Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1539634
Building the Perfect Town Dan wanted the town of Paradise to feel idyllic —a quintessential main street with a square, the perfect place to live. Yet beneath this facade, something had to feel not quite right— manufactured. The creative team soon realized no real town would work for our needs. Existing locations had too much wear and tear, phone lines everywhere, roads too wide, storefronts set too far back. The Warner Bros. downtown backlot became our solution, allowing us to create a survival bunker show that looked like no other. The transformation was extensive. The crew repainted every storefront in vibrant, welcoming colors that suggested comfort and safety. A median was added down the center of Main Street to change the proportions and create intimate gathering spaces with benches and plantings. We installed blooming flowers in every window box and planter, and the grass was perfectly manicured. The black asphalt was pristine with no cracks or wear. The Art Department created nostalgic signage for fictional businesses: "Watson Boys Hardware," "Rhythm & Things Music Store," "The Lost Garment Vintage," "Mountainside Roasting" and "Nadra's Toy Emporium"—each designed to evoke small-town America but with subtle inconsistencies that would subconsciously unsettle viewers. Street lamps were retrofitted with LED bulbs to match the dome's artificial daylight cycle. The fire hydrants were repainted in cheerful yellows and reds. Ultimately, it was designed to be a place that would make people feel at home on the surface—a picturesque scene, a distraction. Art Director Felicity Nove and Set Decorator Cindy Coburn brought the town to life. Felicity and I have worked together on many productions, and this was my second collaboration with Cindy. We all share a love for detail and backstory, ensuring every element had purpose. Window displays never quite changed despite the passage of time. Community bulletin boards displaying local announcements could transform into electronic message boards for urgent gatherings or emergency communications. These boards showing community service posters could morph to direct messaging about the city's environment. A. PARADISE CITY ARRIVAL AREA BLAST DOORS. PHOTOSHOP LOCATION COMP BY KEVIN BIRD. B. PARADISE CITY MOOD BOARD BY KEVIN BIRD. C. & D. PARADISE TOWN CENTER. ILLUSTRATIONS PAINTED IN PHOTOSHOP BY ANDRÉS PARADA. C A B D