A fun-filled and colorful in-depth conversation with Production Designer JON CARLOS and Set Decorator ELLEN REEDE dishing all about creating the wonderful world of PALM ROYALE.
SYNOPSIS: PALM ROYALE is a true underdog story that follows the ambitious Maxine Simmons (Kristen Wiig) as she schemes to secure her seat at America’s most exclusive table: Palm Beach high society circa 1969. As Maxine attempts to cross that impermeable line between the haves and the have-nots, PALM ROYALE asks the same question that still baffles us today: “How much of yourself are you willing to sacrifice to get what someone else has?” Set during the powder keg year of 1969, PALM ROYALE is a testament to every outsider fighting for their chance to belong truly.
Created by Abe Sylvia with episodes directed by Sylvia, Tate Taylor, Stephanie Liang, and Claire Scanlon, PALM ROYALE stars Kristen Wiig, Allison Janney, Ricky Martin, Josh Lucas, Julia Duffy, Leslie Bibb, Laura Dern, Mindy Cohn, and Carol Burnett, to name a few of this star-studded cast.
As if Production Designer JON CARLOS and Set Decorator ELLEN REEDE haven’t already proven their mettle with creativity and skills such as that on productions like “Hacks” or “Westworld” on which they collaborated, one look at PALM ROYALE is all it takes to be saying “hand them all the awards now.”
As with the other artisans behind the technicolor magic of PALM ROYALE, working with showrunner Abe Sylvia, the first piece of the puzzle to set the mood and tone was the images of renowned American photographer Slim Aarons. Pick up any high-end magazine in the 50s, 60s, and 70s and you will find Aarons’ images of socialites, jet-setters, and celebrities and their exclusive Palm Beach homes, including one image that served as the starting point for the visual and emotional force for PALM ROYALE.
Going in-depth in this exclusive interview, JON CARLOS and ELLEN REEDE cover all aspects of the production design and set dress, starting with that first Slim Aarons photo and then diving into “an anthology of Slim”, tagging inspirational photos of personal space, travels, and what influenced the homes of these socialites to create the world of PALM ROYALE. Concurrently with Jon and Ellen, costume designer Alix Friedberg was doing the same prep work. Surprisingly, when they compared notes, they had all identified the same multiple defining photos and looks with which to build upon. Always cognizant that the environments and the costumes be of the same voice and in support of the characters, they laid down a foundation of basic rules for the entire series in terms of color, architecture, wall finishes, decor, and costuming that brought the spaces of Palm Beach and West Palm Beach to life.
Going deeper, Jon and Ellen discussed aspects of their work and the production, including but not limited to:
- working with the Palm Beach Preservation Foundation in learning about the history of Palm Beach starting in the 1800s and moving into the 1900s and the opulent Art Deco period of the 20s and 30s, and ultimately the cultural changes that were occurring in the 1960s architecturally, socially, culturally
- determining color palettes for Palm Beach and West Palm Beach and everything contained within each which then led to “color pollination”
- sourcing materials and objects for the homes, hotels, and other spaces
- manufacturing certain items specific to the period that are no longer in existence
- location scouting and determining architectural styles for each character as well as finding specific exteriors to “build” the Palm Royale and the area as it was in 1969 (aka “movie magic”)
- layering of contents within each home and the purpose of each item, e.g., tchotchkes on tables and mantels, pillows on couches, etc.
- the pool house on Norma’s estate
- the Beach Ball
- the Havana Nights Ball with the “Big Bertha” chandelier; building a 20×40 foot swimming pool inside the Biltmore Hotel
- and more!
TAKE A LISTEN. . .
by debbie elias, exclusive interview 04/15/2024
PALM ROYALE is currently streaming on AppleTV+.
