♪ ♪
How do you create unforgettable worlds?
How do you establish unique characters settings and plots?
One great way to do this is with
production design.
♪ ♪
But stylish design for its own sake isn't enough.
Locations, props, wardrobe
and set dressing
they are opportunities for you to convey mood,
tone and theme
without saying a word.
In this video,
we're going to explore
how to create unforgettable scene elements.
Specifically the production design
in the Amazon original series "The Boys."
And how you can apply the same process
to your own projects.
But before we jump into our scene examples,
make sure to subscribe below
and click the bell icon to stay in the loop.
"The Boys" is about an ordinary young man Hughie,
living a simple life,
working at a quiet electronic store.
An underdog surrounded by a culture that's completely obsessed with celebrity.
Specifically, celebrities with superpowers.
♪ ♪
"A multi-billion dollar global industry
supported by corporate lobbyists, and politicians on both sides."
They are above the law
both figuratively and literally.
We're going to use StudioBinder's production software
to break down scenes from "The Boys."
Let's get diabolical.
"Holy fuck.
That was diabolical."
Production design elements include wardrobe, set design, and props.
You identify these elements when breaking down a script.
♪ ♪
This creates a complete robust world.
When building the elements of your world,
we're going to touch on three things you want to consider.
Your first job is to begin with story.
Because it should inform every decision you make.
"My deepest condolences to Robin Ward's family."
Your second job is to compile research.
Create mood boards for wardrobe.
Set design.
And Props.
"Name's Butcher.
Billy Butcher."
Your third job is to take design elements and exaggerate it.
It can be exaggerated to the max,
like the pile of money in "The Dark Knight"
or flood blood in "The Shining."
But you can also exaggerate to the minimum, emptiness.
For a show like "The Boys" exaggeration is critical
because it's a satire.
"- Here comes the A-Train!
- My wish was to meet Translucent.
That was my only wish.
- Ummmm.
Well, you know, maybe you can swing by next week or some--
--something..."
So how do you go about building production design that is accurate and believable
"Oh my god, turn that off."
First, let's talk about the wardrobe.
♪ ♪
How do the costumes in "The Boys" support the story?
♪ ♪
In the first scene we meet Homelander.
What is the first thing we see?
We see the American flag.
The eagle shoulder pads.
"- Homelander?
- You boys, okay?
- Can I get a selfie?
- Of course, you can."
In the next scene, we see Hughie.
"So this is pretty much everything in one Bluetooth speakers.
It's in stereo, so you can put it all around your living room."
He's clothed into conservative work attire.
Brown corduroy pants.
Laminate ID hanging from his neck.
Both of these characters are at work,
but unlike Homelander,
there are no vibrant colors here
and that contrast illustrates the different lives they lead.
So let's look at the research needed for the wardrobe.
In the case of "The Boys",
it's based on a graphic novel.
"Stay back.
Just stay the fuck back or I'm lasering you god dammit!
I laser every fucking one of you!"
Every costume you see in "The Boys"
has some connection to existing superhero costumes.
Homelander's costume is a mixture of Captain America and Superman.
Queen Maeve's resembles Wonder Woman.
The Deep is based on Aquaman.
"We make heroes Super."
(applauds)
♪ ♪
The costumes in "The Boys" are all highly exaggerated.
Look at Homelander's cape,
literally the American flag.
Or Starlight's costume,
from a naive, Iowa farm girl
to a sex symbol.
Look at the Deep's costume.
"What's up?"
As the playboy of the group
his wardrobe is sexualized for his fans.
The stuffed pecs, the ABS.
When you see the hyper specific and exaggerated
look of the Sup standing next to a civilian
the difference is made painfully clear due to the exaggerations.
So what about the set design?
The set design in "The Boys" serves as a constant reminder of circumstances.
The art department goes to great lengths to tell us
that this world is similar to ours
but it's a world that is owned by the suits.
Like in this scene
where Hughie just wants to buy some beer,
but instead he surrounded by images of A-Train.
"When you ever besmirch Billy--?"
A superhero that stole his life.
" I can't stop... I can't stop."
♪ ♪
The aisles are tightly packed,
so there is no way to escape.
The script may mention that A- Train is everywhere Hughie turns.
♪ ♪
A large part of production design is reading between the lines.
♪ ♪
And searching for every opportunity
to tell a story through design elements.
Research.
Much of the set dressing in "The Boys"
acts as branding for the Sups.
In some instances, it takes cues from Greek and Roman art.
♪ ♪
Look at stone busts of the sups.
♪ ♪
And columns in the meeting room.
♪ ♪
The ceiling art.
♪ ♪
After all, these are modern gods.
♪ ♪
The design also takes inspiration from Marvel and DC.
The v-shaped table
looks similar to the table inside the Avenger's spaceship.
♪ ♪
The sets are also exaggerated.
With the seven tower,
they use the existing window style
from their filming location in Toronto a Roy Thompson Hall.
They did this for stylistic reasons
to create a Mount Olympus like building a towered over the city.
Everything is there to remind us
that this world exists to serve the celebrities.
"My skin turns into this carbon metamaterial
then bends the light."
And by everything this also includes the props.
♪ ♪
Props are defined by objects that characters interact with,
so both the object
and the way a character interact with them means something.
"Who put the fucking blanket on the bed?
You fucking asshole."
Take this early moment
where Hughie makes a sale.
Hughie selects a high speed HDMI cable.
"...3000 mega HDMI, let's go with this one one."
One of the script describes as having more conductive carbon.
♪ ♪
"It costs a little bit more but the carbons way more conductive."
But look what it shares shall space with
an A-Train branded computer mouse.
♪ ♪
Both of these props foreshadow the events to come.
"- How'd you know the electric could do the job?
- Skins carbon.
Highly conductive.
Saw it on a...
Jimmy Fallon."
Or this scene
where Stillwell has just finished a pumping session.
"Yeah, I've just been pumping for 30 minutes
and I got quarter of an ounce."
It seems to have little weight,
but it's actually an important story element
that foreshadows a future storyline.
♪ ♪
"Personally, I think it's amazing
that woman your age can have a baby period."
Also notice how Homelander
moves the action figure to the center of the table.
They aren't there just for style.
They're there to introduce important story points.
"Jesus."
As well as convey character.
"Have I not been paying enough attention to you?"
♪ ♪
Research also applies to props.
What should the superpower steroid known as Compound V look like?
Which color should it be?
Viscosity, the container.
It's based on a comic.
♪ ♪
The props are also exaggerated.
Like the first time we meet Starlight,
she's lifting a car with just her arms
and punching holes through a brick wall.
It's over the top
but that's what makes it memorable.
And Frenchie's gun-running business,
he doesn't own a few guns.
He owns tons of guns.
♪ ♪
But the opposite kind of exaggeration
is just as effective under exaggeration.
♪ ♪
Take the scene where Billy Butcher has nothing
but a single hot pocket in his freezer,
just one.
What does it say about a character
when their refrigerators virtually empty?
Production design gives you an opportunity to exaggerate
so you leave zero room for confusion.
You have a limited amount of time to hammer home a point.
Exaggeration heightens the effect.
♪ ♪
"You fucking cocksuckers."
So let's recap.
When building the elements of your world,
specifically wardrobe, set design, and props
always think story.
Find opportunities in the script to support the characters setting and plot.
Do your research to build a rich authentic universe
that connects to history and precedent.
And then exaggerate it to make it memorable.
This can be under exaggeration as well.
What are some other movies
or shows you'd like to see us break down next?
Who do you think is a master of world-building?
Tell us in the comments.
Remember to subscribe to our channel below.
Click the bell icon for notifications
and follow us on our Instagram page.
After all, why have average...
"...when you can have extraordinary."
♪ ♪