Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1485934
neighborhood bar; the Donohue family apartment; and a local park—all locations prepped and dressed by Art Director Debbie Wheatley, set decorator Lisa Scoppa and the New York crew. The outsized vitality of Saigon's port marked the mission's beginning. The crew marshalled two older freighters and a patrol boat, then Chuck and Perb dressed a 1,000-foot pier with the materiel of war they had painstakingly assembled. At the far end, we built a supply depot and MP barracks with a slice of Army life where Chickie makes his first connection. The Caravelle Hotel bar, a famous rooftop watering hole with a sweeping view of Saigon, was an obvious set that DP Sean Porter and I resisted building on stage. Instead, I found an ideal parking garage with a clean view from its top floor where the crew could construct the set. Unfortunately, this is when COVID shut down Bangkok, causing frustrating delays, especially for Chuck, who's dressing arrived just in time. For us, the last minute was becoming the only minute, but in the end, we had an excellent version of an iconic location with real light, real views and real atmosphere that was worth all the anxiety. The notorious United States Embassy was a critical set that had to be built. While Set Designers "Makok" Chanpen and "Ek" Tanyuwarddhana started plans, the production scouted Bangkok for a site with the right ingredients. Once again, COVID and monsoon delays plagued us, but we persevered to construct a large façade, entry courtyard, perimeter wall with sidewalk, and install greens and dressing in about five weeks—all while prepping nearby sets and assembling an armored car. Chickie's military foray wound through three airbases, two helicopter fields, a remote firebase and a massive ammo dump. This is where aircraft make the scenes work, and the pandemic hurt the most. The workhorse C-130 cargo planes were essential at Bien Hoa, Da Nang and Tan Son Nhut, but COVID protocols thwarted Thai Air Force assistance, leaving few alternatives; CG planes for A. CARAVELLE BAR INTERIOR. RENDERING BY "MAKOK" CHANPEN. B. CARAVELLE BAR IN PROGRESS. C. CARAVELLE BAR. SKETCHUP MODEL. D. CARAVELLE BAR INTERIOR. SET BUILT ON ROOFTOP LOCATION. BANGKOK, THAILAND. PRODUCTION STILL. E. EMBASSY EXTERIOR. SKETCHUP RENDERING BY "EK" TANYUWARDDHANA. F. EMBASSY EXTERIOR. BUILT ON LOCATION BANGKOK, THAILAND. PRODUCTION STILL. G. EMBASSY EXTERIOR. PLAN. H. EMBASSY EXTERIOR. PRODUCTION STILL. A B C D