Critique | PRODUCTION DESIGN | TITANIC

picture 1 

Production design is the most essential part of a film as it visually conveys the idea and physical environment like location, time phase, from backdrop to feeling the character, which includes set design, costumes and props. Although not center of attention but the backdrop/ground has a lot of information about the film as it tells us more about the character and personality and makes it interesting to look at. [i] The filmed event can be a film, a tv program, video game or music video or an advertisement.

From the recent film The Great Gatsby (2013) and Avatar (2009), to the classic Titanic(1997) and Star Wars (1977), all these movies have not only been super successful but have also raised the bars in terms of production design. [ii]

Titanic, has inspired me the most in terms of the production design. Because it not only built the entire set, but also shot the devastation and the doom of the set. It was a process, which was beyond amusing. Just on one location- the ship, the film depicted its deep details like its history, the drama and the entire feel hence created. The people in the ship were clearly divided into two classes, the visual elements like their costumes, to their rooms and lifestyle, music and jamming, to their meals, screamed it out aloud. I also noted the manners that the cast other than the leading characters projected, which was a compliment to the background. 

The set design was the most magnificent part of the film. The deck, the rooms, the corridors, the dining area, the reception room, the grand stairs, to the engine area, every detail presented so clearly and with its due essence and feel. Expressions of art and music played a great part in conveying history, culture and feelings.

One of the most impressive interiors was the recreation of the famed Grand stairs – the most famous room Titanic contained. The stairs played a very essential part in the film. On reading about the set online , I  came across a fact I would like to throw light upon through my post.[iii]

After shooting the set, came the part where the destruction of the beautiful set was shot. When the entire ship sank, I read that they shot it by placing the ship in a 3foot deep, 17million gallon tank, using a tilted crane. And the shot of the destruction of the grand stairs, the set was enclosed in a 5 million gallon tank. [iv]

A great deal of work and imagination goes into constructing an appropriate backdrop to any story, and into selecting or constructing appropriate locations and/or sets.

                                          picture 2 MAKING OF THE SET | The Grand Stairs

                                          picture 3 THE SET | The Grand Stairs
                                       

                                      picture 4 MODEL | Titanic

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REFERENCE LINKS 

[i] Wikipedia, (2015). Titanic (1997 film). [online] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanic_(1997_film)#Production [Accessed 9 May 2015].

[ii] Google.co.in, (2015). movies for production design - Google Search. [online] Available at: https://www.google.co.in/search?sclient=psy-ab&es_sm=93&q=movies+for+production+design&oq=movies+for+production+design&gs_l=serp.3...2417.9146.0.9362.28.17.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0.msedr...0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..28.0.0.RwyE6efCIO4&pbx=1 [Accessed 9 May 2015].

[iii] Behind-the-Scenes: Production Design and the Grand Staircase in Titanic. (2015). [online] Available at: http://www.cinemablography.org/blog/behind-the-scenes-production-design-and-the-grand-staircase-in-titanic [Accessed 9 May 2015].

[iv][iv][iv] Behind-the-Scenes: Production Design and the Grand Staircase in Titanic. (2015). [online] Available at: http://www.cinemablography.org/blog/behind-the-scenes-production-design-and-the-grand-staircase-in-titanic [Accessed 9 May 2015].

PICTURE SOURCE

Picture1 : Google
Picture2 :Google.co.in, (2015). titanic production design - Google Search. [online] Available at: https://www.google.co.in/search?q=titanic+production+design&es_sm=93&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=0yVOVfP-NYXnuQT9gIHoCg&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ#imgrc=CPfdC9yiwKnI9M%253A%3BjXeKPIoaCBmESM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.cinemablography.org%252Fuploads%252F1%252F1%252F7%252F6%252F11768862%252F4799354_orig.jpeg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.cinemablography.org%252Fblog%252Fbehind-the-scenes-production-design-and-the-grand-staircase-in-titanic%3B1100%3B604 [Accessed 9 May 2015].

Picture3:Google.co.in, (2015). titanic production design - Google Search. [online] Available at: https://www.google.co.in/search?q=titanic+production+design&es_sm=93&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=0yVOVfP-NYXnuQT9gIHoCg&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ#imgrc=CPfdC9yiwKnI9M%253A%3BjXeKPIoaCBmESM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.cinemablography.org%252Fuploads%252F1%252F1%252F7%252F6%252F11768862%252F4799354_orig.jpeg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.cinemablography.org%252Fblog%252Fbehind-the-scenes-production-design-and-the-grand-staircase-in-titanic%3B1100%3B604 [Accessed 9 May 2015].

Picture4:  

Johnson, H. (2012). How Titanic Movie Set Was Constructed. [online] Chillopedia. Available at: http://chillopedia.com/interesting/how-titanic-movie-set-was-constructed/ [Accessed 9 May 2015].