SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME

July 26th, 2019 by Karen Burg

Stark super jet... Peter Parker builds himself a new high-tech Spider-Man suit configured from a special computer his late mentor Tony Stark/Ironman designed... Image courtesy of Sony Pictures ©2019 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.

Set Decorator
Tina Jones SDSA

Production Designer
Claude Paré

Sony Pictures

Our friendly neighborhood Super Hero must step up in in a world that has changed forever following the events of AVENGERS: ENDGAME...
SPIDER-MAN™: FAR FROM HOME expands the Spider-Man film universe, taking Peter Parker [Tom Holland] out of his comfort zone and his home in Queens, New York City, and hurling him across Europe during what was supposed to be a school vacation – but which becomes his greatest challenge and most epic adventure ever. Far from home, Peter must protect his friends, save the world, rise to a challenge only he can meet, and come to terms with his destiny as Spider-Man.
— Sony Pictures/Marvel Studios

“Far from home” includes destinations such as Venice, a village in Austria, Prague, Berlin and London!
Set Decorator Tina Jones SDSA International stepped from ALADDIN into the present day “real” world, albeit complete with superheroes and supernatural threats!
She paired with Production Designer Claude Paré and brought her inimitable team to the project, which included creating a section of Venice on a London backlot and working with ‘local” set decorators in various countries to bring about the wide range of sets. We asked her to give us a glimpse of her experience...

From Set Decorator Tina Jones SDSA International...
“The sheer pace was an exciting challenge with script changes leading to new sets popping out all over the place, from suddenly having to import full suits of armour for a Tower of London scene to a full working fairground carousel and Ferris wheel... which, incidentally, were the biggest props I’ve ever had to source, purchase and re-paint, as they arrived all covered in Marilyn Monroe graphics and bright colours!”

“The first scout I went on with the Production Designer Claude Paré was to Venice, and this provided me with lots of fabulous references for colours and textures, plus some great contacts for street dressing and souvenir shops. It was a monumental set to decorate...the working canals built on the backlot at Leavesden Studios in the UK, along with a myriad of small boats and gondolas that we imported from Venice. It was very tempting not to jump in, as we were dressing in the middle of a very hot English summer! Someone did report having seen a fish, but I think this was just a backlot myth...”

“Working with Claude was a wonderful adventure for us all. We had such a great time and were given some wonderful sets to bring to life. I was lucky to be accompanied with my usual propmaster and manufacturing team, and we made some pretty awesome props, from the jet interior, seats and cockpit to the drones, statues, huge Venice bell and a whole host of other bits and pieces!”

“It was an exciting 11 months and I think the excitement and fun that we all experienced shows in the final product...”

S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, Berlin... In his black Stealth suit, ...See Austria photos further in this gallery... Peter/Spider-Man brings evidence of a major problem to the former, now ex-officio S.H.I.E.L.D. Director, Nick Fury, and former Deputy Director Maria Hill... Filmed in London for Berlin Samuel Jackson, Cobie Smulders, Tom Holland Photo by Jay Maidment ©2019 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.

S.H.I.E.L.D. temporary headquarters, Venice... Below the Porta Magna Arsenale di Venizia, the main gate of the Grand Canal, Maria Hill stands by with computer tracking as Nick Fury tries to reach Peter/Spider-Man... Cobie Smulders, Samuel Jackson Photo by Jay Maidment ©2019 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.

SHOW MORE PHOTOS

Venice, pensione... In the lobby, part of the group, including new lovebirds Ned and Betty watch the cataclysmic events as reported on the Italian news... Tony Revolori, Jacob Batalon, Angourie Rice, Zoha Rahman Photo by Jay Maidment ©2019 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.

Venice... behind-the-scenes, Leavesden Studios, UK... Actually, this Venice scene is being filmed at the backlot location built at Leavesden Studios outside of London, thus the blue-screen extensions on the top of the buildings... Tom Holland. Photo by Jay Maidment ©2019 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.

Venice... behind-the-scenes, Leavesden Studios, UK... Tom Holland cites one of his favorite action scenes, where Spider-Man runs across a series of poles to which boats are anchored. “Our stunt coordinator recommended that I wear shin guards, in case I fell...But I chose not to – which I regretted!” Note the shin guards in this take! And the set decoration details on the part of the building he had just run past... Tom Holland. Photo by Jay Maidment ©2019 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.

Venice... behind-the-scenes, Leavesden Studios, UK... A section of Venice’s famous Rialto Bridge re-created in the UK. The actual bridge spans the Grand Canal... Here, background actors and lighting techs on Genie lifts await their cue! Photo by Jay Maidment ©2019 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.

Venice... behind-the-scenes, Leavesden Studios, UK... A closer look at the scene reveals set details, such as the lace curtains and menus in the restaurant, the shop of Venetian masques, the jewelry store and shops beyond...in the café terrace we see a waiter’s station, and at the top right, one of the beautiful lamps of the city. Photo by Jay Maidment ©2019 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.

Venice... behind-the-scenes, Leavesden Studios, UK... First stage...note the huge empty lot... At this point, the set dec team are purchasing and arranging for the elemental details as well as specific items for the interiors that we glimpse and the exteriors that line the streets & canals... Photo by Jay Maidment ©2019 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.

Venice... behind-the-scenes, Leavesden Studios, UK... Next, getting the proper street lighting in, whilst determining both the interiors and exteriors of the shops and businesses that will line the canalway... Photo by Jay Maidment ©2019 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.

Venice... behind-the-scenes, Leavesden Studios, UK... A closer look at the lamp being put in place by part of her team of set dressers, as Set Decorator Tina Jones [right] confers re: the next steps...and, actually, hundreds of others to come, including a myriad of small boats and gondolas that they imported from Venice! Photo by Jay Maidment ©2019 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.

Venice... behind-the-scenes, Leavesden Studios, UK... Across the canal, Production Designer Claude Paré during an exciting moment when the first boat gets lowered into the extremely realistic set! Note the set dressing that is starting to appear, the window boxes and statuary...at far right, the lamp we saw being hung on the wall and the 3-armed huge standing street light... Photo by Jay Maidment ©2019 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.

Austria... A hotel/restaurant and travel stop in the mountains on the way from Venice to Prague... Little did Peter know it was also a rendezvous point... Photo by Jay Maidment ©2019 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.

Austria... So many great set details for a scene that really has little to do with the bar/bistro...it’s all about context... [The black bag holds the Stealth suit] Photo by Jay Maidment ©2019 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.

Prague... The black stealth suit... designed to let Spider-Man operate under the radar during his European adventures. Here, Prague in a London soundstage... Photo by Jay Maidment ©2019 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.

Prague, Opera House... Peter keeps being thwarted trying to connect with MJ. He was hoping perhaps this evening, until he got a call from Nick Fury... Tom Holland, Zendaya Photo by Jay Maidment ©2019 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.

Prague, Festival of Lights... Jones smiles, “The full working fairground carousel and Ferris wheel were the biggest props I’ve ever had to source, purchase and re-paint, as they arrived all covered in Marilyn Monroe graphics and bright colors!” Key action components as well, the carousel and Ferris wheel are demolished in a climatic scene... Photo by Jay Maidment ©2019 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.

Prague, Festival of Lights, behind-the-scenes... The main square of the city of Liberec stood in for Prague’s famous Old Square. Tents, booth, lights, vignettes, the fair equipment... This is one small portion, it was another huge set to dress! Photo by Jay Maidment ©2019 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.

Prague bar, behind-the-scenes... Director Jon Watts discusses a key scene with Jake Gyllenhaal and Tom Holland, who play Quentin Beck/Mysterio and Peter Parker/Spider-Man... Photo by Jay Maidment ©2019 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.

Tower of London, behind-the-scenes... Jones and team created several rooms opening into other rooms in the labyrinth of the Tower interiors... Photo by Jay Maidment ©2019 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.

Tower of London... Jones recalls, “The sheer pace of the production was an exciting challenge, with script changes leading to new sets popping out all over the place, including suddenly having to import full suits of armour for a Tower of London scene!” Photo by Jay Maidment ©2019 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.

London... A fourth suit, is designed in the film by Peter - see first photos in this gallery. It is red and black and symbolizes the young Super Hero’s evolution, from his reluctance to battle the new global menace, to stepping up and being his own man. The settings for his discovery of self were meticulously created by Jones, Paré and their remarkable teams... Photo by Jay Maidment ©2019 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved.

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