Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1526889
noted: "There was a meticulous focus on finding the right design balance." The initial step was crafting a visual bible, drawing inspiration from a rich tapestry of predecessors— The films, video games and comics—all anchored by the indelible concept work of visionaries like Ron Cobb, Syd Mead and of course, H.R. Giger. Under the direction of Marshall, an international team of artists and designers were brought aboard to get to work. The collaboration went flawlessly with consistent Art Department design meetings with director Alvarez providing immediate feedback fostered a strong creative environment. All the work that Alvarez, Marshall and the early design team put into creating the aesthetic bible for the look of the film paid off in spades as construction began in Budapest. Set Designers were able to receive clear instruction of the director and Production Designer's vision. Scale was also an important consideration, to give certain sets a sense of grandeur, but also keep a feeling of claustrophobia and tension throughout the character's journey. The film opens with an unmanned space probe traveling through a deep-space asteroid field and acquiring a mysterious rock. Once aboard, the audience sees a group of scientists using a futuristic torch to reveal a Xenomorph embedded inside. "We had two major location sets for Romulus: Jackson Star Colony and its mining facility. I was fortunate enough to run wild on both of these," says Concept Artist Col Price. "Naaman and Fede and I discussed how it needed to feel like it was a place you just wanted to leave, immediately. With Josh Viers' initial caravan design, I set about to design the caravan park from hell. Taking influence from both the first two movies, we tried to move forward with the designs whilst calling back to some of the more classic elements, such as the atmosphere processor and even a bar sign from the Aliens colony on LV426." A. JACKSON STAR COLONY CONCEPT ART BY COL PRICE RENDERED IN 3DS MAX AND ARNOLD AND THEN COMPED IN PHOTOSHOP. B. COLONY LIVING QUARTERS TRAILER CONCEPT ART BY JOSH VIERS. MODO AND PHOTOSHOP WERE USED TO CREATE A SKETCH THAT HONORED SYD MEAD'S MARKER TECHNIQUES. C. MINING COLONY TRAILER CONCEPT ART BY JOSH VIERS. CREATED WITH MODO, OCTANE AND PHOTOSHOP. D. MINING COLONY TRAILER INTERIOR. SET PHOTO. E. MINING COLONY EXTERIOR. SET PHOTO. C A B