Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1152740
The Tower of London The initial references looked at Lear as a Mussolini style dictator and elements of his world. We looked at films like The Conformist with its stark minimal style and feel which gives it a very strong identity. Lear's headquarters was set in the Tower of London, as this seemed like the place a would-be dictator would base his newfound power. We used the very beautiful St John's Chapel and the adjacent rooms. The incredible Norman architecture was contrasted with modern furniture, a plate glass conference table with white leather chairs and a fabulous contemporary chandelier that was found at a design fair. A bust of Anthony Hopkins was commissioned in the style of Mussolini, finished in a verdigris bronze, it sat on a pedestal on the altar and it became an important feature of the scene. Two stainless steel console tables with simple elegant glasses and a decanter finished off the minimal dressing. As the scene is set at night, blacking out this room proved to be one of the biggest challenges! Limited preproduction time on location (as it's open to the public) meant everything had to be very carefully organised. Hertford Town Hall The interior of the Ministry of War had to be filmed near Hatfield House for scheduling reasons, so the production looked for a location that would feel like it belonged in Whitehall with a municipal feel. Local authority architecture of the 1930s has a strong identity, white Portland stone and neo-classical in style and detail. Hertford Country hall fitted all the requirements, and offered a good match for a Whitehall interior. The real Ministry of Defense (MOD) has had a makeover with strong new graphics throughout so this was referenced with bold signage in yellow. Additional scenery was added beyond entrance doors, along with a large panel of photos of MOD staff. This also covered a very large portrait that hangs in the building. The scene with Edmund setting up Gloucester to believe Edgar is conspiring against him required a long corridor so the camera can track back with Edmund, delivering his monologue in House of Cards-style directly to camera. KING LEAR - TOWER OF LONDON A. INITIAL ART DEPARTMENT MOOD BOARD, COLOUR PALETTE AND KEY REFERENCES. B. BUST MADE OF SIR ANTHONY HOPKINS IN THE STYLE OF MUSSOLINI, THIS WAS MODELLED AND CAST BY WHETTON AND GROSCH, A PROP-MAKING COMPANY BASED IN TWICKENHAM, LONDON. THE VERDIGRIS FINISH WAS APPLIED AS A PAINT FINISH. C. & D. HERTFORD TOWN HALL WAS USED AS THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE (MOD). AS THE ARCHITECTURE IS SIMILAR TO THE REAL LOCATION IN WHITEHALL IN CENTRAL LONDON. MODERN YELLOW SIGNAGE AND DRESSING WERE ADDED TO MATCH A SIMILAR MAKEOVER DONE TO THE REAL MOD. A B C D