Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1529668
M A R I A | P E R S P E C T I V E 9 3 construction phases was invaluable. His vision for the film was clear, and his feedback helped shape many design choices. I worked closely with our cinematographer, Ed Lachman, ensuring that the set pieces supported his lighting and camera work. As far as I know, there's only one blurry Polaroid of Maria where she can be seen in bed in her Paris apartment. The photo was likely taken by Bruna, Maria Callas' longtime assistant and housekeeper, and it's a very candid image. It shows Maria's endearing and more vulnerable side which is not often associated with her. Pablo was particularly fond of this image, so I tried to keep it at the forefront of my mind when it came to designing and capturing the spirit of Maria's bedroom. Though I only had a single polaroid of Maria's bed, I stayed as true to it as possible. Using its size and style as a reference, I sketched out designs that captured its Italian Baroque essence, a reflection of Maria's taste for opulence. I wanted the final bed design to evoke a sense of grandeur, with intricate, ornate carvings that would inspire awe and reverence, mirroring the operatic dramas that define Maria's life. I also aimed to create the illusion of upward movement with the bed's tall headboard, a sense of reaching toward the heavens, symbolic of a diva—a deity. In order to be able to visualize the bed at full scale, I used drafting paper on our production office walls and sketched a life-sized rendering. This was very helpful for Sandro Piccarozzi, the set decorator, and when hiring a team of furniture makers to craft the bed's frame and headboard. Floral satin brocade fabrics were carefully selected for the headboard and based on research, I asked the scenic team to create a small 17th century style painting of angels to fit into a carved cartouche. B. MARIA'S BEDROOM. WATERCOLOR ILLISTRATION WITH PHOTOSHOP ENHANCEMENT BY GUY HENDRIX DYAS. C. MARIA'S BEDROOM. FABRIC SWATCHES. D. MARIA'S DEATH. SHOT AS A TABLEAU AMONG HER FURNISHINGS. ILLUSTRATION BY GUY HENDRIX DYAS. E. MARIA'S PARIS APARTMENT STUDY. ONE OF THE FEW ROOMS PHOTOGRAPHED FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE. ILLUSTRATION BY GUY HENDRIX DYAS. B D E C