I told you we were working on something really fun!
...and now here it is, just in time for the weekend... the big reveal!
My set decorator sister Pam has pulled together a stunning + oh-so-captivating post, with loads of brilliant thoughts + insights into the cinematic enchantment + allure of La La Land. So...Get ready for some La-La-Luscious Ideas + Inspiration.
Read on, scroll down...I promise you won't be disappointed. Here's Pam's take on La La Land, from set design to real-life interiors...
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FOR THE LOVE OF SET DÉCOR
If you're a film enthusiast like me, you can't help but be swept up into the excitement and buzz of the official award season. The Golden Globes kicked off the La La Land craze. Now the frenzy continues with the film’s fourteen Oscar nominations. After seeing the film, I am happily twirling my way onto the bandwagon. Seriously, I cannot wait until spring, so I can slip into a colorful, flouncy dress and dance into the sunset.
{Emma Stone’s canary yellow dress looks stunning against the backdrop of a purple-blue haze.
Image via The New York Times.}
{Production Designer David Wasco + Set Decorator Sandy Reynolds-Wasco created Hollywood dream sets, Image via Forbes.}
Before re-locating to the Midwest, I worked as a Set Decorator, both in New York and LA. Seeing La La Land reminded me of what I love most about the film industry: the magic of each person, cast + crew, doing their part to create the bigger picture. There's something intoxicating about the movies, isn’t there? And, there is something about those dreamers, those artistic souls who are drawn to the creative chaos.
“Here’s to the ones who dream
Foolish as they may seem
Here's to the hearts that ache
Here’s to the mess we make.”
Lyrics from Audition
(The Fools Who Dream)
La La Land
I remember working on the Universal Studios lot, soon after moving to Los Angeles. I was riding in one of those golf carts, running set errands and I had to call my Mom. I was “Living The Dream,” as we called it behind the scenes (“LTD” for short). Of course, we mostly used the term jokingly, while doing something glamorous, like mopping the stage floor.
The other aspect I enjoyed about film decorating was “breaking down the script,” set by set. This is when I’d read through the script with a fine-tooth-comb, in order to get to know the characters and to start dreaming about the world(s) we would create for each character.
As a decorator, I was thoroughly inspired by all of the visual eye candy of La La Land. Here are a couple of cues from the big screen to ignite a little Hollywood magic into your world:
Magic Hour Lighting
You know what they say, “It’s all about the lighting.” Cinematographers call the best time to shoot “magic hour.” It's the period shortly after sunrise or before sunset, when the sky has softer hues than when the sun is shining high in the sky. This film found its' color palette in twilight skies.
You can create this same subdued sunset effect on your walls with an ombre wallpaper (or d-i-y the look with paint. Find a great how-to here).
Or, you can live the La La dream just by using the "magic hour" filter by A Color Story. Get the app for your smart phone and have some fun editing your images and creating some magic of your own. Here's a fun post by A Beautiful Mess with more info and images for inspiration. Print and frame a magic hour- edited photo of your own or post one on instagram to live that La La vibe.
A Starry Night Sky = Drama
La La Land also used the beauty + twinkle of starlight with abandon on their magical sets.
You can replicate the look too. Try painting a ceiling in your favorite hue of deep blue, or even black. And make sure to light it up with a twinkling light fixture for instant romance.
Pay Homage to Classic Hollywood Graphics
I loved how the production design team of David and Sandy Reynolds-Wasco used bold graphics + hints of art deco to pay homage to classic Hollywood glamour.
Get the look. Adorn a wall with a large scale, vintage cinema poster like the one of Ingrid Bergman, used above Mia’s bed.
A while back, I laid my eyes on this Audrey Hepburn poster from the French version of Funny Face. I’ve been searching for an actual vintage French poster and have yet to find one within my budget. To find similar replicas, you can go to amazon or etsy. Or, find an array of Hollywood inspired art here.
Enlarge a vintage advertisement or postcard to create playful wall decor. You can easily create your own work of art through Shutterfly.
{Image via pinterest. Fruit crate label photo by Paul Malon on Flickr.}
Technicolor Jazzes Up A Neutral World
In the first act of La La Land, you’ll notice a distinct difference between Mia’s colorful world and the sparse, colorless world of Sebastian. That is until they meet, of course. Mia puts the color inside of his world (I hear a John Mayer song).
You can color your interiors with splashes of vibrancy, with a statement chair in a rich tone or colorful pillows, like this example of an essentially neutral space enhanced with black-and-white and a few vivid pops of color.
When in Doubt, Just Add Stripes
I completely fell for the striped sofa in Mia’s original L.A. apartment set. Stripes are classic and once again, give a nod to old Hollywood.
{Image via pinterest. Find the original Photographer's archive here, scroll to Leading Ladies to find Audrey}
How about you, which look do you want to emulate in your home? Isn't it amazing how much inspiration can be found in one extraordinary creative collaboration. Don't you think life should be a little more like the movies? I mean the good stuff: more magic hours, more romance, more heartfelt moments + more dancing under the stars. If you haven't seen La La Land yet, promise me you will before Oscar night!
xo,
pam
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| {Here we are in real-life #MagicHour in LA} |
