Dune: Part 2, the sequel to the highly acclaimed Dune, had fans eagerly awaiting its release. This highly anticipated sequel most certainly did not disappoint, showcasing director Dennis Villeneuve’s genius and delivering another unforgettable cinematic experience. The film’s brilliance is further enhanced by its exceptional production design, crafted by the industry’s top professionals. Check out our Dune: Part Two Production Secrets below.
To understand the scope of this project, let’s review some key facts. The design team built 40% more sets for Dune: Part Two, utilizing 35,000 square meters of sound stages in Budapest, along with extensive backlots and desert locations. In order to meet author Frank Herbert’s outlined briefs, set designers received detailed site descriptions, allowing them to emulate the roles of architects in the original book series. The production team captured the true essence of Dune, ensuring every design element responded to and conversed with the natural elements of planet Arrakis.
Now let’s delve into 5 Production Design Secrets of Dune: Part 2
PD Secret 1 - Much of Dune 2 was filmed with vintage cameras
Director of photography Greig Fraser revealed he used rehoused IronGlass lenses and Moviecam lenses from Arri Rental, saying “They helped create the texture I wanted, and the Soviet glass was especially well suited to what we were doing; we used them all in harmony, effectively.” These lenses effectively added a “dirty” effect and enhanced image texture.
PD Secret 2 - The film was shot in infrared
The film’s planet features a black sun, and Villeneuve aimed to convey this with a stark, colorless light never seen on screen before. He wanted to suggest that these conditions shaped the Harkonnens' physical appearance and ferocity. To achieve this, an ALEXA LF camera was modified to shoot in infrared, similar to surveillance cameras but with much higher resolution. The results are eerie and unsettling, enhanced by ominous monolithic architecture, making it immediately clear that this planet is vastly different from Arrakis.
PD Secret 3 - The dune costumes’ origin
Costume designer Jacqueline West told Vogue she drew inspiration from various Earth tribes, including the Tuaregs, Bedouins, and Mongols, for the costumes on Arrakis. For the Bene Gesserit, she looked to tarot cards, particularly the Queen of Swords, and medieval paintings by Giotto di Bondone. The Harkonnens' use of black, leather, and spandex was inspired by Geiger's work, dark medieval imagery, and bondage themes.
PD Secret 4 - Sand-colored screens for the design of Arrakis
A crucial design aspect of the Dune saga is Arrakis, the desert planet. Denis Villeneuve employed various techniques to create its unique aura, including using sand-colored screens instead of traditional green or blue screens to make the desert light appear more realistic and avoid color contamination. These sand-colored screens provided a constant color for bounce light. In non-VFX shots, the sand screens were reflected in soldiers’ visors and the glass of ornithopters. Additionally, when inverted, the sand color turns blue, making it ideal for VFX editing.
PD Secret 5 - Sand Analysis
The production team dedicated many hours to selecting the physical locations for the film, with most exterior scenes shot on location in Jordan and Abu Dhabi. Villeneuve revealed to Empire that production designer Patrice Vermette spent "weeks and weeks casting sand dunes in the desert," meticulously inspecting the sand to ensure consistency between scenes.
Why is production design so important?
A production designer is head of the art department. On board from the beginning, they work with the director + producers to help bring the writer’s script, director’s vision + producer’s plans together as a visual whole. The production designer researches or "scouts" locations, eventually securing + preparing it for shooting. They budget the cost of materials, track expenses, and typically oversee the art director, set designers, illustrators + scenic painters to develop a specific visual style for a production. From minute details to overarching themes, a production designer must consider every aspect shown on screen, regardless of budget, they must be resourceful and think on their feet.
Dune: Part Two’s set designs are among the most technologically advanced of our time, and demonstrate the sheer complexity of filmmaking. Moreover, the film spotlights that the craft of production is not only an art, but a careful science. We hope these secrets have you awe-struck at the sheer talent of the production team behind Dune: Part 2, and have you looking forward to Dune: Messiah!
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