Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1504681
Episode Eight: "The Orpheus Syndrome" – Northern Califormia When I first read the outline for this episode describing Arthur's character and workshop, a special effects Model Maker and stop-motion artist with a 30-plus-year career reflected in his workshop, I thought, "we need to get started on this yesterday." Over the course of several months, the team pooled our resources of colleagues, vendors and friends, contacting puppeteers, Model Makers, sculptors, special effects makeup artists, anyone we could think of…We knew it would take a while to literally fill a barn with the quality, variety and volume of his creations and layer in the authenticity of a lifetime of work. When Rian and Natasha brought us up to speed about Arthur's character and back story, that it was loosely based on Phil Tippett, the legendary creature designer, stop-motion and computerized animator —I was both inspired and intimidated. Not only was the Art Department designing a set based on a real person, but a renowned, award-winning artist. Researching Phil Tippett and other artists in his field, I knew it was crucial to get it right. Rian and Natasha had approached Phil about creating some of the stop-motion Orpheus creatures and an animated film months in advance. After a few discussions with Phil and his team, the Orpheus creatures arrived from California weeks later, along with some other existing creatures to use as additional set dressing in Arthur's exhibit and barn. While scouting with Natasha, it was immediately apparent that she's a director with a clear vision which she concisely communicates, while staying open to her collaborators' ideas. She shared that Arthur's character was haunted by regret, so I started imagining how that would manifest in the working space he's occupied for three decades. Because Phil (Arthur) started sculpting and making creatures the old-fashioned, handmade way, I also needed to represent that history in his creations. The story also implies that Arthur has become a recluse, working alone in his studio, keeping company with his creatures and his creativity, rarely interacting with the outside world. The barn represented his inner space and psyche, providing abundant opportunities to help tell that story. Cathy Marshall, who decorated this episode, did an amazing job with her team. A. LAM EXHIBITION STAGE. MODEL BY GREG PINSONEAULT. B. LAM MAIN HALL & STAGE. SET RENDERING BY CHRIS RHOTON. C. LAM EXHIBITION ARTHUR'S EXHIBIT.BUILD AT LOCATION IN SOMERS, NY. SET PHOTO. D. ARTHUR'S WORKSHOP. BUILT AT LOCATION IN CORNWALL, NY. SET PHOTO. A B C D