“The basis of production design is an architectural truth, which becomes an emotional truth as well.  What we’re really after is the emotion.... We try to return to that essence.” – Robert Boyle, production designer

From color film to computer-generated imagery, the introduction of new technologies has continually increased the scope and complexity of production designers’ work.  Today, as these artists are asked to deal with virtual as well as physical space, not only are new tools essential – they enable the creation of motion pictures that may be more magical, beautiful and inspiring than ever before.

Hosted by Science and Technology Council member Bill Kroyer, “The Art, Science and Psychology of Production Design” will review the traditional role of the production designer in feature films and explore how new technologies and shifting collaborationsare changing the way motion picture production designers approach their work.

The evening will include panel presentations by such top production designers as Alex McDowell (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Minority Report), Doug Chiang (Beowulf, The Polar Express) and Ralph Eggleston (The Incredibles, Finding Nemo).  It will also feature a real-time pre-visualization demonstration by pre-visualization director Daniel Gregoire (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, The Spiderwick Chronicles) and a review of new technologies by art director Daniel Jennings (G-Force, Matchstick Men).

The presentations will be augmented by clips from such movies as The Little Foxes (1941), Rear Window (1954), Cleopatra (1963), Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) and War of the Worlds (2005).

To illustrate how the fundamental creative role of the production designer has remained unchanged - despite the fact that almost every technical process now used to achieve the imagery on screen is completely different from that of an earlier era in filmmaking - the program will also include a brief history of production design under the studio system, featuring an onstage conversation with legendary production designer and this year’s Honorary Award recipient, Robert Boyle. 

Joining Boyle will be Academy governor Jeannine Oppewall, who earned Oscar® nominations for her production designs for L.A. Confidential, Pleasantville, Seabiscuit and The Good Shepherd.

Bill Kroyer received an Academy Award® nomination for his 1988 short film Technological Threat, which pioneered the technique of combining hand-drawn and computer animation.  He directed the animated feature film FernGully: The Last Rainforest and is currently senior animation director at Rhythm & Hues Studios in Los Angeles.