Lord of the Rings Film Set
Dissertation BA honours in Interior Design
Iram Naseer Wyne
Design language of film set; a link between space and characters
Contents INTRODUCTION
FILM SET
location and Art Influence
Space narrates characters
Art Nouveau-fantasy, symbolism
Conclusion
Bibliography
Introduction The word “design” is used commonly in everyday life now. We live, eat, walk and sit in design. Everyday objects from a coffee cup to a living room in our space could be represented as design. Every form of design has its own language to communicate to its audience. Day by day structural design has started using symbols and created meaning in the visual world. Those symbols and signs create an impression or narrate a message “The symbolic architectural conception proved to be an instant success” As design defines visuals, it has big influence on the entertainment world; infant film, theatre and TV all bring every single form of art and design into the entertainment industry, this was adopted in cinematography around the early 1900s. The structural designs or set designs always been a big part of film industry. Not only can a performer and a narrator create an impression on their audience but a designed space around him can help him to narrate a story as well. This dissertation is about the recognition of the design language of space and influence in the film “Lord of the Ring “and how can the influence of design language create a link between space and characters?
Film set Film is considered as a part of the performing and entertaining arts. Every film is made with a combination of different features. The main job of a film is telling stories with characters. An Art director or set designer‘s job is to create a location where all the characters can perform. He considers the actions and visualises the need of those actions which could make the story and situation more believable.
“Sometimes the script clearly describes the kind of location, one will need or it might even specify a particular location that one can find easily.”
A set designer usually first reads the scripts to understand the story, then divides it into phrases according to the actions. Then they create a visual situation through linking space and characters according to the story line .The story could be based on reality or a fiction. A set designer‘s job is to use the right place to link with specific situation which could be more believable for the audience. Some stories are more easy and obvious to link with the real world; they could be based on true stories or a particular historical incident.
Film set of “Pride and Prejudice”: shows the glimpse of history and class system in early 1800 century.
A set designer has to be accurate to show elements of historical moment. But the true challenge for a designer could be the fantasy and fiction type films. These kinds of films are totally based on the production designer’s imagination to link characters and space to make it more believable for the audience. Those films which are based on novels or books could be the biggest challenge for film production. This is because reading a book already creates a different version of imagination in the reader’s mind. In the matter of film, the production team should have to hit their audience’s imagination. “If the book says, beautiful woman entrance in the room then you create an image of beautiful woman in your imagination, you cast beautiful woman, set location and costumes” (Audio Lecture )
The guest bedroom, where Jane is sick. The wallpaper is apparently custom, made specifically for the movie.
The Lord of the Rings is one of those films which are based on a high fantasy novel series. It’s written by University of Oxford Professor John Ronald Reuel Tolkien. The title of the film refers to an imaginary lord Sauron and his creation of the magical rings as the ultimate power over the middle earth. Peter Jackson, who is director of the film, read this novel when he was 17. He said in his interview that he always wanted this novel to be converted into a film. He watched the cartoon version of this fiction and realised that it couldn’t do justice to the whole story. He is the first person who has tried to bring Tolkien’s imaginative world to the screen through real characters and locations. This film based on series of books and shows a timeless story of magical powers. The story has influence of many things from imaginative places to magical characters. The set designers and productions company has to consider all these aspects to create believable visuals. Peter Jackson contact to illustrator Allen Lee to illustrate Tolkien’s imaginative world and brought it from imagination to the visual world. Allen Lee has already worked as a conceptual designer on the films like Legend, Erik the Viking and King Kong. Allen Lee worked along with another illustrator John Howe to design film Lord of the Ring. It has been described as a gothic film because of the story. The story is based on an imaginative world, so illustrators and set designers Alan lee and John Howe used their own imagination to visualise that world.
"As a conceptual artist, it is quite a mine field treading through Tolkien'sworld, but you somehow have to trust your own judgment and your own vision. Tolkien's descriptions are so beautiful and poetic,yet he has left plenty of room for us to make our own little explorations,"said Illustator and set designer of film Allen Lee
Film set, location and influence The fiolm “Lord of the Rings� has been an inspiration to many artists and designers because of its iconic style, location and design language since being released. The film has been shot in many different locations in the natural environment as well as many artificial film sets in New Zealand. Few parts of the film set have been built in the Stone Street Studio, Wellington New Zealand. The most significant element of the film is its incredible detail in the conceptual designs of locations which started with the conceptual artwork of Alan Lee and John Howe. They have tried to link characters with their spaces by creating a link between their nature and their habitat which is, for example, clearly reflected in the Hobbits habitats .Hobbits are imaginative characters that are smaller than normal humans. Their whole surroundings from shops to housing are small according to their height .They live in holes which are kind of mouse holes. But because they are human like, Allen lee created their housing in a similar way to humans but kind of hidden in the earth.
Fig2, fig 2.1, Lord of the ring set in natural location of New Zealand fig2.2Interior of Frodo’s house set in Stone street Studio
The location has been set as Frodo’s house in film Lord of the ring, fellowship of the ring. Its exterior has been located in natural environment of New Zealand but for interior set has been located in Stone Street Studio, Wellington.
The biggest part the film surrounding by imaginative characters of Elves .Especially Rivendell and Lothlorien’s location caught audience attention. Rivendell valley is an area which is one of the largest Elf settlements in Middle-earth. It is land of Elrond Halfelven who ruled on middle earth. Lothlorien was a forest located in Middle-earth, next to the lower Misty Mountains. It was first Elves land settled by Silvan Elves . It was fairest forest where leaves don’t fall in autumn but turn golden. Lothlorien also consider symbol of aesthetics preservation of middle earth and provide elves as space of ‘out of time'. “Lorthorien in particular becomes not just the heart of the remaining Elven kingdoms but almost the soul of middle earth; a connection with the forest that was broken in the early years of mankind development; a lost paradise that part of us still yearns for. ” (P70, the lord of the ring, sketchbook, Lee, Alan) That the thing viewer clearly can feel in design that Allen Lee tried to create a lost and imaginative paradise with every single possibility to use organic and nature shapes for structures. These structures are surreal but show the element of human practicality and existence in that place. Many parts of the structures show the resemblance with art nouveau architecture.
Fig 2.4 Lorthorien Forest show elves tree house with beautiful structural details Fig2.5 Miniature of Lorthorien reflect infulance of Neauvoue style
These Lorthorien set location is beautifully blended of manmade wooden structures which seems camouflaged in natural environment. The conceptual artistes Allen Lee and John Howe modified and stylized natural places and created beautiful living spaces using very organic shapes as it was symbol of Elves ecstatic preservation. The gothic and organic style is beautiful blend of Art Nouveau and Celtic art which is quite prominent in every aspect of the design in the film, from architecture to costumes of Elves.
"We used a leaf motif throughout the sets, and used a lot of hand-carved statues, pillars and door frames. Even the colours are right out of the forest. We even added Art Nouveau-style influences that reflect their elegant nature. "Production designer Grant Major (online blog of production design )
The production team used a lot of miniature to bring the whole imagination into visual world. WETA is a visual effect company that has worked along with Alan Lee and john Howe, so they could be able to bring the construction of the very small-scale design maquettes to a film set. “We realized that we needed to build two substantial sets right away, one which was the canopy and one which was the whole of the ground below. We built both at 1/14th scale which meant that even through the trees were in miniature, they stood up to 12 meters tall. This required us to shoot in the biggest possible interior room in Wellington. We built over 100 Elven houses to populate the branches and we hand applied over 2,000 individual leaves onto the ends of the sprays to get the feeling of the foliage that was necessary in the trees�.( Taylor, Richard ,WETA Supervisor, online blog )
Fig3.1, Rivendell set in wellington 3.2 film set features similar to this vase which has been designed in 1895.
Fig 3,Set in Wellington shows detailed curves
As big part of the film mixture of manmade and natural landscapes, Peter Jackson wanted to give bit touch of history there, just to show the royal site of King Elrod. They blended few real historical features to make it more believable. “Peter Jackson was keen to add a sense of history to many of these landscapes, and so the art department would “dress in” some old broken arches, carried around the country by truck for the purpose.”(P52, the lord of the ring, sketchbook, Lee, Alan) They have used Art Nouveau features from designing jewellery to residential places especially for the Elves. The Elves are the fairest and wisest among all the characters.
Elves rules on middle earth and lived in place called Rivendell and Lothorien. Allen lee tried to design everything inspired and based on nature for Elves. That might be the reason, everything belong to elves seems inspired by art Nouveau as that art moment totally based on nature. Art Neauvou’s identical features are whiplash and organic motives which are quite prominent in film set. The most interesting part which could catch any artist or designer attention is Rivendell, The Land of the Elves.
Fig 3.3 Note the floor organic patterns and the carving on the pillars. Fig 3.4 Art Nouveau Wallpaper resemble with film set floor
Rivendell is a place ruled by King Elrond Halfelven and its surrounding by mystic mountains. In film Lord of the ring they build actual film set of Rivendell council in the Stone Street Studio, Wellington New Zealand .It is set amongst woodlands, foaming rivers, waterfalls, drifting leaves and the detached air of its inhabitants. Tolkien’s writing about nature was a kind of map for artists and illustrators to create that nature based imaginative world. Peter Jackson paid appropriate attention to astatic elements to associate with Elves as they were the most important characters and Rivendell was their power land.
“We were asked by Peter Jackson to create quite extensive miniatures for Rivendell, once he was happy with the general layout and style of architecture, it was matter of producing copious amount of Elven detailing, often in form of patterns. In essences you could describe it as Art Nouveau, with all 19th century flourished.�(P 47 ,The lord of the ring sketchbook, Lee, Allen ,Harper Colleen Publishers 2005)
Space narrates characters; link between space and characters We use words to communicate but if there are no words then we use signs and symbols. Sometime illustrator symbolised images to narrate a story or create meaning into it. Iconic shapes and symbols have been used in many art forms which adopted in many field of designs. That symbolise create another form of language which influence on behaviours. We adopt behaviours from people and surroundings but some time places influence and tell us how to behave on certain area like in church or a bank queue.
“Not all behaviour in space involves conversation, but much if our behaviour in space involves communication in some way or other “(the language of the space –Lawson, Bryan P2) The same method uses in films to narrate characters by using iconic design forms which creates links and also connects space and characters on one place. In the film “lord of the ring”, Elves are very important characters which control and protect good from nature. They live quite connected to their natural environment. The film set and location for their residencies location reflects glory and elegance of those characters. The conceptual artist Alan Lee uses his imagination to create the impression of their power and their link to their environment and he uses rich motives and patterns in details to create an extra ordinary surreal world surrounding by river and mountains. The location is beautiful mixture of manmade structures and nature. To bring both things together, he uses beautiful features of Art Neauvoue which is quite prominent in Rivendell castle. Allen Lee’s sketches for set
“We had drawn so many sketches and had so many conversations and then there was the whole construction process. But, finally it became this absolutely real place where grass grew over the roofs and the chimneys were spouting smoke, and it was like a dream to see it come to life.� (Alan lee and john Howe: online Production information) The other reason brings art Nouveau influence into Rivendell design could be Elves’ linked to nature, as art nouveau is art movement based on nature. This influence creates a visual connection between characters and their space. He shows element of possession of a nation by using detailed carved pattern in surrounding of Rivendell. Everything seems linked in Rivendell from costumes to absorbed architecture in natural environment which looked a believable surreal fantasy world. He shows a gothic whiplash sort pattern in details in whole surrounding of Rivendell, no matter its interior or exterior or normal household thing in their use.
He has used language of in detailed rich patterns and organic forms which creates network between story and space which define Christopher Alexander’s theory of language of patterns. It also shows a link between characters and their environment. Bring whole element together, these patterns and natural environment creates a timeless impression which was actual demand of story as that is a timeless fiction. “A pattern language has the structure of a network.” (Alexander,Christopher. A Pattern Language, oxford university press 1997)
fig 3 Frodo in Bilbo's room in Rivendell. Fig3.2 head jewellery blend of both art 3.3b Frodo bed seems a 3D version of this Art neauvou poster . The detail in the surroundings of the structures in Rivendell creates an impression of possession and the superiority of Elves to others. Especially Rivendell council ground shows details of the manmade and natural environment. This is very prominent in one scene where all the council came to Elves to destroy the ring. It shows very strong castle structures with every single detail of natural curved wood designs which fit perfectly in the natural environment and linked everything together.
Elrond is in a gazebo in Rivendell. Beautiful details show curves and details resemble with art nouveau bricks wall .
Every single detail perfectly defines the Elves characters and Allen lee‘s style to adopt the Art Nouveau influence for the Elves space. The Elves characters are immortals and living in a nature base environment so Lee showed an Art Nouveau in gothic style to create a decorative and richly powerful environment.
“Gothic Architecture was superior to other architecture modes because its ornament was more legible.”
That’s why some part of the Rivendell is a reminder of Gaudi’s form of architecture. Rivendell council & Gaudi – Palau Guell. Art Nouveau wrought iron grill in central Barcelona.
“Art Nouveau is known for its organic, flowing lines and elegant ornamentation. Perhaps because of the elegance and almost plant like nature of Art Nouveau architecture, the artists behind Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings movies used the Art Nouveau style to depict the elf kingdom of "Rivendell".�
Allen Lee and Howe created an atmosphere in that scene to narrate richness and power of the Elves. As the camera moves around Rivendale, the viewers are clearly mesmerised by the detail of glory and royalty of the set. Places are some time a reflection of their owners and that’s the point we can clearly see in Rivendell. After moving to the other location and part of the film, in the reference of Rohan’s dragons, Allen Lee again blends Critic and Art Nouveau forms together to create an extraordinary set and the same elements are reflected in the building of Edoras. “Rohan legend contains references to dragons, great boars and other extraordinary creatures drawn widely on doorways and pillars and other fine metal work turn building into record of an ancient and rich culture.”
The doors of Edoras.
Art Nouveau (symbolism in the film )
Art nouveau appeared in the early nineteen century, where designers like Emile Galle tried to convey a feeling of dynamic forces in nature. The interesting question is that if the movement means modern art and it has rejected classic styles in art and design, then how has this style become a part of Tolkien’s timeless story, which also has visual elements of history, also, how has that art become the muse of Allen Lee, enough to design the film set of Lord of the Ring? This chapter is sets out to find a link between them. The simplest answer to this question might be that they both have the biggest influence of nature. Tolkien’s fantasy novel “Lord of the Ring” has biggest influence of nature and imaginative world and Art nouveau is also an art movement based on nature. But that answer would be very basic while Art nouveau is much more about nature.
“Whereas Modernism had come to represent the rational discipline and common sense of the bureaucratic cooperation, the sinuous, organic curves of art nouveau; and the decadent imagery of symbolist art became the stylistic hallmark of an underground ‘counterculture’ Tolkien’s story based on fantasy, imagination and art nouveau has a very strong link with human fantasy. Many artists find themselves spiritually linked in this art form. The nature influence in art nouveau gives an inner power and energy to the artist to connect design with their own feelings, also having a spiritual connection between nature and human.
“Much art nouveau was literally designed ‘to reveal a state of the soul’. Another reason may be that Lee tried to create a fairest fantasy in set design of Lothian. As Lorthien was the first refuge of elves and they had a connection with that place. Lee created a fairest paradise in a glass land which has very prominent whiplash curves. Lee has designed a structural design that creates calmness in its surrounding as well.
Surrealist writer Aragon wrote (in Le Paysan De Paris) “ The whole fauna of human fantasies , their marine vegetation , drifts and luxuriates in the dimly lit zones of human activities , as though painting think tresses of darkness .”
According to the point Aragon has made, he states Art nouveau wasn’t purely an art, based on nature but it was art of human imagination and fantasy. That’s why many of the movie’s posters and graphics are based on imaginative fairy like female images. The phrase ‘chivalric romance’ also used to define Tolkien’s novel L.O.T.R. There are many parts of the film where Tolkien creates a romantic element in characters like Aragorn and King Eldora’s daughter. Art nouveau artists like Emile Galle have used poetry to create a romantic and inner feeling influencing his work. She has used symbolised poems to make a glass vessel which were intended to express moods of joy, calm, melancholy or conflict. He has carved a line from a poem by Hugo, one of the symbolists to help to convey the emotion he tried to create. French art nouveau designers often incorporated female figures in functional objects the silver candelabrum was cast from a model by Maurice Bouval entitled dream, Raoul Larches’ gilt-Bronmce table lamp dragonfly is fine example of the art nouveau designer’s obsession with the metamorphosis of woman into plants or animals form. That commonality could find in Tolkin’s novel as well. L.O.T.R is timeless and imaginative story, so Allen lee used a universal form to create a timeless and universal expression. “There are several factors which contributed to the style’s universal appeal, some of which had little to do with aesthetics”.
Every film associate with characters and story but space can’t be ignoring. Sometime space creates more strong impression then characters and helps to tells story to its audience. Film Lord of the ring is totally based on fiction and film set is based on interpretation of artists and designer’s imagination. It seems a simple rule to follow by saying that space reflects their habitats so that’s why Allen lee try to create connection between characters and space. But the truth is; it’s most challenging job for a conceptual artist or designer to link everything related to story on one space by understanding demand of story to create a space which could represent and support a film’s characters. Allen Lee chose to use Art Neauvou as inspiration to connect Elves and their space .It is because elves characters are mostly likely to live close to nature while Art Neauvou moment totally based on nature and human fantasy .He used different organic forms of Art Neauvou to create a space which could look Royal and camouflage in natural environment on the same time. Elves are most superlative and immortals among other and they rule on middle earth. Their space define their supremacy on middle earth as Allen design Elves castle by using very details motives and curves style of Art Neauvou . It also represent element of peacefulness and fairest link with the space.
Elves were camouflaged in nature and first refuge in middle earth but their living style is more refine and modern among other elves. Allen Lee created Elves place with motives of Art Neauvou to show their restful and majestic life. Another common factor between Art Nouveau and Rivendell is, both based on nature and has fantasy impact with the element of nature. As Elves live were preserver of middle earth from evil powers and lived close to nature. In another part of film, Allen Lee and john Howe have used a bit style of Celtic knot in Rohan’s castle “Edoras” design. Celtic art is also has link with art Nouveau style. It’s quite similar to Art Nouveau curves. Using Celtic art creates a timeless expression between characters and space, As Celtic art is time is unsure. And that unsurely of time Allen Lee try to create here.
That commonality could be found in Tolkin’s novel as well. L.O.T.R is a timeless and imaginative story, so Allen lee used a universal forms to create a timeless and universal expression between space and characters.
Bibliography Books
1.Alexander, Christopher A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction-(Oxford University Press, 1977) 2.Lamster, Mark, Architecture and Film.(Princeton Architectural Press 2000, New York) 3.Lawson, Bryan, The Language of the Space. (Oxford Architectural Press, 2001) 4.Lee, Alan, The Lord of the Ring Sketch book. (Harper Collins Publishers, 2005) 5.Marner, Terence St John; Stringer, Michael, Film Design. (Tantivy Press, 1974, London) 6.Schafer, Debra, The Order of Ornament, the Structure of Style.( Cambridge University Press, 2003) 7.Huslam,Malcolm;In the Nouveau style; Thomas &Hudson Publishers ,London,2004`
Ebook`
Contemporary Cinema, Vol.3 from The Hobbit to Hollywood, Essays on Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Ring, Pomerance, Murray 2006 Architecture for the Screen: A Critical Study of Set Design in Hollywood's Juan Antonio RamĂre,2004
Blogs
http://www.collegefashion.net/inspiration/geek-chic-fashion-inspiredby-the-lord-of-the-rings/ http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/jac0int-1 http://www.lordoftherings.net/legend/lands/rivendell/rivendell.html http://www.lordoftherings.net/legend/lands/lothlorien/lothlorien.html Influence in contemporary design http://inhabitat.com/antony-gibbon-designs-lord-of-the-rings-styledtreehouse-could-offer-humans-elvish-like-accommodations/ Articles Art Nouveau: A Lost Future http://www.fearfulfortress.com/2011/11/art-nouveau-lost-future.html Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring: Production Information http://culture.com/articles/687/lord-of-the-rings-the-fellowship-of-thering-production-information.phtml
Pictures Fig 1 http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/on-the-set-pride-prejudice-59960 Fig 2 http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/on-the-set-pride-prejudice-59960 fig 3 http://www.altfg.com/blog/awards/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-fellowshipof-the-ring-screening/ fig 4 http://nighthawknews.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/iii-gandalf.jpg fig 5 http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/lord-of-the-rings/images/3073443/title/ grey-havens-wallpaper Fig 6 http://www.hobbitontours.com/ fig7 http://www.hobbitontours.com/ fig8 http://inhabitat.com/lord-of-the-rings-hobbiton-now-serves-as-sheepfarm/ fig 9 http://nessa-elensar.deviantart.com/art/Lothlorien-110903793 fig 10 http://firstlotr.wordpress.com/2011/05/07/lothlorien/ fig 11 http://indulgy.com/post/fhfzOv9v81/an-art-nouveau-air-vent-brick-ona-wall-offig 12 http://jmibullfrog.wordpress.com/2010/04/25/moria-to-lothlorien-a-personal-reflection-on-my-first-lentpascha/ Fig13 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfX1PYv1FEY&feature=related Fig 14 http://www.lotrcostumedecor.50megs.com/photo.html Fig 15 http://www.antique-marks.com/art-nouveau.html fig 16,17,18 http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/rivendell/images/9563444/title/rivendell-photo fig 19 http://filiusdracul.deviantart.com/art/Rivendell-Balcony-167134598 fig 20 http://kfmurphy.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/top-10-tuesday-top-settings. html
fig 21 http://alan-and-john.tumblr.com/post/19778725341/tolkienianos-fuckyeahlordoftherings-concept fig 22 http://alan-and-john.tumblr.com/post/38376839792/ snickykiki-one-of-alan-lees-concept-sketches fig 23 http://www.lotrcostumedecor.50megs.com/photo.html Fig24 http://www.lotrcostumedecor.50megs.com/photo3.html fig25 http://pinterest.com/ruthdaisy/art-nouveau-flowers/ fig 26 http://www.lotrcostumedecor.50megs.com/photo3.html fig 27 http://scv.bu.edu/~aarondf/rivimages.html fig 28 http://www.samhaskinsblog.com/?m=200710 fig 29 http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?p=42629769 fig 30 http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Obsession-and-Dream-a-Pair-of-Silvered-Bronze-Candelabra-Circa-1900-Posters_i2683387_.htm