Browsing through Dietrich Neumann`s Film Architecture I seemed like a good idea to investigate further upon the issue of set design and general architecture in films. Even more so, as the influence of these two elements is reciprocal in its nature: that is to say, besides the obvious influence that the choices made for set design and location on the overall ambience that the viewer is likely to perceive, not to mention the added value in terms of symbolism and discourse, there is also the influence the medium of the seventh art exerts over architecture, its evolution and its perception by the public.
Some interesting bits of information I`ve found on this site are concerned with Michelangelo Antonioni`s use of architecture as an indirect means by which to express the characters` state of mind (the example that is most often given is that of the final scene of his 1960 film, L`Avventura)Another thing that caught my attention and seems worthy of further reading is Sergei Eisenstein`s theory of space constructions, that presents architecture as `frozen music` (sounds really exciting!)
Finally, Saul Metzstein`s article discusses the possibilites that are open to film-makers when it comes to sets...creating them from scratch, a la Fritz Lang, having total control over the outcome, but also considering the costs and, most importantly, making the resulting architecture live and breath the air of the time and place it strives to be an illustration and logical outcome of; shooting on location, trying to find buildings that have a visual impact, but are not too familiar as to ruin the idea of the future vision. And, we also have another film to look at: Menzies`1936 film, Things to Come
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