Latest news with #artdirector
New York Times
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
LACMA Opens the Doors to Its New Building
Ever since the Los Angeles County Museum of Art engaged the Swiss architect Peter Zumthor 16 years ago, its $720 million new building has had a long journey from controversy to construction to curatorial challenge. On Thursday evening, the curvilinear behemoth finally became a place where people could come inside. Although the art will not be installed until next year, the museum opened its doors for its first public glimpse of the new David Geffen Galleries, featuring a commissioned performance by the saxophonist and composer Kamasi Washington — with 120 musicians disbursed throughout the building. Visitors walking past the soaring windows, as the sounds of instruments and voices filled the undulating concrete passageway, were visibly excited — and even moved — by what many described as a welcome injection of positive energy to a city battered by protests and recovering from fires. 'It's really a special thing for us to be here to experience it almost raw,' said Frank Svengsouk, an art director and senior manager for the Disney Entertainment Division, who had come from Carlsbad, about two hours south, after having been displaced by the fires in Altadena. 'It makes us think about how much we love the city and how much the city means to us, how much the city brings back to us. 'Think about Paris with I.M. Pei — it's changing the landscape of this place,' he added, referring to the impact of the skylit Louvre Pyramid as he gazed at the vista with his wife. 'Over time, it's going to be something important for us in L.A.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
RNZ News
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
The Māori-Samoan art director championing diversity
Leon Bristow Photo: Studio One — Toi Tū "What we put on stage and screen matters." This mantra forms the core of an online talent directory founded by Māori-Samoan (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine) art director Leon Bristow. Bristow's idea for BEINGS came while living in Spain, as he observed controversies in the creative industry over representation. "There have been so many - Scarlett Johanson withdraws from roles after transgender backlash; Eddie Redmayne says starring in 'The Danish Girl' was a mistake; Taika Waititi's 'Time Bandits' under fire for lack of representation in cast." Examples of industry setbacks, Photo: Leon Bristow He questioned the lag in representation in creative fields like advertising and recalled moments of frustration when working on sets, where he witnessed it first-hand. "There have been comments that I don't always agree with (as an art director), because it is about profiling - racially profiling, stereotyping, pigeonholing. "One time, we were casting for a queer couple, and we had people's thumbnails on the screen… some colleagues suggested we cast a person, because she 'looks queer'. "I put my hand up and said, have we actually asked if they are queer? In these situations, you are taking opportunities away, income away, from these actual communities if we are giving it to a straight couple - and they don't know how to potray that identity authentically. So my next question was: shouldn't we ask that?" Bristow's personal experiences and identity have shaped his commitment to authentic representation. "People can find it complicated. You have to raise your hand, backtrack through the process. Sometimes the intentions aren't bad but the questions aren't being asked. "I have certainly grown a shorter tolerance for this. I have learnt, as one of the few Māori/Pasifika in the industry, that I have a responsibility to my community to give back. "Starting this project up really supports that, and provides a new platform in this space." Bristow's directory received funding from Creative New Zealand. BEINGS represents Aotearoa's People of Colour (POC), rainbow, and disabled talent in the advertising industry, "disrupting the existent status quo" and using voices that Bristow said have been historically sidelined, or misrepresented, in casting calls for advertisements. talent, part of the photography exhibition. Photo: Frances Carter, BEINGS photographer "What we are doing is creating a kaupapa that centres BIPOC, rainbow, and disabled voices in a way that allows them to not just exist, but thrive - from casting, to collaboration, to exhibition," Bristow said. "Our work is about creating futures where diversity isn't just an add-on, but a given." At an Auckland Pride Festival Studio One - Toi Tū exhibition, BEINGS showcased some of the talent in its directory. Executive director for Auckland Pride, Hāmiora Bailey (Ngāti Porou Ki Harataunga, Ngāti Huarere), said the photography exhibition is a vital intervention in Aotearoa's media landscape. BEINGS talent Photo: Frances Carter, BEINGS photographer BEINGS talent Photo: Frances Carter, BEINGS photographer "At a time when systemic exclusion still defines many of New Zealand's screen, television, and theatre sectors, BEINGS challenges prevailing stereotypes and opens space for more genuine storytelling," he said. Bailey added that disparities in representation remain stark. A 2016 NZ On Air diversity report showed women made up 55 per cent of funded television producers, with 33 per cent directors, and 11 per cent had directed drama. Asian producers represented only one per cent, despite making up 11.8 percent of the population. Māori producers reached 23 percent in 2021, exceeding their population share, and Pacific producers were at 7.6 percent. Initiatives like the New Zealand Film Commission and Māoriland Film Festival have supported this shift. BEINGS founder Leon Bristow, alongside Fibre Fale co-founders Julia Arnott-Neenee and Eteroa Lafaele Photo: Studio One — Toi Tū
RNZ News
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
The Maori-Samoan art director advertising diversity
Leon Bristow Photo: Studio One — Toi Tū "What we put on stage and screen matters." This mantra forms the core of an online talent directory founded by Māori-Samoan (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine) art director Leon Bristow. Bristow's idea for BEINGS came while living in Spain, as he observed controversies in the creative industry over representation. "There have been so many - Scarlett Johanson withdraws from roles after transgender backlash; Eddie Redmayne says starring in 'The Danish Girl' was a mistake; Taika Waititi's 'Time Bandits' under fire for lack of representation in cast." Examples of industry setbacks, Photo: Leon Bristow He questioned the lag in representation in creative fields like advertising and recalled moments of frustration when working on sets, where he witnessed it first-hand. "There have been comments that I don't always agree with (as an art director), because it is about profiling - racially profiling, stereotyping, pigeonholing. "One time, we were casting for a queer couple, and we had people's thumbnails on the screen… some colleagues suggested we cast a person, because she 'looks queer'. "I put my hand up and said, have we actually asked if they are queer? In these situations, you are taking opportunities away, income away, from these actual communities if we are giving it to a straight couple - and they don't know how to potray that identity authentically. So my next question was: shouldn't we ask that?" Bristow's personal experiences and identity have shaped his commitment to authentic representation. "People can find it complicated. You have to raise your hand, backtrack through the process. Sometimes the intentions aren't bad but the questions aren't being asked. "I have certainly grown a shorter tolerance for this. I have learnt, as one of the few Māori/Pasifika in the industry, that I have a responsibility to my community to give back. "Starting this project up really supports that, and provides a new platform in this space." Bristow's directory received funding from Creative New Zealand. BEINGS represents Aotearoa's People of Colour (POC), rainbow, and disabled talent in the advertising industry, "disrupting the existent status quo" and using voices that Bristow said have been historically sidelined, or misrepresented, in casting calls for advertisements. talent, part of the photography exhibition. Photo: Frances Carter, BEINGS photographer "What we are doing is creating a kaupapa that centres BIPOC, rainbow, and disabled voices in a way that allows them to not just exist, but thrive - from casting, to collaboration, to exhibition," Bristow said. "Our work is about creating futures where diversity isn't just an add-on, but a given." At an Auckland Pride Festival Studio One - Toi Tū exhibition, BEINGS showcased some of the talent in its directory. Executive director for Auckland Pride, Hāmiora Bailey (Ngāti Porou Ki Harataunga, Ngāti Huarere), said the photography exhibition is a vital intervention in Aotearoa's media landscape. BEINGS talent Photo: Frances Carter, BEINGS photographer BEINGS talent Photo: Frances Carter, BEINGS photographer "At a time when systemic exclusion still defines many of New Zealand's screen, television, and theatre sectors, BEINGS challenges prevailing stereotypes and opens space for more genuine storytelling," he said. Bailey added that disparities in representation remain stark. A 2016 NZ On Air diversity report showed women made up 55 per cent of funded television producers, with 33 per cent directors, and 11 per cent had directed drama. Asian producers represented only one per cent, despite making up 11.8 percent of the population. Māori producers reached 23 percent in 2021, exceeding their population share, and Pacific producers were at 7.6 percent. Initiatives like the New Zealand Film Commission and Māoriland Film Festival have supported this shift. BEINGS founder Leon Bristow, alongside Fibre Fale co-founders Julia Arnott-Neenee and Eteroa Lafaele Photo: Studio One — Toi Tū
Gizmodo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Les Dilley, ‘Star Wars' and ‘Indiana Jones' Art Director, Dies at 84
From 'Star Wars' to 'Alien,' 'Exorcist 3,' and countless others, Les Dilley was all over movies as an art director and production designer. Les Dilley, the award-winning art director and production designer on a number of films, passed away on May 20 at age 84 from Alzheimer's complications. Born July 11, 1941 in Rhondda, Wales, Dilley began his film career with a construction and plastering apprenticeship at the Associated British Picture Corporation when he was 15. At age 23, he was a plaster worker on 1963's From Russia With Love, then an assistant art director on Jesus Christ Superstar and Kelly's Heroes. After being an art director for 1973's Three Musketeers and its 1974 sequel, he joined the UK team for Star Wars: A New Hope, and helped to create a physical build for R2-D2, the sandcrawler, and Luke's landspeeder. He proceeded to direct art for its sequel, Empire Strikes Back, along with Raiders of the Lost Ark, Alien, Superman, and An American Werewolf in London. His production designer credits include The Abyss, Exorcist III, Invaders From Mars, Casper, Black Knight, and Deep Impact. While Abyss, Empire, and Alien each earned him Oscar nominations, New Hope and Raiders earned him wins for Best Art Direction, both shared with fellow art director Norman Reynolds, who passed in 2023. After working as a production designer on the British kids' show Teacup Travels ended in 2017, Dilley retired. (IMDB and Mubi credit him on a web series called New-Gen, which at time of writing, has yet to release.) In 2020, BAFTA's Welsh branch—the British Academy Cymru Awards—honored him with an Outstanding Contribution to Film and Television Award. There, he was heaped with praise from George Lucas, Ridley Scott, and others who'd worked with him over the years. Lucas described him as his 'main contact with the art department, and an all-around great guy. […] If anybody deserves this award, it's you.' Les Dilley's survived by his wife Leslie and five children. In a statement, the family said his legacy 'lives on in the many iconic films he helped bring to life for over six decades and in his family home he personally built as an homage to his work. His love for the motion picture business was evident to the very end. In addition to his incredible work ethic, quirky British humor, and love of life, he was a dedicated and loving husband, father, grandfather and friend to many. He will be greatly missed.' [via The Hollywood Reporter]
