Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1480624
and heartbeat of Jupiter's Claim. Jordan was keen on this set being fully real—from Em's photo bomb to the final shot it captured of Jean Jacket. We enlisted the crew's fabulous sculptor, David French, to sculpt the well from foam. Jake Cavallo led the design for the interior camera to be fully functional in conjunction with Scott Fisher, the special effects coordinator, and his team, who executed the fabrication. Per the story, it needed to be a hand-cranked camera with flash bulbs and a large-format camera body, with 8x10 Polaroid film enabling a picture that could be self- developed within minutes. The inspiration behind this set piece harkens back to the movie posters for Kid Sheriff. Star Lasso Experience The Star Lasso Experience Stadium (Jupe's newest attraction) was also built from the ground up. Constructed entirely out of wood, it was engineered to support a crowd and camera equipment, as well as withstand the Santa Clarita winds. After playing with several sizes and shapes early on, the Art Department ultimately landed on a sloped horseshoe shape. We incorporated a deck for Jupe's custom merch and food carts, as well as a guest entrance and animal entrance that could all play to the blocking Jordan needed. Since it was newly built, we leaned into the raw wood look and added the plastic stadium seats and cup holders to give it a real ballpark feel. Asking ourselves the question of how Jupe would pay for such a venture, we gathered that he would utilize his community to help pay for the costs. So we wrapped the stadium's back wall in advertisements, clearing real businesses local to Agua Dulce for these banners. Jupiter's Claim and the Star Lasso Experience kept the crew's imagination flying throughout the entire prep and shoot. It was so rich with opportunity, and our excitement was overflowing on creating Jupe's Frontier Town. And to top it off, Universal Studios relocated Jupiter's Claim to the backlot tour—so now anyone can visit it and experience what we created. What an honor for us to see this become a reality. I will be dreaming about collaborations like this for years, as this was a special project that doesn't come about every day. The people, the material, the story, and the world-building made for a uniquely special experience. Thank you to Jordan Peele and Universal Studios for this incredible opportunity to build the world of Nope. ADG A. KID SHERIFF POSTER. SET PHOTO. B. WINKIN' WELL AT JUPITER'S CLAIM. SET PHOTO. C. STAR LASSO EXPERIENCE ENTRANCE. SET PHOTO. D. ALIEN MERCHANDISE BOOTH AT THE STAR LASSO EXPERIENCE. SET PHOTO. E. STAR LASSO EXPERIENCE AUDIENCE SEATING. SET PHOTO. F. ALIEN ENCOUNTER AT THE STAR LASSO EXPERIENCE. ILLUSTRATION BY JOANNA BUSH. A B