Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1480624
Joyce's Apartment ---: The home set for the main character Joyce was planned as a conventional build on a swing stage, again copying a successful location space used in the pilot. I was drawn to an older architectural style for this apartment, with built-in cabinets, older molding styles and a decorative fireplace. It is intentionally NOT the current trendy style in 1970s apartment living, in keeping with Joyce's driven ambition to work in the magazine trade, to the neglect of her own comfort and lifestyle. She is ambitious, obsessive, and has been thinking about magazines her whole life. Her space is mostly practical, furnished with hand-me-downs, and given over to her work life. The trick was to keep it from being too charming and cute; the apartment is clean and functional, but otherwise neglected. The landlord almost had more to do with the look of the place than she did. Consequently, the set colors were kept in a warm neutral range, with the idea that set decorating choices would provide the punchier color and detail. Windows on two sides of the set provide ample options for lighting, with views out to greens and backings. In this case, the series' DP Jason Oldak agreed to let us put in a fixed hard ceiling with several hinged panels for added lighting options when necessary. This gave the option of seeing the top of the box that Joyce lives in. Set decorator Jennifer Gentile (pilot) again pointed the way for the look of this set established during the pilot. Set decorator Doug Mowat (series) provided many finishing touches for the look of this permanent "home" set, down to the stacks of contemporary feminist books that Joyce was well acquainted with. ADG A. A VIEW OF THE KITCHEN AREA FROM THE PILOT EPISODE. SET PHOTO. B. KITCHEN AREA. SERIES STAGE SET. ADAPTABLE AREA USED FOR INFORMAL MEETINGS AND RANDOM ACTIVITIES SET PHOTO. C. JOYCE'S APARTMENT. FURNITURE PLAN DRAWN BY XI CHEN CHOU. D. JOYCE'S BEDROOM. SET PHOTO. E. JOYCE'S KITCHEN. SET PHOTO. F. JOYCE'S APARTMENT LIVING ROOM. STAGE SET BASED ON THE PILOT LOCATION. SET PHOTO. G. THIS SET STILL SHOWS JOYCE HARD AT WORK IN HER APARTMENT WRITING COPY FOR MINX. THE DECOR OF THE SPACE SHOWS HER OBSESSIVE COMMITMENT TO HER DREAM OF ONE DAY EDITING A MAGAZINE FOR THE NASCENT FEMINIST MOVEMENT OF THE EARLY 1970S. PHOTO BY KATRINA MARCINOWSKI. F G