Dear Friends:
We are delighted to offer the first of a planned series of reports direct from the set of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. These will not be the kinds of canned pieces you’d find on “traditional” outlets. Instead, you’ll be getting unfiltered reports from and about the filmmakers, as they work tirelessly to bring all the magic of C.S. Lewis’ beloved story and characters to the big screen:
“Dedicated to the Ones He Loves”
by Ernie Malik
“All Narnians, with grateful hearts may we give thanks to the crew of the mighty Dawn Treader for their strong minds and artisan hands”
So reads the dedication etched onto the base of the towering mast of production designer Barry Robison’s mighty and majestic set build of the film’s title character in “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” which sat out on the peninsula at Cleveland Point about 20 miles east of Brisbane, Australia, and hosted cast/crew for 17 days of filming during the month of September.
What does it all mean?
It’s very possible that such merchant sailing ships of yore carried the names of its crew in honor of those whose hands helped build such a ship. Or, that of an unexpected death at sea.
In the film’s story, it was Barry’s idea to inscribe the ship’s soaring mast as Caspian’s dedication to his loyal Narnian crew who built the vessel for their King. While audiences will never see a close-up of the names on the mast, they represent, in the story, those Telmarine sailors on the journey with Caspian and the Pevensies.
However, below Barry’s poetic inscription on The Dawn Treader (which, by the way, was modeled somewhat after James Cook’s Endeavour, which sailed the South Seas in 1768, a replica of which currently sits in Sydney’s harbor) are the actual names of each individual on the film crew who had a hand in bringing this kingly frigate to life.
Regardless of their home, be it the U.S., Mexico, England, New Zealand, or Australia.
The list honors those carpenters, illustrators, plasterers, painters, laborers and art department personnel who all contributed to this monument to motion picture set designs. Robison estimates there are at least 200 people listed.
When he is questioned about the vessel (its inspiration, or dimensions, or whatever), the longtime movie artisan is quick to include the names of those who assisted in bringing his grand vision to life. While his name alone will grace the motion picture screen as the sole production designer for the film, he fondly recognizes that there are dozens of creative minds (and hundreds of talented hands) that crafted the regal set design.
Like supervising art director Ian Gracie, who served in the same capacity on “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” Kiwi art director Mark Robins, who spent every day out at Cleveland Point overseeing its construction (after watching it first come to life on a sound stage at the studio). Mexican art director Marco Nero, whose early design work when filming was scheduled for Rosarito Beach (the site of the “Titanic” shoot in 1996) proved invaluable. Construction manager Sean Ahern. Head scenic (painter) Matt Connors, without whose contributions the ship would be just a colorless model. Like the names on the mast, Barry’s list goes on and on.
The day the boat was finally erected in its entirety out on the peninsula that juts out into the South Pacific, Barry stood beside his creation, almost in tears at the sight of the finality of what began as a three-foot model some 28 months ago.
Now, his design, and that of his colleagues, would get to shine before the movie cameras.
So, these few words are dedicated to this gracious gentleman, artist and creative talent whose own contributions to not only the Dawn Treader, but the entire movie itself, stand as a testament to movie magic in a land and world whose magical landscape has endured with readers the world over for well over a half century. And, will continue well into the millennium.
Awesome! I love little details like that. yes, no one can see the dedication, but it is just one minor detail that helps make the ship more “real”.
Very cool. Anyone know where he got those pictures? I don’t believe I’ve seen them before.
They’re official pictures from the production directly! 🙂 This is the surprise that I hinted about a few weeks ago!
Wow the photos are amazing thanks for sharing them
These are truly awesome photos!!! I cannot wait for the day that we see actual footage now that filming has ended. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!
Those photos are really great! I love the one of Ben and Skandar (no, not for obvious fangirl reasons). And that detail about the Treader’s mast is awesome too!
Thanks so much, Paul! This is really appreciated.
Amazing Photos! The helm is sooo beautiful!
Wow, love The Lion’s head in the middle if the wheel!
Wow I love the helm! Thanks so much for posting these!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!
Oh WOW!!! Very cool, Paul! The pictures are absolutely awesome! I can’t wait for the first trailer! Happy Thanksgiving, Narnians!!!
Oh my gosh this is amazing! This adds whipped cream to the ton of pumpkin pie I am about to devour! LOL! Thanks SO much for posting this, the pictures(and the story) are AMAZING! I can’t wait for Dec ’10!
Seeing Georgie looking so grown up makes me feel old :o(
Looking forward to seeing this, particularly with David Arnold’s score!
I’ve been very nervous about this production in the wake of all the chaos following Prince Caspian’s release. In particular, I feared a drop in the production quality that was so exceptional in the first two films. It is clear from these stills that this movie, or at least the Dawn Treader, will not be a step down.
As someone who enjoyed the first two movies, I am very happy with what I am seeing. I can’t wait to see this movie!
woaaaaaaaaaooo!! These pictures are great!
Thanks for sharing them Paul!
Happy thanksgiving to all !
very nice pictures
cant wait for the movies……..
Great blog and pics! How frequent will these blogs be? Every week, every two weeks, something else?
They will come as frequently as possible. We have a lot to post, but we have to space them out. Otherwise, that’s too much information, too quickly, and everyone will want more. Best to leave you all wanting more, and space it out.
Paul,
I disagree completely! I think it’s best if you show us everything you have right now! 😉
But seriously, I can’t tell you how sad it was to watch the end of “Prince Caspian” on DVD wondering if that would be last we saw of the series. During the time when everything was up in the air it was just horrible to imagine that we might have seen the last of Georgie and Skandar in these roles.
Seeing these images is absolutely incredible!
wow! that’s incredible! ok about how to release info, i think it’s a better idea to slowly realease info bit-by-bit so you keep people wondering and on their toes. thats my opinion.
i absoultly love the naria films, really hate how this is the last one 🙁
all the actors are perfect espcically skandar keynes ^^’
wish i could go live in naria or something haha x
Paul, I’m hearing rumors that this will be the last Narnia movie produced. Is this true?
Nope… the future of the series is still open to being produced. Just gotta keep supporting the series with our dollars and cents.