DETAILS
working with nicolaj fuglsig is a bit like entering a huge creative sandbox where the earth is always moving and there are surprising elements that come into play. it is chaotic and a lot of fun and you have to figure out very quickly how you are going to ”play” with nicolaj. you toss in your best ideas, while you also just have to hold on, doing your best to offer guidance every now and then.
 
with nicolaj, there’s no reason to say no – you keep pushing the limits, up until the very last moment, of what the production design can create and what the production department can afford.
 
he is very ambitious, demanding, and uncompromising and therefore it is not hard to understand why he left denmark for the broader challenges of working in the united states. as the remarkable sony bravia campaign clearly proves, it suits him quite well.
 
regarding this spot for statoil, a global oil and gas company and scandinavia's largest, this is one of my favorite minor set constructions for what was a comparatively modest commercial (in terms of budget). designing and building this set afforded me the opportunity to vicariously experience the nightmare scenario of what happens when you neglect to wash the dishes for not just months, but years.
 
the furnishings and kitchen elements were custom built, then aged, patineed, and distressed, giving the film its derelict aesthetic. the wallpaper was new, then aged, and torn, and layered over other wallpaper, which was also new, then aged, and torn.
 
the american truck was found on the streets in nørrebro, copenhagen. one of the guys from the art department staked out the owner of the truck until we got in touch with him.