Production Designer Kasra Farahani, Set Decorator Claudia Bonfe SDSA, and their teams take the Marvel Universe into a daring dichotomy of extreme mid-century modernism visually defining a bloated autocratic bureaucracy with style and underlying sarcasm & wit...and then move on to more fantastical realms, each a new world, each literally a new twisted perspective!

Having become intimately familiar with the Marvel production universe, as Set Decorator of  the huge hits STAR WARS: IX - THE RISE OF SKYWALKER, SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME and the upcoming GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 , with a bonus Guardians Holiday Special, Rosemary Brandenburg SDSA was the ideal moderator of a fun and fascinating video conversation.

This amazing video conversation can also be found in the Inside the Set with SETDECOR section of the website and on SETDECOR YouTube – we have you covered!
 
In describing the journey to determine the design and look of the Time Variance Authority,  Kasra notes, “I think what we pursued in the show really did end up being a kind of a cocktail of the scale and the monolithic quality of brutalist architecture, skinned in the optimistic veneer of more colorful West Coast American version of mid-century modernism.”

TVA...The captured Loki [Tom Hiddleston], definitely a Variant. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Time Variance Authority...Absolute control, but presented stylishly with a bit of whimsy.This singular orange became the signature color of the institution. Production Designer Kasra Farahani notes, “There are no windows, there is no way to distinguish one door from the other. It's essentially a prison in some ways. And what happens when you go through that big door, as we see in the show, is pretty awful. And yet, it's presented in these really bright, inviting colors.” There is so much more behind this! Click on the video... Courtesy Disney+ ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Re: the collaboration on creating this “cocktail” he points out that Claudia has “...a kind of expert encyclopedic knowledge, a breadth of knowledge about mid-century modernism, and the specifics of the furniture and the decor and the wall sculpture, and all of that, that is at a pretty elite level. And I think we got lucky in that.”
 
“We both love this period. And we got the opportunity to work on this project that was really utilizing that natural area of interest that we had.” Claudia adds, “And then we had the opportunity to create these other worlds, completely different, totally unique. That was another great aspect of this as a series ”

They are quick to credit the many, many extremely talented collaborators they had on this major project. Having worked with many of these now-experts in their fields, the stories and appreciation from Rosemary, Claudia and Kasra are, indeed, fascinating, especially when you are listening to and watching against the backdrop of some of these unique sets! [Click above for the video]
 
A few more photos below to give you a glimpse of what you’ll find in the video and in the series!
We know you’ll enjoy!
Karen Burg, Editor

TVA Time Court... The Brutalist architecture defines the court. Elegant bespoke benches and prisoner dock add to the extreme stylism. Oppressive ceiling dominates. Courtesy Disney+ ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

TVA, Judge Rennslayer’s office: Luxurious mid-century. Marble-topped CEO desk, TVA top-of-the-line retro technical, including compiled computer and stunning lamp. The carved TVA insignia is eyeless & ominous. All furnishings custom-made. Courtesy Disney+ ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

TVA, Rennslayer’s office...Judge Ravona Rennslayer [Gugu Mbatha-Raw] with Miss Minutes, the TVA’s signature propaganda-espousing character. Screen image courtesy of Disney+ ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

TVA...The mosaics were printed using a dimensional printing technique which raised the “tiles” and recessed the “grout” areas. Claudia had the benches made. “Everything was manufactured, or if not manufactured, embellished, changed to fit this world.” Courtesy Disney+ ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Set Decorator Claudia Bonfe SDSA extends Special Thanks to:
Lead Paul Detlefson | Assistant Set Decorator Jenn Sandel | Lead Buyer Mallorie Coleman | Buyers: Katy Jensen, Charlotte Lee, Eric West, Samuel Tell | Upholstery/Draper Foreman David Dungan | Set Dressing Coordinator Katelyn Cocherell | On Set Dresser Andrew Huggins | Set Decoration Graphic Designers: Stephanie Little, Heath Hancock | Set Dressing Gang Boss Robert Saccenti | Set Dressing Warehouse Manager Kyle Bridwell | Set Dressing Gang Boss/Fabricators: Kyle Howser, Robbie Sadaka | Producer Trish Standard | Special Effects | Supervisor Dan Sudick | Special Effects Coordinator Joel Mitchell | Special Effects Technician Tom Zell | Special Effects Painter Ben Woodworth | Paint Supervisor Larry Clark | Construction Coordinator Michael Miller
           
And she would like to especially acknowledge the following SDSA Business members:
LCW Props | Alpha Companies Motion Picture Rentals | Omega Cinema Props | ISS/Independent Studio Services | Georgia Prop Source | Practical Props | Warner Bros.Studios
 
 

TVA, Delousing device...Illustration

TVA, Delousing device...Claudia notes, “Designed through the art department, our specialty set designers, the wires and set upward handled by our Set Dec dept. Courtesy Disney+ ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Chronomonitoring expanse...The Chronomonitor continuously displays the timeline, which much be maintained, no variances allowed. Claudia and team filled the space with, as Kasra describes, “...the most beautifully curated collection of mid-century items and strange technical obscura.” Watch the video for so much more! Courtesy Disney+ ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Planet Lamentis 1...Mining area. See video for deep details! Courtesy Disney+ ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Planet Lamentis 1, bar in Shuroo.... See video for delicious details! Courtesy Disney+ ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Planet Lamentis 1, bar in Shuroo...Loki and variant Sylvie plot to get off-world...Again, see video for delicious details! Screen image courtesy of Disney+ ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.