to existing items throughout the city. Easy on, easy off. Dumpsters, street signs, windows, etc. So convincing was this tact that many a rusted vinyl got left behind at wrap (all were retrieved later). The Closed Zone Written as a high-walled perimeter, stretching across a five-mile section of the city. This area is closed off to all human access. Concrete slabs are graffti-covered with monstrous, demonic faces, symbols and text. Rebellious messages. OUR DAY WILL COME. THEY'RE HERE TO STAY. THEY'RE HERE TO DESTROY. TO EXIST IS TO RESIST. Evidence of street-level upheaval. Messages from freedom fighters poised to take their city back. The symbol of a phoenix rising. A. LEGISLATOR. CONCEPT ART BY JELLYFISH PICTURES. B. LEGISLATOR. PORCUPINE DEFENSE STUDY. CONCEPT ART BY JELLYFISH PICTURES. C. LEGISLATOR MOTHERSHIP. CONCEPT ART BY JELLYFISH PICTURES. D. LEGISLATOR MOTHERSHIP. PRODUCTION PHOTO COURTESY OF FOCUS FEATURES. E. LEGISLATOR ARTILLERY DEFENSE. PRODUCTION PHOTO COURTESY OF FOCUS FEATURES. F. THE CLOSED ZONE TRANSITION AREA/GANTRY, TOWER AND POD. SET DESIGN BY DAWN BROWN MANSER. G. THE CLOSED ZONE TRANSITION AREA/GANTRY, TOWER AND POD. ON LOCATION IN CHICAGO. A C B The initial approach to location scouting was aimed to avoid famous landmarks of Chicago and keep to the outlying neighborhoods. Existing along the outskirts of this Closed Zone, and serving as the visual core of the film, the historic towns of Pilsen and Andersonville were selected. Each on the verge of revitalization and gentrification, they currently thrive as evidence of an era gone by. Similar in history and architectural styles, both are working-class neighborhoods pleasantly "worn" around the edges displaying layers of history. Each touted labyrinthian alleyways and hulking concrete L track platforms. These would serve as the imposing Closed Zone walls. Standing fifteen feet in actual height, the concept artists and visual effects team would render these facades at nearly double that height. Long tracking shots were devised which meant hundreds of feet of graffti were needed. Cold weather, city restrictions and time constraints dictated that Graphic Designer Karen Sori set about crafting and manuacturing printed material in lieu of actually spray painting (and restoring) on location. Rolls of "graffiti wallpaper" were color- proofed to match the existing concrete surface. Edges were raggedly torn and water-based paint blended where the material met the surface. Other than the early-morning rain and windstorm that tore the entire length of scenery to bits, it was a very successful application! The crew had just enough time and material to re-apply the battered graffti wallpaper before camera rolled. Legislators, Hunters and Drones Rupert envisioned two alien species for the film. Legislators (the brains) and Hunters (the muscle). Their basic anatomy was to be carbon-based and insectile in form. After many conversations, Rupert and I streamlined specific research details