Exclusive: Interview with Talented TRANSCENDENCE concept artist Scott Lukowski

Transcendence (2014) concept art by Scott Lukowski

Check out my interview with Transcendence concept artist Scott Lukowski and see exclusive concept art!

Last weekend was the release of Transcendence, Academy Award winning cinematographer Wally Pfister's first directorial effort. He worked with Christopher Nolan on many films including Memento, The Dark Knight and Inception. Reviews are mixed, but everyone agrees that it looks amazing. One of the artists that helped to bring Pfister's vision to life is Scott Lukowski. I got to have a brief interview with him.

Lukowski is a professional concept illustrator who's worked on Hollywood movies like Transformers (2007), Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) and Spider-Man (2002).

Click on the images to enlarge.

Maurice Mitchell: Thanks for your time Scott! So, what did you contribute for this film?
Scott Lukowski: I was fortunate enough to start on this project during the early pre-production stage in the director's home studio. At that time there were three of us in the art department.  This gave us the chance to work closely with Wally Pfister during the development of numerous key elements in the film. 

Some of my earlier illustrations included conceptualizing the varying stages of a degenerating Will Caster, played by Johnny Depp, as well as his evolving post humanism phase. I was also involved with the development of the Mechanical Nanomite as well as the processes of cell and tissue regeneration in human limbs.  Later in the project, I helped develop the laser halo, a variety of medical devices and various sets.

MM: What a privilege to work so closely with the director! A lot of concept artist don't get to work that closely with the director. What it was like working with Pfister? Did his cinematography background change the way you worked on the film?I really enjoyed working with Wally Pfister.  He's a very sharp guy and has an energy about him that makes him fun to be around.  For me personally, I didn't feel that his cinematography background really changed the development process but it certainly influenced some elements and made some choices easier to make.  In general that's what it was like, he knew what he wanted but was also open to exploring various concepts. 

MM: Was there a design that took the most attention while you were working?
SL: The five varying stages of a degenerating Will Caster may have required the most attention in the end.  It was important to find the right amount of deterioration without turning Mr. Depp into a jawless zombie.  So numerous takes on each stage were created before the proper visuals, specific to radiation poisoning, were captured. 

The cranial electrodes which assisted in transferring Will's consciousness also played a key role.  Multiple concepts were developed and incorporated with the influence of real world technology.

Mechanical Nanomite

Mechanical Nanomite

MM: Where can we see your work next?
SL: I was involved with the Amazing Spider-Man 2, which will be out this May, as well as the two final chapters of the Hunger Games saga, Mockingjay Part 1 and 2 which are being released in November 2014 and November 2015.

concept C Arm regenerating via mechanical nanomite.

See more of Scott Lukowski's fascinating portfolio at http://www.scottlukowski.com.

Click on the links if you want to see more of Scott Lukowski's work or Transcendence on my blog.

What do you think of the concept art? If you've seen Transcendence what did you think?

Official Transcendence Synopsis
Dr. Will Caster (Johnny Depp) is the foremost researcher in the field of Artificial Intelligence, working to create a sentient machine that combines the collective intelligence of everything ever known with the full range of human emotions. His highly controversial experiments have made him famous, but they have also made him the prime target of anti-technology extremists who will do whatever it takes to stop him. However, in their attempt to destroy Will, they inadvertently become the catalyst for him to succeed—to be a participant in his own transcendence. For his wife Evelyn (Rebecca Hall) and best friend Max Waters (Paul Bettany), both fellow researchers, the question is not if they can…but if they should. Their worst fears are realized as Will’s thirst for knowledge evolves into a seemingly omnipresent quest for power, to what end is unknown. The only thing that is becoming terrifyingly clear is there may be no way to stop him.
Directed by Wally Pfister
Cinematography by Jess Hall
Production Design by Chris Seagers
Starring: Johnny Depp, Paul Bettany, Rebecca Hall, Kate Mara, Morgan Freeman, Cole Hauser.
Release Date: April 18, 2014 (United States), April 25, 2014 (United Kingdom)
Official Site: http://www.transcendencemovie.com/
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