On July 16, “Odyssey” premieres on screens – a grand epic by Christopher Nolan, filmed in various corners of the globe using the latest IMAX cameras. Read below about how the film was made, why it has such a large budget, and how many thousands of costumes were created for “Odyssey”.
The First Feature Film Shot Entirely on IMAX Film
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The director and screenwriter of this ambitious picture is Christopher Nolan, one of Hollywood’s foremost intellectuals, an Oscar winner for “Best Picture” and “Best Director” for “Oppenheimer”.
The film was shot in six countries with a star-studded cast. For Nolan, this is his thirteenth feature film and, at the same time, the realization of a long-held dream – to shoot an entire picture on IMAX® film cameras. According to the director, this is his most ambitious and visually stunning project.
The budget for “Odyssey” is approximately 250 million US dollars, making it the most expensive film in Nolan’s career.
A Blend of Old and New Cinema
Nolan is long known for his love of practical sets, physical special effects, and real locations. Alongside this, he actively employs modern computer technologies when they are truly necessary. After working on “Oppenheimer,” for which new black-and-white IMAX film was specially created, the director decided to apply all his accumulated experience and technologies in “Odyssey.” His goal is to combine the scale of classic cinema with the capabilities of modern visual effects.
Filming
Filming took place in various countries around the world, often under very challenging natural conditions. Greece, Sicily, Scotland, Morocco, and the Sahara – the crew traveled everywhere during the shoot. Regarding some locations, Nolan even faced criticism from human rights organizations. This specifically applies to Western Sahara, a territory in northwestern Africa near Morocco, which is under military occupation by the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.
According to Matt Damon, who plays the role of Odysseus, these were the most demanding shoots of his career. “When we arrived at a new location, I could only laugh and think, ‘Who on earth decided to film a movie here?’ Iceland was particularly memorable. We were told, ‘It will be easy there in the summer.’ But night shoots on black beaches, strong winds, cold, and rain proved otherwise. There were no easy days at all.”
5300 Costumes for “Odyssey”
One of Hollywood’s most renowned costume designers, Ellen Mirojnick, worked on the costumes for “Odyssey.” She created the iconic looks for films like “Basic Instinct” and “Wall Street,” and her work on Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” earned her her first Oscar nomination.
A total of 5300 costumes were created for the film. In the main workshop in Los Angeles, 175 artists worked on them: illustrators, sculptors, leather and textile artisans, armor makers, tailors, fabric finishers, dyers, and many others.
The primary source of information for the costumes came from archaeological finds from Mycenaean Greece and the Mediterranean during the Late Bronze Age. The team studied frescoes, burials, armor reconstructions, ancient textiles, jewelry, weaponry, natural dyes, weaving techniques, and even how climate affects materials.
Particular attention was paid to how people dressed even before the era of Classical Greece. Characteristic details include layered linen armor, bronze plates, leather elements, practical clothing for sea voyages, and asymmetrical fastenings.
Makeup and Hairstyles
A team of over 100 people worked on the actors’ appearances. They were led by two star specialists from Hollywood. Makeup was handled by Luisa Abel, a long-time collaborator of Christopher Nolan, who previously worked on “Interstellar,” “Dunkirk,” “Tenet,” and “Oppenheimer.” Hairstyling was managed by Gloria Casny, an Oscar nominee for “The Lone Ranger.” She also worked on films such as “Twisters,” “The Fabelmans,” “The Informant!,” and “Ford v Ferrari.”
Gloria Casny recalls that Christopher Nolan presented the team with an unusual requirement from the outset. “He said only one thing: ‘No wigs.'” For the director, the main principle was timelessness and naturalness in the characters’ appearances.
After thorough study of historical materials, the team concluded that hairdressers already existed in Ancient Greece, so men could wear short, naturally cut hairstyles.
Women, on the other hand, generally had long hair. The only exception was during periods of mourning, when it might be cut short.
“Odyssey” premieres on July 16.