American Horror Story: Freak Show

Freak Show, is the fourth season of the FX horror television series American Horror Story, set in 1952 Jupiter, Florida. It tells the story of one of the last remaining freak shows in America and their struggle for survival.

American Horror Story: Freak Show

Production Designer, Mark Worthington stated that “this season, we’re turning the freak show inside out. You’ll see it from the point of view of the people in it and see them as people, not objects of derision.”

Before the show aired, promotional posters were revealed to audiences and these allowed viewers to get an insight into the weird and wonderful world of the Freak Show. The shows promotional posters were the starting point at showcasing to the audience the strange and curious world of the Freak Show. These promotional posters are very compelling and mysterious, capturing certain aspects of the freak show and revealing very distinct and original characters. However, these visual images still leave room for imagination and curiosity behind the show, and don’t reveal too much information.

The shows production design lives up to the expectations met by these posters, as they continue to capture an eerie and almost sinister essence. What is more, the sets seen throughout the show have a tendency to reflect this sinister yet appealing quality, that is also reflective through the shows characters. Most of the sets seen try and showcase the glitz, glamour, fascination and talent of the freak show and its performers, rather than the fear and discrimination towards them.

The whole show has a running theme, whether it be the sets, costumes, props, music, cinematography or the characters back story, the whole show embodies a twisted yet engaging artistic appeal that leaves you on the edge of your seat and wanting more. The visual aesthetic of the show flows throughout the whole American Horror Story anthology and the use of cinematography and design is pleasing to the eye.

American Horror Story: Freak Show Promotional Poster

Sources:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/jarettwieselman/behind-the-curtain-of-american-horror-story-freak-show#.yrzrpJjPz
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1844624/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/11115772/American-Horror-Story-Freak-Show-meet-the-characters.html

Oz: The Great and Powerful Influences

Oz: the Great and Powerful is a prequel to the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and is set 20 years before the events of the original. Production Designer Robert Stromberg figured it was only fitting that the 21^st century prequel pay homage to the 1939 iconic Wizard of Oz and to the Golden Age of Hollywood Spectacle. Various major influences were highlighted throughout the film.

Glinda’s Kingdom

Stromberg comments that the captivating dreamscape landscapes of Glinda’s kingdom were influenced by a recalled trip to Switzerland. The major influence for these picturesque scenic views was Switzerland in the summertime and the beautiful aesthetic of the Alps. What is more, for Glinda’s castle Stromberg included a subtle finish to her castle. Glinda travels by bubble, therefore they added an opalescent quality to her castle, and being hit by the light will showcase a reflective rainbow pattern. In addition, a lot of design work went in to creating these fantasy views and this was so that the actors could get a sense of the whole scene. Furthermore, the actors could see not only the physical sets, but embody what was going on behind them on the bluescreens.

'Glinda's Kingdom' - Oz: The Great and Powerful (2013)

Switzerland Landscape

The Emerald City

The Emerald City was heavily influenced and pays homage to 1920’s Art Deco architect Hugh Ferriss. Ferriss’ style was an experimentation with light and shadows; he played with cityscapes and the way he stacked buildings reflected, dark against light. Stromberg revealed in an interview that Ferriss’ style and Art Deco on a whole, suited the back story of the Emerald City. He explains “Emerald City was built by Glinda’s father, then hijacked by these evil witches, so there’s a tension to the air. That’s why Emerald city looks like this masculine monolith with hard angles.”

'The Emerald City' - Oz:The Great and Powerful (2013)

'The Science Centre in The Metropolis of Tomorrow' - Hugh Ferriss (1929)

The Yellow- Brick Road

The Hudson River School, a group of painters in the 19^th century who travelled across America, where the main influences for most of the landscapes throughout. The landscapes depict somewhere between realism and surrealism, almost embodying the feeling of actually being in a dream. Stromberg comments “We all know the yellow-brick road, I wanted to take some of those icons that we all know and recognise and bring in some influence from traditional painters”

'The Yellow- Brick Road Landscape' -  Oz: The Great and Powerful (2013)

'Mountains of Ecuador' Hudson River School (1855)

Sources:

http://www.film3sixtymagazine.com/index.php/2013/01/25/in-dreams-oz-the-great-and-powerful/

http://thewadsworth.org/collection/hudson-river-school/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1623205/