Cover Photo: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Photo: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
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After the highly-anticipated 95th Academy Awards on March 13, we share a look at three of this year’s Oscars-nominated films that embrace the classics of American style—Babylon, Elvis, and The Fabelmans
With the ongoing fanfare of the 95th Academy Awards that took place on March 13, we take in awe the outstanding and stunning film set designs that go unnoticed in the last year.
This year’s star-studded nominees for the category of Best Production Design include the likes of the futuristic universe seen in Avatar: The Way Of Water, built using a mixture of physical sets and digital technologies to Netflix’s cinematic film, All Quiet on the Western Front, which won the category, takes place in war-torn Germany in the year of 1914 and used over 871,200 sq ft of land at the Irvine ranch in California to depict the rustic, disorderly environment of its battleground.
Interestingly enough, the other three nominees running for this award embody different eras of a more classic American style that is more palatable and can be great artistic references for design lovers this season. Ahead, we have a look at the captivating Oscar nominees for the Production Design category, Babylon, Elvis and The Fabelmans.
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Babylon
Lights, camera, action—Babylon stars Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, and Diego Calva, and follows the fictional tale of aspiring dreamers who face the highs and lows of stardom while chasing the Hollywood dream in the mid-1920s.
Envisioned by the Oscar-winning director behind La La Land (2016), Damien Chazel wanted to create an immersive yet hedonistic vision of Tinseltown that was “historically accurate.” Tapping on the creative genius of Florencia Martin, the production designer was behind a total of 120 multi-layered set designs in Los Angeles that recreated the likes of movie sets, production studios, and six lavish houses.
Bringing the scenography to life, Martin employs a rich use of jewel tones across interiors to amplify the glamour associated with old Hollywood. She also had the opportunity to experiment and design these sets at stunning locations, from luxury hotels that include the Castle Green hotel built during the Victorian era in Pasadena to the Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles that boasts incredible Spanish gothic-style architecture as well as landmarks like the abandoned Shea Castle in Elizabeth Lake.
Elvis
Inspired by the legendary rock and roll icon Elvis Presley, Baz Luhrrman’s biopic, Elvis, conveys the story of the late star throughout the decades from the time of his childhood to the height of his unprecedented stardom from the ’50s to the ’70s. The reinterpretation showcases Presley’s (Austin Butler) journey over two decades through the lens of his complicated relationship with his former manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks), which entails the timeline of when he met the love of his life, Priscilla Presley (Olivia DeJonge), and, reached the pinnacle of success while facing personal struggles with substance abuse and debt.
Beyond the cast’s stellar acting chops, reinterpretations of prominent destinations in Presley’s life make a feature in the film. Some of these places include Beale Street in Memphis, Tennesse, where he finds himself as a singer, his Graceland mansion that borrows references from Colonial Revival architecture style, and the post-modern designed Las Vegas International Hotel where he faces his bittersweet ending to his last tour and faces the ultimate downfall.
Led by Luhrmann’s wife and production designer Catherine Martin alongside the film’s art department, the glitzy worlds of Elvis are reimagined with over 90 impressive sets that were built across Queensland, Australia.
In case you missed it: Oscars 2021: Inspiring Set Designs from Minari, Mank and Promising Young Woman
The Fabelmans
In homage to the magic of cinema, Steven Spielberg’s latest film loosely draws references to his own experience growing up with a passion for movies, the divorce of his parents, and his initial years of becoming a filmmaker. Made in 2020, during the pandemic, The Fabelmans stars an exceptional cast that includes Gabriel LaBelle as Sammy Fabelman, the 16-year-old son who dreams of creating movies; Michelle Williams as his supportive mother, Mitzi; Paul Dano as Burt, the father and computer engineer; alongside co-stars Seth Rogen and Judd Hirsch.
Working alongside Rick Carter and his knack for impeccable production design, The Fabelmans is set in the 1950s follows three main story arcs: where the family is in New Jersey during the winter where a young Sammy watches his first movie in a cinema, the recognisable summertime season in the characters’ hometown of Arizona, and Nothern California, where the Fabelman son relocates in Autumn to pursue his career in film.
In this endeavour to reimagine the homes Spielberg once lived in, Carter collaborated with set decorator Karen O’Hara who helped to consult Spielberg and his three sisters for vivid recollections of the home and old photographs. The final result involved the cosy, lived-in creation of three mid-century style houses built on stages by Carter, O’Hara, and the production team. Interiors relayed a timeless appeal with warm tones and an assortment of Jewish and vintage furniture decor pieces.
This story was first published on March 10, 2023 and updated on March 14, 2023.
