An in-depth exclusive interview with Production Designer GAVIN BOCQUET discussing the multiple elements and considerations of creating the sensory tactile and emotional immersion of the world of SILO.
Already an Emmy winner for Art Direction for a Miniseries or a Special for his work on “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles”, GAVIN BOCQUET has a more than impressive pedigree, having helped take us to galaxies far, far away as production designer for “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace”, “Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones”, and “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith”, and then on to the land of Lilliput as well as transporting us into the fantasy of beanstalks and giants and even a Christmas journey through time, along with so many more wonderous places. And now Gavin and his team immerse us in the dystopian future of the last 10,000 people on Earth with SILO.
SYNOPSIS: Silo is the story of the last ten thousand people on earth, their mile-deep home protecting them from the toxic and deadly world outside. However, no one knows when or why the silo was built and any who try to find out face fatal consequences. Rebecca Ferguson stars as Juliette, an engineer, who seeks answers about a loved one’s murder and tumbles onto a mystery that goes far deeper than she could have ever imagined, leading her to discover that if the lies don’t kill you, the truth will.
SILO is created by Graham Yost based on the book series “Wool” by Hugh Howey and executive produced by Yost and Morten Tyldum, among others. Season One is a 10-episode arc starring as the main cast Rebecca Ferguson, Juliette Nichols, Common, Robert Sims, Tim Robbins, Bernard Holland, Harriet Walter, Martha Walker, Avi Nash, and Lukas Kyle
GAVIN BOCQUET is not only a very knowledgeable and skilled artisan, but one with passion and joy for his craft; and he has a lovely sense of humor. Comparing set design to a jigsaw puzzle due to the complexity of logistics, shooting, finance, and architecture, during our conversation, we covered the gamut, including but not limited to:
- approach to designing the show; avoiding source material or the graphic novel; relying on scripts and ingenuity and creativity
- working with creator and writer Graham Yost along with executive producer and director Morten Tyldum
- creating the silo; avoiding “sci-fi” elements and developing a cohesive architectural style and working with metals, wood, and concrete
- multi-decade designs with a strong showing for 1930’s Art Deco and 1950’s/60’s mid-century modern
- designing specific floors of the silo; using the visual layers to identify the class system with lo-tech vs high-tech
- the lower floor generator/mechanics floor; the turbine; digital models and the importance of practicality and realism in the design
- challenges of balancing set design and visual effects, particularly in terms of cost estimation and shot count prediction; working with the directors and VFX artisans
- visual effects enhancements
- the exterior as viewed from the silo window
- creating a believable world with different levels and areas while maintaining a unified architecture
- interesting challenges Gavin faced in the art department and the importance of looking back and reflecting on the process
- and more!
TAKE A LISTEN. . .
by debbie elias, exclusive interview 09/12/2023
SILO is streaming on AppleTV.
