Sunday March 10th 2024 is the 96th Academy Awards – in the Best Production Design category is Napoleon.
Shot 100% on location, mainly in London and around the UK.
Director: Sir Ridley Scott
Production Designer: Arthur Max
Studio: Apple Films
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix & Vanessa Kirby
Locations: London, UK, Malta & Morocco
Location Brief: Replicating various 18th Century period foreign country locations across London and the UK, mainly France, but also Belgium, Austria, Italy & Russia
Working Closely with Production Designer Arthur Max
I had the privilege of collaborating closely with Arthur Max, one of the industry’s most respected production designers. A long-time creative partner of Ridley Scott since Gladiator (2000), Arthur has earned multiple Academy Award nominations—including for The Martian (2015) and American Gangster (2007)—and is known for combining traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology.
Together, we travelled across the UK to uncover the perfect historic venues—stately homes, cobbled courtyards, and rural estates—with the period authenticity and cinematic weight that Sir Ridley demands. Arthur’s eye for detail, from the patina of stonework to the play of light through 18th-century windows, was instrumental in creating a tangible, immersive world for this epic masterpiece.
Here is a selection of my original location scout photo’s for the film:
Film Trailer:
