Spaceport Concept for Unproduced Feature Film (2019)

As too often happens in this business, really promising projects never see the light of day. This one lamentably fell victim to industry consolidation, despite a modest budget and exciting take on the material. I was tasked primarily with envisioning a human-supported alien spaceport in the middle of rice fields. The ships and structures were meant to be simple, enigmatic shapes floating impossibly in contrast to pastoral american landscapes. As is also often the case, director inspiration came from artwork in the current zeitgeist, in this case the iconic work of Simon Stålenhag, from who's aesthetic this borrows considerably.

I really love painting clouds, though it's one of my toughest challenges, so this one was particularly fun!

I really love painting clouds, though it's one of my toughest challenges, so this one was particularly fun!

Some thumbnails, including an earlier one for the previous shot with a wider lens. The director preferred something longer and more placid for the final shot, which contrasts the  horizontal of the lower frame to the dynamics of the sky.

Some thumbnails, including an earlier one for the previous shot with a wider lens. The director preferred something longer and more placid for the final shot, which contrasts the horizontal of the lower frame to the dynamics of the sky.

A typical page of thumbnails I make to set the stage and find cinematic moments.

A typical page of thumbnails I make to set the stage and find cinematic moments.

More thumbnails, this time focusing on the landscape, with the alien structures incongruously contrasted in the distance.

More thumbnails, this time focusing on the landscape, with the alien structures incongruously contrasted in the distance.

A quick sketch to come up with an ore hopper system for the cargo ships.

A quick sketch to come up with an ore hopper system for the cargo ships.