...more BABYLON

December 13th, 2022 by Karen Burg


Main Photo
“Our first set was Kinoscope's silent film studio out on a ranch in Piru. To see all the research and design come to life and the level of care and detail that Anthony put into those outdoor sets...I didn't know about his love for taxidermy, and that he had planned so many pieces for the Bar set, they were the best surprise! I love the richness they added to the set and that they are also spectators of Nellie's big break, dancing on top of the bar.” —Production Designer Florencia Martin SDSA. Margot Robbie plays Nellie LaRoy. Screen images © 2022 Paramount Pictures.


Set Decorator Anthony Carlino SDSA

Production Designer Florencia Martin SDSA

Paramount

Hollywood from the ground up!
Production Designer Florencia Martin SDSA and Set Decorator Anthony Carlino SDSA dove into Director Damien Chazelle’s vision of the history of 1920s Los Angeles exploding from the dusty early studios where silent films were cranked out in not the best of shooting conditions to the rise of sound-stages, literally created for incorporating sound, and Hollywood became a glitz and gloried mecca, with shades of dreams met and shattered or sometimes never realized, all hidden in what became the shiny package of the capital of dream-making. Collaboration was key to this story of dreams...everyone who read Chazelle’s script became mesmerized and committed to going even beyond that extra step, as is proven on the screen and in the viewing experience. 
 
Anthony and Florencia shared great stories of the making of this film in a conversation with Gene Serdena SDSA.
Click on the video here...
You will so enjoy!



Florencia pointed out the special quality that was added because, "...the opportunity we had to shoot on film, with all our effects, practical lighting, animals (except our elephant) picture cars, and stunts, practically and in camera, in the location, the story takes place and transform Hollywood back to the 1920s without the use of greenscreens that was only possible collaborating with an incredible team of craftspersons that worked tirelessly to allow us to capture the majority of the world practically and on film."

Check our gallery below, and don't forget to click on the video above!

Photo 3
Another silent film movie set-within-a-set, as this was part of the fictional Kinsocope Studios ranch where, because there was no sound, multiple films were able to be shot simultaneously – no wonder silent films had a bit of madcap madness! See the video for so very much more! Photo by Scott Garfield © 2022 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Photo 4
Editing “bay” at the desert studio. Can you imagine the dust on the filmstrips! Photo by Scott Garfield © 2022 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Photo 5
More advanced editing set-up once sound became the world of film... Photo by Scott Garfield © 2022 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Photo 6
Soundstage...Literally named for their purpose, we now think of soundstages as ubiquitous, essential studio edifices. Note the sound control room situated above right, amidst the baffling. The black box in foreground holds the camera, to help minimize sound. Anthony’s team had innumerable period “production” equipment to source, including hundreds of early studio lights! Photo by Scott Garfield © 2022 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Photo 7
Soundstage. The camera box in action. Check out the video for myriad sets-within, showcasing the range of sets that were filmed on these early soundstages. And listen for the shoutouts Anthony gives to key resources, such as Pam and Jim Elyea with History for Hire, who are film history personified, with their trove of working early film equipment, and the expertise to go with it. Diego Calva as Manny Torres. Photo by Scott Garfield © 2022 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Photo 8
The new sophistication of Jazz and a new soundstage set to reflect it...Gorgeous depiction of a late 1920s set. Photo by Scott Garfield © 2022 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Photo 9
Don Wallach’s Ballroom...BTS – setting up the interior of a mega party scene! Photo courtesy Paramount Pictures.

Photo 10
Don Wallach’s Ballroom...The never-ending party! Click on the video conversation for so much more AND see the film!!!! Jovan Adepo as trumpet-playing Sidney Palmer, leader of his Jazz orchestra, Jean Smart as sensational news writer Elinor St. John and Margot Robbie as actress Nellie LaRoy. Photos by Scott Garfield © 2022 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Photo 11
Don Wallach’s Ballroom...Just see the film! And for behind-the-scenes, click on the video above! Margot Robbie as Nellie LaRoy. Photo by Scott Garfield © 2022 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.



Set Decorator Anthony Carlino SDSA would like to give shout out to the SDSA Business Members who provided such great resources and expertise for this project, especially:
Pam and Jim Elyea with History for Hire | Alan Songer with Omega Cinema Props | Beverly Hadley with Universal Property | Robert Greenfield with Warner Bros. Property | Premiere Props | Practical Props | Hand Prop Room

The Set Decorator would also like to give special recognition to his outstanding crew: Tyler Kettenburg, Mark Boucher,Sam Tell,Walter Martinez, Ethan Goodwin, Dave Ladish, Paul Boucher, Corey Gomez, Darren Hardy, Ed Protiva, James Malley, Scott Anderson, Patrick Smith, & Lauren Baker
 
Production Designer Florencia Martin SDSA would like to add: “Anthony's passion for filmmaking comes through in every conversation about the sets and the film as a whole. Anthony goes beyond the furnishings to talk about character development and camera movement. He made the design process and execution incredibly fun and rewarding.”
 
“And I would love to recognize the incredible teams that collaborated closely together with whom Babylon could never happen. You can dream big and create a world from the ground up with the fantastic support, creativity, and team effort of the Babylon crew; without them, this film would have never come to life.”
 



Photo 12
Movie star Jack Conrad’s home, which Anthony and Florencia created in a Spanish Revival style. Photo by Scott Garfield © 2022 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Photo 13
Movie star Jack Conrad’s home. Inset: Brad Pitt as Jack. Photo courtesy Paramount Pictures.

Photo 14
Movie star Jack Conrad’s home. Brad Pitt as Jack. Note the gramophone, essential in the day. Screen image courtesy Paramount Pictures. [Do check out the video conversation for stories behind this!]







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