Let me admit upfront that I am quite the Oz-phile so of course I jumped at the chance to see what MacDonald was up to in bringing Baum's world to life.
Upon arrival, I got to see some production designs that would blow your mind. MacDonald and his crew are clearly going all out to bring Oz to life. Sadly, I was not able to take any pictures here and was sworn to secrecy so you will just have to wait for the film's release to behold its awesomeness.
From there, I got to tour a couple of the sets. Specifically, I got to see both Unc Nunkie's hut and Dr. Pipt's lab. It was like walking into a storybook. The painted facade of Nunkie's fireplace as well as the imaginative contraption that allows Pipt to concoct his wonderful creations are more spectacular than I could have possibly imagined. For fans of Baum's stories, you can rest assured that you are in good hands.
At the end of the day, I got to watch them film a scene. It was a small moment with Unc Nunkie and Ojo attempting to cross a bridge while the stubborn mule named Mewel (a typical Baum flourish of a name) prevents their crossing. The scene itself is humorous, but what really astounds is the imaginative costuming that allows Fred Woodward to play Mewel. The actor in every way becomes a mule. It is seamless. I cannot wait to watch how the effect translates to the big screen.
Sadly, I only had a moment with MacDonald himself as I was leaving. I asked him how they would carry off the effect of creating the Patchwork Girl. He smiled and said he couldn't reveal much but that it would "blow my mind."
Earlier, we reported on some of the effects work for this film and you can find that here. Suffice to say, Baum fans will be more than satisfied if what I saw is any indication. And for moviegoers new to Oz? Prepare to have your mind blown.
0 comments:
Post a Comment