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Alex McDowell is a Co-Producer, Production Design, Visual Development and Visual Effects Design Consultant British born on 1 april 1955 at Borneo
Alex McDowell, RDI (born April 1, 1955) is British production designer and film producer.
McDowell was born in Borneo to parents of English origin. He wanted to become a painter and studied at the Central School of Art and Design in London. He founded Rocking Russian Design in 1978 and started his career designing album covers for punk rock groups. During the 1980s, he designed the sets for various commercials and music videos.
McDowell has worked, among others, with directors Tim Burton, Steven Spielberg, Alex Proyas, David Fincher and Zack Snyder. In 2002 he won the San Diego Film Critics Society award in the Best Production Design category for his work on Minority Report and, in 2004, the Art Directors Guild award for Excellence in Production Design for The Terminal. In 2006, McDowell was named Royal Designer for Industry by the RSA, the UK’s most prestigious design society, and was appointed Visiting Artist at the MIT Media Lab.
McDowell is an advocate of immersive design and integrates digital technology and traditional design technique in his productions, creating a production design process that allows for the highest level of control over the look of the final film.
Il commence à travailler en tant que chef décorateur pour le cinéma en 1992. En 2005, il remporte l'Art Directors Guild Award pour un film contemporain pour Le Terminal. En 2006, il est nommé Royal Designer for Industry, la plus prestigieuse distinction dans la décoration britannique. La même année, il est également nommé au British Academy Film Award des meilleurs décors pour Charlie et la Chocolaterie. En 2010, il est nommé au Saturn Award des meilleurs décors pour Watchmen.
(2013)
(Production Design)
(2005)
(Production Design)
(2002)
(Production Design)
(2007)
(Production Design)
(2004)
(Production Design)
(2009)
(Production Design)
Source : Wikidata
Alex McDowell
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Alex McDowell, RDI (born April 1, 1955) is British production designer and film producer.
McDowell was born in Borneo to parents of English origin. He wanted to become a painter and studied at the Central School of Art and Design in London. He founded Rocking Russian Design in 1978 and started his career designing album covers for punk rock groups. During the 1980s, he designed the sets for various commercials and music videos.
McDowell has worked, among others, with directors Tim Burton, Steven Spielberg, Alex Proyas, David Fincher and Zack Snyder. In 2002 he won the San Diego Film Critics Society award in the Best Production Design category for his work on Minority Report and, in 2004, the Art Directors Guild award for Excellence in Production Design for The Terminal. In 2006, McDowell was named Royal Designer for Industry by the RSA, the UK’s most prestigious design society, and was appointed Visiting Artist at the MIT Media Lab.
McDowell is an advocate of immersive design and integrates digital technology and traditional design technique in his productions, creating a production design process that allows for the highest level of control over the look of the final film.
Biography
Après avoir étudié à la Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design de Londres, il commence sa carrière à la fin des années 1970 en concevant des pochettes d'albums pour des groupes de punk rock puis, dans les années 1980, il décore des plateaux pour plusieurs publicités et clips musicaux.Il commence à travailler en tant que chef décorateur pour le cinéma en 1992. En 2005, il remporte l'Art Directors Guild Award pour un film contemporain pour Le Terminal. En 2006, il est nommé Royal Designer for Industry, la plus prestigieuse distinction dans la décoration britannique. La même année, il est également nommé au British Academy Film Award des meilleurs décors pour Charlie et la Chocolaterie. En 2010, il est nommé au Saturn Award des meilleurs décors pour Watchmen.
Best films
(2013)(Production Design)
(2005)(Production Design)
(2002)(Production Design)
(2007)(Production Design)
(2004)(Production Design)
(2009)(Production Design)
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Filmography of Alex McDowell (23 films)
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Bunraku (2010)
, 1h58Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Martial arts, Fantasy, Action, Western, Martial arts
Themes Sports films, Martial arts films, Samurai films, Political films, Dystopian films
Actors Josh Hartnett, Woody Harrelson, Gackt, Kevin McKidd, Ron Perlman, Demi Moore
Roles Co-Producer
Rating60%
In the aftermath of a global war, guns have been outlawed but people still fight, using blades and fists.
Art
Midnight Special (2016)
, 1h52Directed by Jeff Nichols
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Science fiction, Adventure
Actors Michael Shannon, Kirsten Dunst, Adam Driver, Joel Edgerton, Jaeden Martell, Scott Haze
Roles Conceptual Design
Rating65%
Roy is a father desperate to protect his uniquely gifted, eight-year-old son Alton. Joined by Joel Edgerton and Kirsten Dunst's characters, this group must race to get Alton to a secret location all while being hunted by an extreme religious sect led by Sam Shepard and a government task force headed up by Adam Driver. It is a full-on chase, the outcome of which could bring about a world-changing event.
Man of Steel (2013)
, 2h23Directed by Zack Snyder
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Thriller, Fantastic, Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Themes L'adolescence, Films about writers, Films about education, Films about children, Films about journalists, Films about religion, Films set in the future, Superman films, Films about extraterrestrial life, Superhero films, Super-héros inspiré de comics, Films about extraterrestrial life, Alien invasions in films, Films about school violence, Disaster films
Actors Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Michael Shannon, Laurence Fishburne
Roles Production Design
Rating70%
The planet Krypton faces imminent destruction due to its unstable core; the result of depleting Krypton's natural resources. The ruling council is deposed by the planet's military commander, General Zod, and his followers during a coup d'état. Knowing that artificial population control and isolationism have ruined their civilization, scientist Jor-El and his wife Lara launch their newborn son, Kal-El, the first naturally born Kryptonian child in centuries, on a spacecraft to Earth after infusing his cells with a genetic codex of the entire Kryptonian race. After Zod kills Jor-El, he and his followers are captured and exiled to the Phantom Zone. However, they are indirectly freed after Krypton explodes, rendering the Kryptonian race extinct apart from Zod and his forces.
Upside Down (2012)
, 1h40Directed by Juan Solanas
Origin France
Genres Drama, Science fiction, Thriller, Fantastic, Fantasy, Romance
Themes Space adventure films, Monde imaginaire, Sur une planète fictive, Political films, Dystopian films
Actors Jim Sturgess, Kirsten Dunst, Timothy Spall, Jayne Heitmeyer, Blu Mankuma, Vlasta Vrána
Roles Production Design
Rating62%
The film starts with Adam telling the story of his two-planet home world, unique from other planets or planetary systems as it is the only one that has "dual gravity". This phenomenon of dual gravity allows the two planets to orbit each other in what would otherwise be impossibly close proximity. There are three immutable laws of gravity for this two-planet system:
In Time (2011)
, 1h49Directed by Andrew Niccol
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Thriller, Action
Themes Films about computing, Psychologie, L'usurpation d'identité, Films set in the future, Political films, Cyberpunk films, Dystopian films, Children's films, Escroquerie
Actors Amanda Seyfried, Justin Timberlake, Collins Pennie, Cillian Murphy, Olivia Wilde, Matt Bomer
Roles Production Design
Rating67%
In 2169, people are born genetically engineered with a digital clock on their forearm. When they turn 25 years old, they stop aging and their clock begins counting down from one year; when it reaches zero, that person "times out" and dies. Time has become the universal currency; it is used to pay for daily expenses and can be transferred between people or capsules. The country has been divided into "time zones" based on the wealth of the population. The film focuses on two specific zones: Dayton - a poor manufacturing area where people generally have 24 hours or less on their clock at any given time - and New Greenwich - the wealthiest time zone, where people have enough time on their clock to live for centuries.
Watchmen (2009)
, 2h43Directed by Zack Snyder
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Science fiction, Thriller, Biography, Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Themes Space adventure films, Politique, Mars in film, Superhero films, Political films, Dystopian films, Alternate history films, Super-héros inspiré de comics, Space opera, White House in fiction
Actors Malin Åkerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Carla Gugino, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Roles Production Design
Rating75%
The "Minutemen", a team of costumed crime fighters, was formed in 1939 in response to a rise in costumed gangs and criminals; the "Watchmen" was similarly formed decades later. Their existence has dramatically affected world events: in particular, Doctor Manhattan's superpowers help the United States win the Vietnam War, resulting in President Richard Nixon being reelected. Doctor Manhattan gives the West a strategic advantage over the Soviet Union, which by the 1980s threatens to escalate the Cold War into a nuclear war. During that time, growing anti-vigilante sentiment in the country leads to masked crime-fighters being outlawed. While many of the heroes retire, Doctor Manhattan and the Comedian operate as government-sanctioned agents, and Rorschach continues to operate outside the law.
Bee Movie (2007)
, 1h27Directed by Steve Hickner, Simon J. Smith
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Adventure, Animation
Themes Films about animals, Films about insects, Children's films
Actors Renée Zellweger, Jerry Seinfeld, Matthew Broderick, Patrick Warburton, John Goodman, Chris Rock
Roles Production Design
Rating60%
A bee named Barry B. Benson (Jerry Seinfeld) has recently graduated from college and is about to enter the hive's Honex Industries honey-making workforce alongside his best friend Adam Flayman (Matthew Broderick). Barry is initially excited to join the workforce, but his latent non-conformist attitude emerges upon discovering that his choice of job will never change once picked. Later, the two bees run into a group of Pollen Jocks, bees who collect pollen from flowers outside the hive. The Jocks offer to take Barry outside the hive to a flower patch, and he accepts. While on his first pollen-gathering expedition, Barry gets caught in the rain, and ends up on the balcony of a human named Vanessa (Renée Zellweger). Upon noticing Barry, Vanessa's boyfriend Ken (Patrick Warburton) attempts to swat him, but Vanessa instead safely catches and releases Barry outside the window, saving his life.
Breaking and Entering (2006)
, 2hDirected by Sydney Pollack, Anthony Minghella
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Crime, Romance
Themes Medical-themed films, Films about psychiatry, Films about disabilities, Films about autism
Actors Jude Law, Juliette Binoche, Robin Wright, Martin Freeman, Vera Farmiga, Rafi Gavron
Roles Production Design
Rating64%
Will Francis (Jude Law), a young Englishman, is a landscape architect living a detached, routine-based life in London with his Swedish-American girlfriend Liv (Robin Wright Penn) and her autistic daughter Bea. The 13-year-old girl's irregular sleeping and eating habits as well as her unsocial behaviour (she has trouble relating to people and seems only interested in doing somersaults and gymnastics) reach worrying proportions and start to put a lot of strain on Will and Liv's relationship. Complicating the situation further is his feeling of being shut out of their inner circle since Bea is not his biological daughter. He and Liv start relationship counselling, but their drifting apart continues.
, 1h55Directed by Tim Burton
Origin USA
Genres Fantastic, Comedy, Fantasy, Adventure, Musical
Themes Cooking films, Films about children, Films about families, Children's films
Actors Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore, David Kelly, Geoffrey Holder, Julia Winter, Helena Bonham Carter
Roles Production Design
Rating67%
Charlie Bucket (Freddie Highmore) is a kind and loving boy living in poverty with his parents (Noah Taylor and Helena Bonham Carter) and four bedridden grandparents. They all rely on his father for income, employed at a toothpaste factory, responsible for putting the caps on the tubes. Down the street is Willy Wonka's (Johnny Depp) chocolate factory, which reopened after industrial espionage forced him into seclusion and to sack his employees. Charlie's Grandpa Joe (David Kelly) worked for Wonka before the termination.
Corpse Bride (2005)
, 1h16Directed by Tim Burton
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Fantastic, Romantic comedy, Fantasy, Musical, Animation, Romance
Themes Ghost films, Zombie films, Musical films, Films about marriage
Actors Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson, Tracey Ullman, Paul Whitehouse, Joanna Lumley
Roles Production Design
Rating74%
In an unspecified Victorian-era village somewhere in Europe, Victor Van Dort (Johnny Depp), the son of nouveau riche fish merchants, and Victoria Everglot (Emily Watson), the neglected daughter of hateful aristocrats, are preparing for their arranged marriage, which will raise the social class of Victor's parents and restore the wealth of Victoria's penniless family. Both have concerns about marrying someone they do not know, but upon meeting for the first time, they fall for each other. After the shy Victor ruins the wedding rehearsal and is scolded by Pastor Galswells (Christopher Lee), he flees and practices his wedding vows in the nearby forest, placing the wedding ring on a nearby upturned tree root.
The Terminal (2004)
, 2h1Directed by Steven Spielberg
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy, Comedy-drama, Romantic comedy, Romance
Themes Films about alcoholism, Films about immigration, Transport films, La précarité, Aviation films, Films about language and translation
Actors Tom Hanks, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Stanley Tucci, Barry Shabaka Henley, Kumar Pallana, Diego Luna
Roles Production Design
Rating73%
Viktor Navorski (Tom Hanks), a traveler from the nation of Krakozhia, arrives at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, only to find that his passport is suddenly no longer valid due to the outbreak of a civil war in his homeland. As a result, the United States no longer recognizes Krakozhia as a sovereign nation, and he is not permitted to either enter the country or return home as he is now stateless. Due to his inability to communicate in proper English, US Customs and Border Protection seizes his passport and airline ticket.
The Cat in the Hat (2003)
, 1h22Directed by Bo Welch
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Fantasy, Adventure
Themes Films about animals, L'action se déroule en une journée, Films about cats, Children's films, Mise en scène d'un mammifère
Actors Mike Myers, Alec Baldwin, Kelly Preston, Dakota Fanning, Spencer Breslin, Amy Hill
Roles Production Design
Rating41%
Conrad and Sally Walden live in the city of Anville with their single mother Joan Walden, who works for neat-freak Hank Humberfloob. One day, just as Mr. Humberfloob calls in a new member of the "Humberfloob Family", the new worker, Jim McFinnigan shakes his hand in thanks (shocking everyone, as they are aware that one will be fired if whom shakes his hand without permission), which angers Mr. Humberfloob, screaming "FIRED!", and Jim runs out crying. He then puts on hand sanitizer and firmly warns Joan that she will be fired if her house is messy for the upcoming meet and greet party. At the house, Conrad trashes the house, causing their dog Nevins to run down the street in fright. Joan punishes Conrad for a week while re-cleaning the house. Their next door neighbor, Lawrence Quinn, whom Joan is dating to Conrad's dismay, brings back Nevins, and Sally is grateful. When Lawrence leaves, Joan is called back to the office again, leaving the kids with Mrs. Kwan, a lethargic babysitter, and making sure they are forbidden to enter the living room, which is being kept pristine for the upcoming party. Lawrence is constantly on the lookout for any mischief that Conrad is up to, as he wants nothing more than to send him away to military school for the rest of his life, earning Conrad the reputation of "troublemaker", while his sister is characterized as "perfect and well-behaved".
The Affair of the Necklace (2002)
, 1h58Directed by Charles Shyer
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Historical, Romance
Themes Politique, Marie-Antoinette, Political films, Escroquerie, Histoire de France, French Revolution films, Films about royalty
Actors Hilary Swank, Jonathan Pryce, Simon Baker, Adrien Brody, Joely Richardson, Christopher Walken
Roles Production Design
Rating59%
Jeanne de Saint-Rémy de Valois, orphaned at an early age, is determined to reclaim her royal title and the home taken from her family when she was a child. When she is rebuffed by Marie Antoinette and fails to achieve her goal through legal channels, she joins forces with the arrogant, well-connected gigolo Rétaux de Villette and her own wayward, womanizing husband Nicholas. They concoct a plan to earn her enough money to purchase the property.
Minority Report (2002)
, 2h25Directed by Steven Spielberg
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Thriller, Social science fiction, Action, Crime
Themes Films about computing, Transport films, Time travel films, Films about automobiles, Films based on science fiction novels, Films set in the future, Political films, Films based on works by Philip K. Dick, Road movies, Cyberpunk films, Dystopian films, Children's films, Chase films, Anticipation
Actors Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Samantha Morton, Max von Sydow, Kathryn Morris, Steve Harris
Roles Production Design
Rating75%
In April 2054, Washington, D.C. has a special police force called PreCrime that stops murderers before they act. Murders are predicted using three Precogs, mutated humans who "previsualize" crimes by receiving visions of the future. Over the past six years, PreCrime has successfully reduced the city's murder rate to zero, and the Federal government is on the verge of adopting it, even though the public finds it controversial. Captain John Anderton (Tom Cruise), the head of PreCrime, has been suffering from drug addiction since the unresolved disappearance of his son, Sean, which led to his wife, Lara (Kathryn Morris), divorcing him. With PreCrime poised to go nationwide, the system is being audited by Danny Witwer (Colin Farrell), an agent from the United States Department of Justice. In the middle of the audit, the Precogs generate a new prediction, one saying that Anderton will murder a man named Leo Crow in thirty-six hours. Anderton does not know Crow, but flees the area as Witwer begins a manhunt.
Fight Club (1999)
, 2h19Directed by David Fincher
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Comedy, Action
Themes Films about anarchism, Medical-themed films, Films about terrorism, Films about psychiatry
Actors Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Helena Bonham Carter, Jared Leto, Meat Loaf, Richmond Arquette
Roles Production Design
Rating84%
The unnamed narrator (Edward Norton) is a traveling automobile company employee who suffers from insomnia. One night he visits a support group for testicular cancer victims, where they assume that he too is a victim, and he spontaneously weeps into the nurturing arms of another man, finding a "freedom" that euphorically relieves his insomnia. He becomes addicted to participating in support groups of various kinds, always allowing the groups to assume that he suffers what they do. However, he begins to notice another impostor, Marla Singer (Helena Bonham Carter), whose presence disturbs his bliss, so he negotiates with her to avoid their attending the same groups.