Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1504681
B E E F | P E R S P E C T I V E 6 5 I was in Seoul, South Korea, on the last weeks of a movie when Sonny (show runner Lee Sung Jin) reached out, asking if I'd consider designing Beef. His vision for the show was clear from the very first email. The scripts were ambitious for a half-hour TV series, but they read like I was experiencing it in the moment, which is always the best sign. The characters and their narrative arcs were detailed, grounded and surprising. An incredible creative team was already assembled, and I felt lucky to join. My collaboration with Larkin Seiple (DP) started with talking about the sun in LA. This inspired a parched color palette for the show, enhanced by Larkin's beautiful use of harsh light, rich skin tones and an overexposed filmic look. As a location-based show, huge credit is due to the lovely location manager Michael Percival and his dedicated team. They worked tirelessly to find locations in the many Los Angeles neighborhoods represented in Beef. Especially the exteriors of Danny's apartment, Amy's house and the exterior/ interior of Jordan's mansion. These sets are the visual anchors that create a socioeconomic scale for the characters in the show. Danny's Apartment Early on, Sonny and I laughed about building in little physical obstructions from unfinished projects that Danny would need to deal with on a daily basis. From Danny's perspective, it's a transitional space he wishes to move on from but struggles to find the opportunity. The architectural inspiration came from the exterior location built in the 1960s with an institutional quality that felt exactly right for Danny. The layout of the complex offered graphic compositions for the pool scenes and the concrete canopy in the parking lot worked well for Amy and Paul's illicit kiss scene. The apartment interior was built on sound stages in Chatsworth. I worked with Set Designer Brandon Hake to make the apartment look like a large A. DANNY'S APARTMENT. PRODUCTION STILL BY ANDREW COOPER. B. AMY'S HOUSE. LIVING ROOM. SET PHOTO. B