No. 6's Residence - SketchUp for 'forensic' set design?
One of the unsung advantages of modelling in 3D and SketchUp, is that when you see an object in three dimensions, and are able to 'move' around it in virtual space, this tells you a lot about that object that you otherwise would not know from a 2D photo or movie.
As it turns out, this is exactly what has happened when I created my model of No. 6's residence from the TV series 'The Prisoner'.
My initial model unearthed a slight anomaly with the dimensions - some of this was due to lack of accurate reference about the original set design, and in part also to do with the difference between the set design and the real building as it exists in the village of Portmeirion.
The picture above shows my second version of my model with a correction added to the dimensions of the bathroom. My original models apparently showed that the current thinking regrading the size of the bathroom was incorrect - and I have recreated the dimensions to match clues to the true size and shape that appears in the DVD of the series.
OK - so on the surface of things this does appear to be a little 'geeky'. But when you consider the serious study of historical Film and Television, and the interest in re-creating stage and film studio sets for a better understanding of important works for the screen(s), then the use of SketchUp as a kind of 'forensic' set design tool is yet another string to the bow of this impressive piece of software!
Credit and appreciation goes to Tim Palgut - author of the book 'The Village Files' - for his kind correspondence and help in this project.
As it turns out, this is exactly what has happened when I created my model of No. 6's residence from the TV series 'The Prisoner'.
Above: This stage in my model shows the enlargement of the bathroom (immediate foreground) to accommodate a sliding door, something not allowed for in my previous model - which was based on currently available data. You can also see that I am beginning to make the wire frame for the extended wall/ceiling area - another set feature allowing for lighting and filming from above.
My initial model unearthed a slight anomaly with the dimensions - some of this was due to lack of accurate reference about the original set design, and in part also to do with the difference between the set design and the real building as it exists in the village of Portmeirion.
The picture above shows my second version of my model with a correction added to the dimensions of the bathroom. My original models apparently showed that the current thinking regrading the size of the bathroom was incorrect - and I have recreated the dimensions to match clues to the true size and shape that appears in the DVD of the series.
OK - so on the surface of things this does appear to be a little 'geeky'. But when you consider the serious study of historical Film and Television, and the interest in re-creating stage and film studio sets for a better understanding of important works for the screen(s), then the use of SketchUp as a kind of 'forensic' set design tool is yet another string to the bow of this impressive piece of software!
Credit and appreciation goes to Tim Palgut - author of the book 'The Village Files' - for his kind correspondence and help in this project.
Labels: film set, set design, The Prisoner, TV
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