Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1542693
Due to the eco-critical nature of our narrative, we knew we wanted our spaceship to be an amalgamation of mechanical and organic elements. We didn't want it to look "sci-fi," and we didn't want something devoid of character or color. "We pulled visual references from paintings, ancient mythologies, engineering, insects and siphonophores, flora and fauna, and past and present theories for space travel." (Bleu Irvin, Designer's Assistant) There were a few key references we used more than others: The back of the spaceship is like a jellyfish mixed with a Dyson sphere, the bulk of the ship is reminiscent of a termite mound, and the front of the ship is taken from some of the spacecraft NASA has manufactured. The different buildings in the ship are inspired by the organs of the body under the protective skeleton of the ship. "The overall design process always involved receiving delicate pencil and watercolor sketches from the Production Designer which I would turn into 3D models. This process is usually surprisingly fast and allows us to not only judge scale but also to experiment with shapes, textures, colors and lighting continuously—and experimentation was always encouraged." (Jonas Bethge, Concept Artist) Stuart Heath and his team at BGI were responsible for bringing our ideas to life. "Our spaceship was built with meticulous attention to detail, using a combination of traditional model- making techniques and modern fabrication tools. From sourcing the right materials to getting the scale and proportions just right, every inch of the build was a collaborative labor of love. The final result: a miniature that could hold its own under the unforgiving eye of the lens, shot practically to close out the film with both grandeur and intimacy." (Stuart Heath, BGI) The ship bridges the familiar and the foreign viscerally so that it feels alive, powerful and slightly unsettling in all its alien majesty. G E. AUXOLITH OFFICES. 3D MODEL CONCEPT ART CREATED BY JONAS BETHGE USING BLENDER. F. AUXOLITH OFFICES. MICHELLE'S OFFICE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FILM. SET PHOTO. G. ANDROMEDAN SPACESHIP. INITIAL CONCEPT ART. WATERCOLOR SKETCH BY JAMES PRICE. H. ANDROMEDAN SPACESHIP. 3D MODEL CONCEPT ART CREATED BY JONAS BETHGE USING BLENDER. E F H