Authenticity in Historical Film and Television

Authenticity and accuracy within historical film and television, is a key component for the areas of Set, Props and Costume. When working on a historically correct film or television programme it is important to use items that either are or look historically authentic. In addition, when a major historical event is depicted it is vital that all elements staged are accurate and authentic to this particular event. What is more, aspects that are not can throw the story and essence completely off balance

Made in Dagenham (2010)

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)

Films or television that depicts a historical event with some level of accuracy will always find an audience. Audiences like to learn but don’t want to have to make an effort to learn the history, therefore exciting movies and television programmes that are ‘real’, allow for the audience to not only feel like they’ve learnt something, but will also have a new found appreciation for not only history but historical film and television. What is more, if a film or television programme/series is criticised for its history being inaccurate, it is likely that the audience will feel insulted if the history isn’t real enough. In addition, historical film and TV must be exciting, look visually great and portray a sense of what the time period was actually like.

Girl with the Pearl Earring (2003)

The Borgias (2011-2013)

Sources

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0914798/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0335119/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1371155/?ref_=nv_sr_1

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1582457/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Choccywoccydoodah

Choccywoccydoodah is a highly creative, art and design based chocolaterie situated in Brighton. They are not your usual chocolaterie or cake shop, Choccywoccydoodah specialise in lavish and sculptural handmade chocolate cakes, from bespoke wedding cakes to extravagant birthday cakes. The magic and process behind these sculptures is a top secret technique, and the team works to a confidential contract.

Some of Choccywoccy’s craziest creations include,

Whoopi Goldberg’s American Spectacular

Hollywood legend Whoopi Goldberg set the team a massive challenge to build a sky scraper of a cake for a fundraising event held in New York. The cake consists of various famous landmarks all sculpted to perfection using chocolate. However, there were difficulties throughout as the team were told they couldn’t bring their own ingredients to American, meaning they had to use the American equivalent to what they needed.

Whoopi Goldberg's American Creation

Greg Rutherford’s Food For Thought

British Olympic long jump gold medallist, Greg Rutherford challenged the creative team to create the biggest candy house to feed 2, 000 people at a charity fundraising sleep out event in London. In the most nerve-racking build, Tom Robertson became chief architect and builder on this creation. The detailed house included a cheeky garden gnome, a welcome home mat, a dog, a pie sitting on the window sill all created out of a mixture of chocolate and sweets. However, this challenge posed a huge construction difficulty as the structure failed to keep its position in transit.

Greg Rutherford's Candy House

The amazing creative team is behind all of these fantastical creations. The main team consists of:

Christine Taylor and Christine Garratt

Creative Director and co-founder of Choccywoccydoodah, Christine Taylor is responsible for choosing, employing and head of the creative team. Former graphic designer Christine is also the driving force behind the chocolate creations with help from her business partner Christine Garratt.

Dave Ratcliffe, Tom Robertson and Jim Thomas

Captain Creative/ Chief designer Dave, his assistant Tom and baker Jim, possess a chocoholic’s dream. Dave, is head of the design work and is the main member of the team to design and create these magical chocolate creations, with a helping hand from the rest of the team. Most of the cakes creates a highly sculptural creations, and the team mould the chocolate as if it were Plasticine and then let it harden so that they can carve it into exceptional forms.

 Sources:

http://uktv.co.uk/food/stepbystep/aid/655542

http://www.choccywoccydoodah.com/about/meet-the-team.html?___store=default

http://www.choccywoccydoodah.com/

Judy Farr

Judy Farr is a renowned British set decorator and art director. Farr is well known for her excellent attention to detail and her ultimate dedication to each and every project. She has worked on the liked of The Brothers Grimm, A week with Marilyn, Conan the Barbarian, The Kings Speech and the captivating Downton Abbey.

The British period drama Downton Abbey is one project that Farr ultimately showcases her set decoration skills and her many years of experience. In order to create an authentic portrayal of 1910 England, the creative team analysed old photographs of interiors and involved experts to aid in their research.

Set Decoration - Downton Abbey

With the series being set in Highclere Castle, a beautiful location ion Hampshire, England, it has sparked an interest and curiosity into the Edwardian style and appreciation for British historic homes. Highclere Castle was chosen as the setting for Downton Abbey, because of its individuality between rooms, with each room being decorated differently. Therefore, the creative team did use quite a bit of Highclere’s original furnishings. What is more, they added furnishings, art, period furniture, picture frames, cutlery, crystal ware and lamps, in order to fully capture the setting. In addition, Farr commented in an interview that the team updated the lighting in order to show the transition from gas to electric fixtures that was taking place at the time.

Set Decoration - Downton Abbey

Sources:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0268035/#set_decorator

http://www.61-54design.co.uk/

Set Dressing/Decorating

Set dressing/decorating is an important working role within any production. A set dresser/decorator works efficiently and effectively to create a scenic environment and simply dressers or decorators the set. In collaboration with production designers and directors, they dress the set using furnishings, artwork, lighting fixtures, props and many other objects to create a reliable and believable set for film and television productions.

Hairspray, 2007

What is more, historical period dramas are a common area for set dressers to work in. Period dramas that are set in, or reminiscent of an earlier time period, are a creative and imaginative area for set dressers to work within. However, within this creative field comes great responsibility. Especially with historical period dramas, every detail within the entire production has to be suitable and fit for that era, and care and consideration for every inch of the set in key. Films such as Pride and Prejudice, Hairspray, Titanic, Pearl Harbour and many more, are just a few historical period films that set dressers/decorators have artistically decorated/dressed every inch of the set, with historically correct elements.

Titanic, 1997

Pride and Prejudice, 2005

Notable set decorators/dressers include:

Richard Roberts, noted for The Da Vinci Code, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Game of Thrones, Jack the Giant Slayer and Guardians of the Galaxy.

Francesca Lo Schiavo, known for her work on Shutter Island, Hamlet, The Aviator, Gangs of New York, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Hugo.

Gordon Sim, known for his work on Driven, Chicago, Breach, Hairspray, Nine, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and X-Men: Days of Future Past.

Katie Spencer, famous for her work on Pride and Prejudice, Atonement, Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Hanna and Anna Karenina.

Anna Lynch-Robinson, well known for her work on Les Misérables, Bel Ami, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, Made in Dagenham and In Bruges.

Rosemary Brandenburg, known for her work on Hocus Pocus, The Flintstones, Caspar, Psycho, Planet of the Apes, Public Enemies, Hancock, The Island and Cast Away.

Tatiana Macdonald, noted for her work on Billy Elliot, Tinker Tailor Solider Spy, Vanity Fair, The Invisible Woman and The Imitation Game.

Nancy Haigh, well known for her work on Bugsy, Big Fish, Forrest Gump, Dreamgirls, and Oz the Great and Powerful.

Sandy Reynolds-Wasco, known for her work on Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Inglorious Bastards, and Reservoir Dogs.

Debra Schutt, notable for her work on The Dictator, Ghost Town, Revolutionary Road and Noah.

Judy Farr, well known for her work on The Brothers Grimm, A week with Marilyn, Conan the Barbarian and The King’s Speech.

Crispian Sallis, known for his work on Hannibal, Jack the Ripper, The Tudors, Gladiator and Camelot.

Sources:

http://www.imdb.com/

McCain's "Chip Perfection"

The advertisement showcases the loving care and attention that goes into making McCain chips, from planting the seed to testing the product for qualities such as desirability, crispy-ness, and fluffy-ness.

McCain Foods launched a creative heart-warming advertisement campaign created by BMB, showcasing loving care and attention that goes into making McCain chips. From planting the seed to testing the product for qualities such as ‘desirability’, ‘crispy-ness’, and ‘fluffy-ness’, McCain emphasises the creation of ‘Chip Perfection’. The business challenge, “Resist the trend towards Own Label chips and make people prepared to pay that little bit more for McCain”.

BMB (Beattie McGuinness Bungay) is an independent advertising agency, based in London, who aims to use creativity to solve business problems. Some of their other clients include, East Coast, Dairylea, First Choice, Hula Hoops, Linkedin, Microsoft, Thomson and many more. 

The two main production companies that worked on this advertisement campaign were Partizan and The Mill.

Partizan is an award-winning production company that works in the areas of advertising, music videos, animation, and films. The company is well-known for its creative excellence and has a worldwide reputation with offices in London, Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Berlin, Shanghai and Mumbai. They have produced many advertisements for many of the world leading brands, including Coca-Cola, Cadbury’s, Vodafone, Nokia, Audi and any more.

The Mill is a passionate production company that collaborates with directors, creative agencies and visual brands to bring creative ideas to life. Their reputation is built on the talented minds that make up the company and they find, train and nurture creative, technical and production teams. The company works internationally with offices in London, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. The Mill provides a range of visual effects and design projects for advertising and delivers various stages of the production from pre-visualisation to conceptual artwork.

Sources: 

http://www.bmbagency.com/

http://www.bmbagency.com/projects/chip-perfection

http://www.partizan.com/

http://www.themill.com/

Kaiser Chiefs - Ruby

Kaiser Chiefs, ‘Ruby’ music video, features a narrative story, where a mini city is being built around the band as they perform. The music video begins with the band performing in the middle of a desert and the city starts to take shape with various building stages.  In addition, the music video included a vast amount of post-production in order to produce the miniature city. The tiny city grows through the entire length of the video and completely envelops the band. The creative work was shared with a number of companies, including Mathematic, Stylewar and Stink UK.

Mathematic, a Paris based VFX animation and motion design studio, whom centred on Art Direction, their work extends across commercial advertisements, broadcast design, brand content, print realms and music videos.  For the music video, Mathematic assisted in the animation and integration in various shots of the video, especially in the close up elements which were animate within the scene, in particular the building scene in the first half of the clip.

Stylewar, is a group of Swedish directors that produce technically challenging creations. They strive to produce creative freedom in collaborations with various brands and music artists, while still using their unique signature style, with a high level of detail and volatile use of colour.

Stink TV UK, based in London is a marketing and advertising production company, who set out to introduce a unique creative collective to an international stage. There specialties lie in advertising, film and music videos, and they draw on various influences with a team of multi-cultural directors. They aim to produce work that is progressive and challenging, but also fully showcasing the talent of its directors and clients. 

Sources:

http://www.stylewar.com/content/kaiser-chiefs

http://www.mathematic.tv/

http://www.stink.tv/

A Journey into Advertising

BBDO is the worlds most awarded, international advertising agency based in New York. The agency aims to tell stories through advertising, both in bite-size and long form and they intend to move their consumers emotionally and change the way they think, feel or act towards a brand. What is more, they believe that ‘in the absence of great work nothing else matters’. The agency’s clients include FedEx, Visa, P&G, Mercedes- Benz, hp, Johnson & Johnson, Starbucks and many more.

FedEx Kinko’s innovative and quirky advertisement campaign, released in 2005, features oversized bottles of correction fluid, giant highlighters and in one case an enlarged office lamp, scattered around the busy streets of New York. The launch of this ad was to redefine the business-services marketplace, through its acquired and re-branded FedEx Kinko’s Office and Print Centre’s. This ingenious and unique ad campaign was invented by the creative team at BBDO advertising agency.

FedEx Kinko's advertising campaign

Furthermore, advertising agency AMV is a part of the BBDO network, and is the biggest advertising agency in the UK. Being a part of the BBDO network, AMV are in good company and now being recognised as AMV BBDO, the agencies together are identified as the world’s most creative and effective network. AMV BBDO work with over 85 brands and some of these include, BT, Sainsbury’s, Walkers, Mars, Aviva and EDF Energy.

The EDF Energy, ‘Feel Better Energy’ advertising campaign, first aired in April 2012, and was an uplifting campaign for EDF featuring former Human League singer, Phil Oakey’s 1984 hit Together in Electric Dreams. The advertisement features the company’s mascot ‘Zingy’, using various indoor and outdoor electric appliances and the ad aims to make customers feel better about the company’s energy services.

EDF Energy, 'Feel Better Energy' advertisement.

 Sources:

http://www.bbdo.com/#!/the-work

http://amvbbdo.com/

http://amvbbdo.com/work/campaign/edf-energy/feelbetter/feelbetterenergy