Villeneuve and Universal Pictures
Assignment Instructions: Pretend you have been hired by Villeneuve and Universal Pictures to conceptualize and design the mise en scène for Arriving Again as the film\’s production designer. This is a defining moment for you, career-wise!
To secure your position, you must tackle the challenges below–conceptually & creatively–keeping in mind that Arriving Again\’s key themes are “diplomacy/vulnerability over warfare/defensiveness,” “choosing hope despite the world\’s darkness & the certainty of death,” and “embracing connection in the present moment”
1. In Arriving Again, Dr. Louise Banks travels to the Heptapods\’ world. Name the world & describe how it looks (its shape, colors, textures, lighting design). How will it appear on screen? Keep in mind, this must be your unique creation; it cannot be the same as anything we saw in the original film, Arrival (2016). Villeneuve & Universal Pictures want something fresh, and never-before-seen by audiences.
2. Describe the primary space where the Heptapods\’ meet with Dr. Banks in Arriving Again. What does this space (in their world) look like? Provide as much detail as possible. Thoroughly describe its décor, lighting, and the people/aliens inside of it (costuming, disposition, age, etc.)?
3. How does your design of this world connect to one or more of the themes above (i.e. “diplomacy/vulnerability over warfare/defensiveness,” “choosing hope despite the world\’s darkness & the certainty of death,” and “embracing connection in the present moment”)? In other words, how does the “form” that you\’ve imagined for these spaces connect to the content?
4. Discuss your thoughts/ideas about the totality of Arriving Again\’s production design, and how it relates to your proposed designs of the Heptapods\’ world & their primary meeting space.
Please respond to these various elements numerically–going number by number, and with depth & substance.
Paper Format: MLA
Answer preview to Villeneuve and Universal Pictures
MLA
600 WORDS
