Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/765720
the houses that opened onto those backyards. Although we didn't strike gold with the first address we visited, I knew immediately we had found the heart of our story. I took photos and sent them to Denzel, finding it easy to imagine what one backyard might look like out of its winter landscape. With his approval, we knocked on every door along Anaheim Street until we came upon a vacant house at number 809. We had found the Maxson home. There was plenty to do to make the center of this world true to its period. The crew replaced or modified ninety-two doors and windows, painted exterior trims and adjusted details at 809 Anaheim to convey a unified 1957 look. The Maxson backyard was completely reimagined through texture, color and some additional structures, even planting a 32-foot-tall tree from which to hang Troy's beloved baseball on a rope. All three floors of the interior were similarly transformed, with the kitchen re-created as it would have appeared in the 1950s. At Denzel's request, we were faithful in spirit to the economic standing of Troy's family whenever possible. We could not have achieved the designs for the Maxson neighborhood, home and backyard without invaluable access to the photographs of Charles "Teenie" Harris, who chronicled the lives of the Hill District's African-American community for The Pittsburgh Courier from 1935 to 1975. The collection of nearly 80,000 Harris images archived by the Carnegie Museum of Art was enormously helpful to the production. Unlike the stage play, centered on the Maxson home, the Fences screenplay features a host of other locations, including Wylie Avenue, Pittsburgh's sanitation yard, the offices of the Commissioner of Sanitation, Troy and Bono's local bar, and the church where Rose Maxson worships. Inspired by Denzel's meticulous devotion to Wilson's text, I became part of a very special creative experience that was brought to life through the work of cinematographer Charlotte Bruus Christensen, costume designer Sharen Davis, set decorator Rebecca Brown and Art Director Karen Schulz Gropman, who is also my longtime collaborator and wife. What a joy to research and re-create every aspect of a period, setting and community that is so central to Wilson's life and work. Through precision, dedication and collaboration we were able to lovingly resurrect—in the playwright's own backyard—the vibrant and radiant heart of Fences. ADG DIRECTOR PRODUCTION DESIGNER SUPV. ART DIRECTOR ART DIRECTOR SET NAME SET NO. LOCATION RELEASED 5 April 2016 1 Scale 3/4" = 1' 0" 810 Anaheim - Front Window & Door 80" +/- 55"+/- 20" 20" 31" +/- 4 1/2" 4 1/2" Remove Existing Sashes, Frisket and Paint Remaining Aluminum Trim, Install New Wood Sashes Existing Aluminum Frame Dashed in Red Scenic Existing Trim as Stone Add 1x (or as Needed) to Cover Glass Blocks Along Side of Door Existing Glass Block Transom to Remain New Board to Cover Existing Aluminum 1x (or as Needed) to Cover Existing Transom Rail Screen Door: B&B Wood Products, Style No. 206 (Stained or Painted?, Verify with PD) Replace Existing Door with New Door to Match Maxson House Front Door (OK to Purchase Similar Style, verify with Art Director 11" Plinth Block (Proud by 1/2") 3/4" x 3/4" Quarter Round at Plinth Block (Does Not Need to Return) Paint Existing Trim at Door or Cover with Wood as Preferred 8" +/- 8" +/- Flush, if Feasible 808 Anaheim - Wall Return Detail HardiePlank Siding (as a Flat or Install as Preferred) 2 Scale 3/4" = 1' 0" HardiePlank Siding: HardiePlank Siding: Smooth Finish, 5" Exposure Smooth Finish, 5" Exposure Arctic White (Will be Painted Arctic White (Will be Painted and Aged) HardiePlank Siding HardiePlank Siding on Side Elevation (Not on Side Elevation (Not Illustrated) HardieTrim HardieTrim 5.5" Trim, Smooth 5.5" Trim, Smooth Arctic White Arctic White (Will be Painted and Aged) (Will be Painted and Aged) Replace Existing Door with New Door to Match Maxson House Front Door (OK to Purchase Similar Style, verify with Art Director Screen Door: B&B Wood Products, Style No. 206 (Stained or Painted?, Verify with PD) HardieTrim HardieTrim 5.5" Trim, Smooth 5.5" Trim, Smooth Arctic White - Trim Down Arctic White - Trim Down to 4 1/2" (or Use Wood as to 4 1/2" (or Use Wood as Preferred) 57" +/- Existing 48" 3 1/2" 1" 4 1/2" 26 1/4" 26 1/4" Wood Double Hung Wood Double Hung Window 1" 1 1/2" 3/4" 3/4" Sill Detail Sill Detail 4 NTS 808 - 810 - 812 Anaheim Street - Imagery 3 Scale 3/4" = 1' 0" 808 Anaheim - Front Window & Door 812 Anaheim Street - Front and Side Window 5 Scale 3/4" = 1' 0" 812 Anaheim Street - Front Window 812 Anaheim Street - Front Window 6 Scale 3/4" = 1' 0" Side Window 52" +/- 86" +/- 36" +/- 52" +/- 808 810 812 4 1/2" 4 1/2" 20" 20" 37" +/- Remove Existing Sashes, Frisket and Paint Remaining Aluminum Trim, Install New Wood Sashes Repaint "Green" Brick - Scenic to Match Yellow Brick Screen Window - Full Size Detail Scale: FSD Parting Rail Parting Rail Top Rail Bottom Rail As Needed As Needed Occasional "L" Bracket, Occasional "L" Bracket, as if Repaired, Painted - as if Repaired, Painted - Only on 40% of Windows C B A Metal Insect Screen, Aged Storm / Screen Window Flush Panel Clips (6 per Frame) Brick Moulding AM F3842 (Poplar) Glass/Screen Bead 3/8" 3/8" Flush Panel Clips at Lowes.com Flush Panel Clips at Lowes.com Metal Insect Screen, Aged Metal Insect Screen, Aged (Stapled to Frame) (Stapled to Frame) AM F3842 (Poplar) AM F3842 (Poplar) Glass/Screen Bead Glass/Screen Bead 3/8" 3/8" 3/8" 3/8" B C B B B C D C C B B 1 A A A A A B B Metal Insect Screen, Aged C C C D C D D D Glass (No PLexi) Glass (No PLexi) AM F1821 (Pine) 5/16" x 5/8" Half-Round Cope Half Round at Parting Rail Cope Half Round at Parting Rail (Doesn't Need to Be Perfect - (Doesn't Need to Be Perfect - Will Caulk and Age) Will Caulk and Age) Windows Highlighted in RED to be Replaced with Wood Sashes and Be Functional (Bottom Sash) Quantity: 5 AM F3842 (Poplar) Glass/Screen Bead 3/8" 3/8" NOTE All Aluminum Trim on Brick Moulding, Window Arches, and Sills to be Removed C RELEASED 22 March 2016 D D 802 804 806 808 810 810 1/2 812 814 810 810 1/2 812 Bryn Mawr Road Bryn Mawr Road X X X X X Not in Scope of Work X Scale: NTS Back Yard Window Plan 1 1/2" 2" 3" 3/4" Screen with Bead Moulding Scale: 1 1/2" = 1' 0" Screen with Half Round Moulding Scale: 1 1/2" = 1' 0" Screen with No Moulding Scale: 1 1/2" = 1' 0" Quantity: 5 Quantity: 8 Storm Window with Moulding Scale: 1 1/2" = 1' 0" Quantity: 9 Quantity: 6 David Gropman, Production Designer Karen Schulz Gropman, Supervising Art Director Gregory A. Weimerskirch, Art Director Christopher St. Pierre, Key Scenic Artist Gregory Puchalski, On-set Scenic Artist Warren Drummond, Storyboard Artist Rebecca Brown, Set Decorator Bottom, left and right: Rose Maxson (played by Viola Davis) hanging laundry to dry in the backyard. Troy Maxson (Denzel Washington) and Bono (Stephen McKinley Henderson), Troy's best friend of over thirty years, heading home from work on the streets of Pittsburgh's Hill District. Photographs by David Lee © Paramount Pictures