Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1109293
7 4 P E R S P E C T I V E | M A Y / J U N E 2 0 1 9 A. JAMMER GROUP BULLPEN MOOD BOARD. B. SERIES TRADING FLOOR SKETCHUP MODEL BY ALEC CONTESTABILE. C. TRADING FLOOR SKETCHUP MODEL RENDERED IN PODIUM. D. TRADING FLOOR COMMODITIES BOARD GRAPHIC BY GRAPHIC DESIGNER JEFF L. LEE. E. TRADING FLOOR SPOTTING PLAN BY SLOANE U'REN SHOWING SPOTTING DENSITY AND BUILDS WITHIN BUILDS. F. THE JAMMER GROUP SERIES SET PHOTO. G. THE JAMMER GROUP. SERIES PRODUCTION STILL. A B C D The Series With the support of Chris Spellman, producer Steven Yell gave me a call months after shooting the pilot asking if I'd be interested in designing the series, as Spellman was busy with other projects. This would be my first true Production Design job, having gained experience designing notable music videos, a handful of commercials, and a good mix of indie movies and streaming series. I was lucky enough to have worked a number of seasons on fairly prestigious period television shows and movies, including Mad Men seasons 5-7 with Dan Bishop, and with Judy Becker on Feud: Bette and Joan and the feature Battle of the Sexes. My experience working with these talented designers and their amazing crews taught me the importance of research, character, attention to detail and how to lead a department. To research the desired look, the Art Department began collecting 1970s-'80s magazines, catalogs and design books, eventually filling our entire research material bookcase. Everything from Architectural Digest to "How To" paint technique books. Half the fun was going through the research to strategize how to create high-end and unique looks on a budget and with simple materials. Even with the 'half-hour comedy' limitation, I wanted to give the show a very crowded, gritty look. Dirt, grime, trash and graffiti were incorporated into the sets whenever possible. Designing for a comedy gave the latitude to have fun. Having referenced The Wolf of Wall Street and Trading Places on the pilot, I looked at even more 1980s New York yuppie movies and had fun plugging in these references throughout the show. The sets of Wall Street, Working Girl, Baby Boom and even Ghostbusters were studied to give the audience a sense of 'the memory' of the '80s, rather than what exactly existed then. For example, the commodity Frozen Concentrated Orange Juice or "F.C.O.J." from Trading Places was referenced on our trading floor commodities board.