Films would not be complete without the talented people who work behind the scenes to bring them to life. One such person is Production Designer Grant Armstrong.
Grant Armstrong has worked on many incredible projects, such as The Batman and 2023’s Silent Night. He also served as the Art Director for The Batman, Spider-Man: Far from Home, and Overlord, a personal favorite.
Armstrong’s most recent work is on the film Locked, starring Bill SkarSkarsgård Anthony Hopkins. If you read my review, you’ll know that I love the claustrophobic thriller. In fact, I called it “a masterclass in claustrophic tension.”
It opens with Eddie, portrayed by Skarsgård, cruising the streets, seemingly scouting for targets. He stumbles upon a seemingly irresistible opportunity: a luxurious SUV with an unlocked door. The decision to steal the vehicle triggers a chain of events. As the owner, played by Hopkins, intensifies Eddie’s punishment, he’s pushed to his breaking point.
I had the chance to pick Armstrong’s brain about the film, the SUV, and more. Here’s what he had to say:
Could you please explain to our readers the role of a Production Designer?
A Production Designer is the Head of the Art Department and is responsible for creating the visual world of a film by translating the script into a cohesive visual narrative through sets, props, or locations. As a Production Designer, you want to ensure that the look and feel of the movie align with the Director’s vision and enhance the storytelling, working closely with the cinematographer to develop the overall aesthetic of the film.
Films wouldn’t be the same without what you do. I have to ask: How did you get into Productoin Design?
Thanks for recognising the importance of the Art Department in film making! I studied for a degree in Film Production Design in Manchester, UK, and graduated some 33 years ago. I have worked my way through all aspects of the Art Department, starting as an Assistant and working my way up to Production Design. I have been lucky enough to work on a great number of films and different genres, from low-budget to big-budget studio features.
What were the biggest challenges of filming inside the gorgeous SUV, the Dolus?
After reading the script, I realized the main challenge was keeping an audience’s interest in a full-length feature film set inside a vehicle. The DOLUS is the third character in the film, and I wanted to create a luxurious interior that could very quickly begin to feel like a prison cell. Filming inside a vehicle is always a challenge, mainly due to space constrictions and the need to have a cameraman and a camera inside the car.
I was on Art Director on Gravity and we had built a small capsule with 3x walls that slid back and forth on tracks for easy access for both the actors and the camera. I took this idea to Dave Yarovesky and suggested the whole car could pull apart on tracks. This allowed the camera lens to be in any position in the vehicle at any given time. It also allowed the camera to do a complete 360 inside the vehicle by sliding the panels in and out, as seen in the opening sequence. The most challenging aspect of making this set piece was actually the amount of work it took to strip the initial vehicle to its bare bones and rebuild with only the essential interior elements.
Where did the name “Dolus” come from?
The name DOLUS came from the latin which means “fraud; deceit, especially involving evil intent”, which felt perfect for Williams plan. Even the logo itself was created using the Justice statue from the Old Bailey law courts in London.
I love that! It’s so fitting. Can you please tell us about the SUV itself?
As we could never legally use a named brand to lock someone inside and torture them, we needed to create our own branded vehicle. I wanted to make the DOLUS an extension of William’s character and something you would believe that he would purchase. I took inspiration from British luxury cars such as vintage Jaguars, Rolls Royce, and the Bentley. Together with the Land Rover Defender SUV silhouette, it gave us a vehicle that was modern, luxurious, and hi-tech but did not stand out in a city centre car park.
What was the biggest challenge with designing the SUV? It’s a work of art.
Most car companies spend up to two years designing and building prototypes for their vehicles, but we had just eight weeks to build two vehicles and an interior set. Therefore, time and budget constraints were always the biggest challenges.
That’s crazy! What modifications were made?
The front and back of the vehicle was completely modified and complete refit of the interiors.
There were quite a few scenes in which SkarsSkarsgårdseen through cameras in the vehicle. How many cameras were installed inside the SUV?
We had four cameras installed in the vehicle and 2x cameras installed at the front and back of the outside of the vehicle.
What is an interesting fact about the movie that few people know?
We had to create our own graffiti for the wall in the car park, and this was created with a theme of good and evil, sinners and saints. It had the iconic graphic from Sami Raimis’ Evil Dead film poster. There was also graffiti of David Yarovesky hidden in there.
I love those personal touches! What would you do if you were in Eddie’s position?
Oh geez—I dread to think. Being in a car for more than three hours is too much for me at the best of times! I certainly wouldn’t be smart enough to try and pull the main electric cable with my feet. I don’t think there was any way to escape apart from how Eddie escaped. William had pretty much thought of all eventualities!
Visit Grant Armstrong’s official website to stay current on his projects and films. And don’t miss Locked, now playing in theaters.
