Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1480624
Photo Studio ---: The business of the company is to churn out product in the form of girlie magazines, and it was a point to constantly feature this activity in the background. Besides keeping a standing order of lighting and camera equipment, costumes and props for extras to shift around, the photo studio—a separate room with a standing hard cyc, drapes and lights—was redressed for every episode with a new themed photo shoot. An important set dressing element was the cadre of background models lounging about in frisky attire while waiting for their time in front of the lens. An upper storage loft held the cast-offs of numerous shoots in the form of old costumes, props, furniture pieces, odd sculptural elements and such. Sometimes photo shoots were staged in other parts of the office and bullpen as well—this to emphasize the relentless schedule they worked under to produce twelve different magazines a month. Layout Room ---: This area featured assorted workstations to complete or adjust layouts and another large work table dominating the center of the room. The walls were devoted to pin-up boards for times when completed layouts for an issue could be displayed for final approval. The hectic and stressful production of the first issue of Minx (episode one hundred three) is thus displayed in forty-five layout pages, with articles, photos, and ads for final approval by the boss Doug. This was a huge and time-consuming project for the art, decorating and prop departments. The dedicated photo darkroom adjacent featured an on-site lab for processing all the negatives and printing from the numerous photo shoots that were going on. Unlike most of the rest of the office, where the look was haphazard and cobbled together, the decor of this room was more self-consciously designed and purposeful—and more directly period-specific —for a hint of the professional aspect of their publishing operation. This was their product going out the door to be printed and sold, and the room needed to reflect that. If visitors came to the office, this room would represent their business. D A B C