Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/929567
Another great opportunity to display some local "Ebbing" pride came when designing the "Southern Charms Gift Shoppe," where the main character Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) worked. It was desired to juxtapose yet again the nostalgic image of the region with its current-day reality, and a great location was found that embodied those opposites—a wine store housed in a small cottage, right by the train tracks and under an overpass. The inspiration for the gift shop was drawn from 1960s and '70s souvenir shops, which were often quaint and cozy. Simple wooden shelves were fabricated for a dated look and painted red, since it was a thematic color in the film and featured strongly in Mildred's billboards. Set decorator Merissa Lombardo and Art Department coordinator Jessica Segal were instrumental in manufacturing and acquiring the hundreds of knick- knacks and Ebbing memorabilia items dressed into the store. Mugs, T-shirts, trucker hats, snow globes and more were fabricated, all bearing the Ebbing name. Many classic, timeless souvenirs from the Ozarks region were sourced to give the store a vintage feel. A lot of the Ebbing backstory ended up in the deep background, as often is the case during the filmmaking process. Store façades, business signs and town insignia were created that did not always make it onto the screen, but it was clear our work was making a difference when people in the town of Sylva, NC, which was the main shooting location, began identifying as Ebbing residents! By the end of the shoot, Sylva residents were creating their own Ebbing signs and T-shirts to commemorate the shoot there… What can be a better compliment for the Art Department? ADG F. Sign design for the gift shop set. Illustration by graphic designer Lillian Heyward. G. Ebbing trucker hats and T-shirts designed by the Art Department. Photo by Inbal Weinberg. H. Interior of the Southern Charms Gift Shoppe set with its Ebbing memorabilia. Photo by set decorator Merissa Lombardo. Inbal Weinberg, Production Designer Jesse Rosenthal, Art Director Laura McPhearson, Set Designer Lillian Heyward, Graphic Designer Merissa Lombardo, Set Decorator H F G