Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1529668
Velocity Labs: Command Center This set is a good example of turning around a disadvantage into an asset. This particular stage, in a former factory, was much narrower than a typical sound stage. Something I wasn't thrilled with from the beginning, but something I had to deal with. So, when the time came to conjure up the "hangar" as we called it, it occurred to me that the best approach would be to use the whole stage as our Velocity Labs: command center/hangar. After the design was approved, the production got the OK from the fire department and we were ready to go. The stage floor, three of the four walls and practical egress points were to be used as such. We did not need to build ceiling pieces either. The command center was built on top of the existing entrance's structure, and we built a second structure on the right side which housed the stairs going up to the command center. The fourth wall was rather gigantic with a vault-like gate, that opened to the rest of the stage and where we continued building the hallways and other areas of the Velocity Lab interiors. By embracing the whole stage as our set, the series achieved a much larger scale, a scale better aligned with what we were after. No less consequential is the fact that we saved a considerable amount of time and money. Perhaps the best complement to our work on this set was the fact that all the places that were not originally supposed to be featured became a central part of the show. By the time the set was done, it had inspired a whole episode to be written to revolve around it. The City Dark Matter is, in its own way, a love letter to Chicago. It was a pleasure to spend time getting to know the city while working on this project, most of all, because of its great people. Art Department, set dressing, props, construction…the vast majority of people on all of those teams were local. Every one of them did an incredible job, juggling everything that was thrown at us with professionalism, pride and a fantastic attitude. Thank you, Chicago! ADG A. VELOCITY LAB COMMAND CENTER/ HANGAR. ILLUSTRATION. B. VELOCITY LAB COMMAND CENTER/ HANGAR. ILLUSTRATION. C. VELOCITY LAB HANGAR. BUILD IN PROCESS WITH FULL-SCALE BOX MOCK-UP FOR REFERENCE AND FINAL SIZE APPROVAL D. VELOCITY LAB HANGAR NEAR COMPLETION. E. VELOCITY LAB HANGAR. DIRECTOR JAKOB VERBRUGGEN WALKING ONTO SET…JUST HOURS BEFORE FIRST DAY OF SHOOTING. F. VELOCITY LAB HANGAR. PRODUCTION STILL. G. SNOW WORLD CHICAGO. ILLUSTRATION. A B C