Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1480624
That spot overlooked the entire valley below; here, the house would tower above the ranch grounds. I was thrilled at the idea of building the house in addition to the western town, but unsure how that would be received fiscally. We put a pitch together and, with Jordan's full and unwavering support, our dream to build it ALL came true. My main mission for Haywood was for it to feel genuine. I wanted the audience to assume this house had been a part of the landscape for years. So much of Nope is fantastical, but the sets and worlds the characters were inhabiting needed to be so honest that they felt like found locations. I wanted this house to be at least one hundred years old and grounded in the landscape —old, original and iconic. For the house design itself, I leaned heavily into research from the film's location manager, Justin Duncan, who scouted so many excellent ranches up and down California during early prep. These locations became important tools for Set Designer Jim Hewitt and I in designing our Haywood Ranch; there's nothing better than pulling from the real thing. One location in particular that Justin scouted stuck out to us—The Gilman Ranch house in Banning, California, built in 1897. It reminded E. HAYWOOD FARMHOUSE. PLANS AND ELEVATIONS BY JIM HEWITT. F. HAYWOOD FARMHOUSE. LIVING ROOM. BUILT ON LOCATION IN AGUA DULCE, INT/EXT HAYWOOD FARMHOUSE WAS ENTIRELY PRACTICAL. SET PHOTO. G. HAYWOOD FARMHOUSE. SECOND- FLOOR BEDROOM/OFFICE OF OTIS SR. SET PHOTO. E F G