Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Art Direction-Harry Potter 2: Basilisk scene


ART DIRECTOR

NIEL LAMONT- There were seven art directors but Niel Lamont has been the supervising art director for all the Harry Potter Movies. 



      2010    Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1Supervising Art Director
      2009    Harry Potter and the Half-Blood PrinceArt Director
      2007    Harry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixSupervising Art Director
      2005    Harry Potter and the Goblet of FireSupervising Art Director
      2004    Harry Potter and the Prisoner of AzkabanSupervising Art Director
      2002    Harry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsSupervising Art Director
      2001    Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's StoneSupervising Art Director
      1999    Brokedown PalaceArt Director
      1999    The World Is Not EnoughSupervising Art Director
      1998    The AvengersSupervising Art Director
      1996    In Love and WarSupervising Art Director
      1995    GoldenEyeArt Director
      1993    The Three MusketeersArt Director
      1991    The Taking of Beverly HillsArt Director




Art Direction


To set the tone of the scene they implemented of a lot of blue, green, and black to give an ominous dark feel for the whole battle between the Basilisk and Harry. It helps to set the emotional feel of conflict and the dark side of what Hogwarts has lurking underneath it. The only illumination is on the characters themselves while the rest remains very dark.

I also think it added to the artistic feel of the scene that instead of just climbing up on a rock Harry climbs up onto this statuesque head of a wizard. It adds to the scene making it look more dramatic that this basilisk is standing up against this giant face of a wizard with his beard flowing outward and helps to emphasize the battle of good vs. evil. Also the addition of the water beneath them adds a touch more of a dramatic element and helps add to the scene as well.

The basilisk is added in to the scene through computer animation and the way it is designed contributes a certain feel to the scene. It is very detailed and very shiny to the point where it is almost glowing giving it an alien like quality. It helps to emphasize the evil behind the creature and the need for Harry to destroy it. The shot in the scene that shows from the vantage point of Harry with the basilisk coming at him directly shows a dramatic emphasis on the teeth with lots of saliva dripping off of the fangs. The only part that isn't animated is the shot where Harry stabs the basilisk right through the center of the head.