Mis-En-Scene: American Sniper

Art Director:

The art director works very closely with the production designer, in fact, all above the line roles like this work closely together including DP and director. All are involved in the artistic feel and look of the film. The art director seems to have more of an organizational role in terms of budgeting, project management, overseeing set construction and even coordinating special effects, etc. According to media-match.com, the art director begins working several months before shooting even begins. They have a big role in pre-production. 

This particular scene is of American Sniper, where Chris Kyle is sitting in a bar back in the states for his first time in a while, and has a phone conversation with his wife who had no idea he was even back in the country. The set itself is a bar which is typically lower lit but there is a grungy green aspect to this sequence. The bar is very old-school, telling by the light fixtures and style, even in the wardrobe department it has a 1970s-80s look. The lighting is dark, only highlighting certain aspects of his face during this dark and confusing period in his life. His wife has a bit more light in her home but still has a darker, green look as the walls are a mint color and even her sweater. The art director had to follow the guidance of Clint Eastwood, the director, the production designer and organize the set design teams while simultaneously working with budgeting just to make this pivotal scene have the right feel and look to portray what Eastwood thought would be appropriate for the storyline and capture the atmosphere and emotions of the couple. This video is actually a breakdown from Clint Eastwood himself on some of his direction given on this particular scene.

Both of the art directors who worked on this film worked on over 30 other films within the art department and 5-6 films as an art director. Many of which are very popular films in the past several years like Minority Report, Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, Catching Fire & Interstellar. 

Harry E. Otto

Dean Wolcott