“Game of Thrones” Emmy-winning designer Deborah Riley is once again collaborating with the show creators, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, to design a new Netflix series set during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. The project immerses into an epic Chinese sci-fi by renowned author Cixin Liu.
The narrative focuses on a young scientist, Ye Wenjie, who brings to light the Chinese government’s clandestine space projects. Actors Jess Hong and John Bradley play the modern-day characters, Jin and Jack, who rummage through an advanced gaming reality using high-security VR headsets, a design milestone aced by Riley.
The boundary between the real and the unreal begin to blur for both Jin and Jack as they stumble upon concealed transmissions sent long ago by Ye Wenjie. John Bradley and Jess Hong embody their roles with conviction, maintaining a gripping atmosphere throughout. Additionally, Riley’s skilled craftsmanship with the VR headset design escalates the plausibility and appeal of the gaming world.
Riley’s vision was to echo the aesthetics of the Cultural Revolution faithfully.
Emmy laureate crafts Netflix’s sci-fi saga
The project saw collaborations with the director Derek Tsang, art director Chapman Kan and an expert Chinese graphics team to produce distinctive themes, landscapes and color palettes crying true of the Cultural Revolution.
Building a persuasive VR universe was a daunting task. In one instance, the characters were to visit 13th-century Shangdu. Extensive research regarding Mongolian timber structures were made to deliver key factors and digital production of the broader setting for historical authenticity. The detailed design, social aspects, traditions of the Mongolian clan to the dressing of characters reflect the period’s integral nuances distinctly.
Sound design played a significant role in enhancing the overall validity of the series. The blend of natural ambient noises with traditional Mongolian music complimented the visual display meticulously.
Shepperton Studios in the U.K served as the main hub for the production, with filming occurring throughout several international locations including London, New York, Florida and Spain. A noteworthy point of interest was Wells Cathedral in the U.K, playing host to the historically precise portrayal of a medieval world.
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