Jonathan Houlding

Both designing and decorating Ballad of a Small Player was a genuinely complex and thrilling undertaking. To see the Art Department recognised with a BAFTA longlist nomination is something I’m very proud of. Whatever comes next, it’s important for me to acknowledge and thank the people who made this nomination possible, all of whom are listed below. 'Well done' 😉 Also fingers crossed for our other nominations - @eeedwardberger @goodridgemike1 @netflixfilm for Outstanding british film and James Friend for Cinematography. ❤️ #ProductionDesign #ArtDepartment #BAFTA #FilmCrew #HODs #BehindTheScenes #FeatureFilm My amazing team: Supervising Art Director Zoe Lee @zoelydialee Art Director Jacky Leung Assistant Art Director Gloria Cheung @gikioh.pausefor Standby Art Director Paula Lo @paullopoui Graphic Designer Nino Tin @nino_niyes Art Dept & Clearance Co-ordinator Natalie Kimber @missnatalieko Construction Manager Keith Cheung Wai Chuen Lead Scenic Painter Lo Chi Kit @lochikit Standby Carpenter Steven Wong Art Dept Assistant (Macau) Gloria Cheung & Kaby Chan @kaby_c Assistant Set Decorator Dorothy Tsang @dorzyi Assistant Set Decorator G Tsui @gnttsui Set Dec Buyer Vivian Lau @vivianlau_art Set Dec Buyer Erin Cheung @erinfrankley Set Dec Buyer Claudia Ho (Mo) @howingtung Set Dec Co-ordinator Yuri Lau Leadman Jacky Lam @jacky_ahming Storeman Chou Chi Cho Swing gang Jeffrey Chan @jeffreyhandy Swing gang Li Chun Mo Swing gang Lee Chi Fai Swing gang Tsang Chiu Yee Swing gang Lai Wai Kwan Props Team Propsmaster Sam Chapman Assistant Propsmaster Chan Lok Yiu @lokyiu Supervising Standby Props Jonathan James Evans Standby Props Lou @lou_choi Props Buyer Manman @amelia_lamoi Special thanks to the management teams of Wynn and Venetian, Wynn’s fabulous food design team led by Jonas Lundgren @jonaslundgrenfood and many many more……………... @luxartistsltd @murthaskouras #productiondesign #productiondesigners

Designing Dao Ming’s apartment for Ballad of a Small Player was an exploration of symbolism and restraint. 🦋 Her animal spirit became the butterfly, a symbol you may see reappearing through the film. This apartment was quite an undertaking in such confined but extraordinary environment. @dorzyi ’s beautiful bespoke butterfly-wing wallpaper anchors the space, while two solitary goldfish at the entrance hint at wealth and renewal. Minimal, poetic, and suspended between worlds. 'well done' to @vivianlau_art @gikioh.pausefor @erinfrankley @zoelydialee master painter - @lochikit beautiful windows doors and grills by king Cheun and all others who made her happen. Pictured: two illustrations of Dao Ming’s apartment and a still from the film #ProductionDesign #FilmDesign #DaoMing #BalladOfASmallPlayer #SetDesign #BehindTheScenes #setdesign #goodchaos #ninehoursfilms #netflixfilm #edwardberger

Illustrations of the casino’s hidden core, the manager’s office, money-counting room, card room, CCTV hub. These secret spaces define the casino’s true heartbeat. In reality, the card room for example is a world of precision, paranoia and high security: decks printed in Japan, sealed and barcoded, logged to each table, then shredded after a single use, a system built on the fear of even the smallest cheat. #ProductionDesign #BehindTheScenes #FilmArt #OnSet #balladofasmallplayer #casinolife #macau #filmdesign #filmillustration #setdesign @netflixfilm @goodchaos #ninehoursfilms

When filming in live casinos became off-limits, we had to gamble on alternatives. Local beaurocracy was not on our side. Our first jackpot, a disused casino in Macau, fell through just a week before shooting. But luck was on our side. We discovered two long-forgotten, boarded-up, mould ridden spaces and brought them back to life, merging them into one cinematic world. New casino tables made, multiple elaborate rooms fully dressed, adapted and revitalised. Old glamour....new energy....welcome to The Rio. ♠️♦️❤️ #ProductionDesign #BehindTheScenes #FilmArt #OnSet #balladofasmallplayer @netflixfilm @goodchaos #ninehoursfilms #setdesign #filmillustration #conceptart

Early sketches, quickly fleshing out ideas. We went from an empty, rubbish strewn, after wedding reception, full with kitsch balloon sculptures and debris....to pairing it back to an empty room. These ballrooms are vast, easily a football pitch in size, found deep inside the casino. #ProductionDesign #conceptart #filmillustration #workingdrawing #ideadreaming #BehindTheScenes #FilmArt #OnSet #balladofasmallplayer @netflixfilm @goodchaos #ninehoursfilms

For me a continuous theme running through ‘Ballad of a small player’ was Dante’s Inferno, and this was the circle of Gluttony, a surreal feast inspired by Dalí’s cookbook: jellied dishes, seafood towers, insane chocolate cakes all made with great passion by the hotels head chef. The smell, the heat, the filming, it was brutal. I also borrowed images from ‘The Jade Record’ to decorate the walls, gluttonous monsters inviting humans into hell. Full cudos to @colinfarrellupdates who went for it, take after take, quite incredible. That raw emotion? It was palpable and 100% real. Thanks to @zoelydialee who looked after the food for this set, no mean feet, and @samchapmanfilm for his incredible work with the props and money - this was one scary day with so much illegal prop money. We had fun. #ProductionDesign #BehindTheScenes #FilmArt #DantesInferno #OnSet #balladofasmallplayer @netflixfilm @goodchaos @ninehoursfilms

Thought I'd post a few visuals I made for 'Ballad of a Small Player' directed by @eeedwardberger .Locations often fell through at the very last minute, so I would have to produce a new version of each scene every time this happened. I think I did four visuals for what was going to be this near-end scene, before it landed where it is in the film (no spoilers). It was quite seat of the pants designing, a lesson in agile filmaking, but great fun. #balladofasmallplayer @lisychristl29a @benedicthoermann @zoelydialee @h.merker @netflixfilm #ninehours @goodchaos__

JONATHAN HOULDING & LISY CHRISTL | MSA – BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER directed by Edward Berger with Production Design by Jonathan Houlding, and Costume Design by Lisy Christl. Now streaming on Netflix! #murthaskouras @lisychristl29a @studiojonathanhoulding

Our new movie: #balladofasmallplayer @ London Film Festival Oct 9. In cinemas Oct 15. Out on @netflixfilm Oct 29. Thankyou @eeedwardberger - what an incredible journey, experience and film.🙌 to my incredible, dedicated, art deaprtment @zoelydialee @dorzyi @gnttsui @erinfrankley @n_n_n_o @vivianlau_art #samchapman #jonathanevans and all those not on insta and to my new found friends/colleagues/family: @goodridgemike1 #jamesfriendbsc @lisychristl29a @h.merker #studiojonathanhoulding @benedicthoermann @dbizzle007 @ph7119 @harlonh @volkerbertelmann_official @nicksgemerson @jtbowsher @petermarsden @netflix #productiondesign @luxartistsltd @murthaskouras #ninehours @goodchaos__

BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER Trailer for my lastest film. Incredible experience made with some fantastic friends. Directed by Edward Berger. In theaters Oct 15 & on @netflix Oct 29 #productiondesigner #productiondesign @eeedwardberger @goodridgemike1 #balladofasmallplayer #colinfarrell @falachenfala #tildaswinton @netflixuk @goodchaos__ #ninehours #jamesfrienddop @lisychristl29a @benedicthoermann @volkerbertelmann_official @h.merker @nicksgemerson @jeannetremsal @productiondesignerscollective #filmdesign #artdirection @luxartistsltd @murthaskouras

Another from 2023, loved the complexity of this one and its tight turn around. An incredible job working with the maestro IPJ. @ianponsjewell Fun making the craziest of roller coaster cart, bonkers ray-guns and designing the surrealist of landscapes. So nice to be able to be allowed to dream, design and make, albeit on the tightest of schedule, in the quickest of time, and within the ‘B' word. Amazing art department headed by Martina. @desireelaidler on the costumes, @timebasedarts on the VFX alongside @_baconx_ . @mauro.chiarello behind the lens, always a pleasure. @doochy1 and @bugsarella and Theresa holding us all together. All under the watchful eye of @dennissonin . Hosted by the lovely team at Unit Sofa @unitsofa . Director: @ianponsjewell Co-Writers: @nickroney & @eyeswideshutup Production Company: ProdCo Founding Partner / EP: Zico Judge Partner / Global EP: Jon Adams EP/US MD: Emma Wilcockson Producer: @doochy1 Line Producer: @bugsarella 1st AD: @dennissonin DOP: @mauro.chiarello PD: @studiojonathanhoulding Costume Designer: @desireelaidler Line Producer (LA): Alexandra Lisee 1st AD (LA): @toddathompson DOP (LA): @crawleylol PD (LA): @parispickard Snr. Art Director: Martina Ter-Akopowova Art Director: Dan Sucharipa Modelmakers: Martin Pec Vit Notovny Assistant Set Decorator: Theo Ter-Akopowova Additional Draftsman: Banda Penka 3d modeller: Jason Human Prop master: Dan Dvorak Props standby: Denis Fiala, Tomas Hora Graphic design: Matyas Hruska SFX: Vitek Petrasek

Why shoot one commercial when you can do two at the same time! This came along with the main commercial in previous post, a complicated little number, studio build and location, blink and you'll miss it. Always a pleasure to work with my friend Henry Hobson @hthobson . All overseen by the amazing @_choppywaters_ , lensed by @mauro.chiarello all under the watchful eyes and perfect schedule of @johnflowe . Loads of fun VFX to add into this one from Framestore by @lubesque and @wlabanx . Always a pleasure being hosted by @division.film MJZ - Production Company - @mjzworldwide Director: Henry Hobson @hthobson EP/Head of Production: Lucy Jones @ljOnes Producer: James Waters @_choppywaters_ Production Manager: Luke Thornton Director of Photography: Mauro Chiarello @mauro.chiarello Production Designer: Jonathan Houlding @studiojonathanhoulding 1st Ad: John Lowe @johnflowe MoVi Operator: Florian Hatwagner gimbalninja Framestore - Post Production - @framestore VFX Supervisors - William Laban @wlabanx & Guy Lubin @lubesque Creative Agency - @adamandeveddb Chief Creative Officer: Richard Brim Executive Creative Director/s: Ant Nelson, Mike Sutherland Creative Director/s: Andy Clough and Rich McGrann Agency producer/s: Mary Fostiropoulos, Nicola Ridley Project Director: Amy Waldman @division.film MD/EP: Rok Bukovec EP/Producer: Rok Luneznik @rokluneznik Line Producer: Spela Bajc @spelabajc Production Manager: Urska Vardijan @urskavardijan Production Coordinator: Ursa Purkart @urshap / Andjela Prnjak @Andjelaprnjak Unit Manager: Bor Pletersek 1st AD: Tina Fratnik 1st AC: Nika Drakulic Grip: Gerhard Deimel Gaffer: Darko Bralo Art Director Slovenia: Miha Knific Costume Designer: Monika Lorber Hair & Makeup Artist: Ana Lazovski @analazovski Stunts: Filip Krzisnik @stuntman.si