In the Motherland universe, the singular weapons our soldiers wield can be precise as an assassin’s blade or devastating beyond comprehension, so the place where this training happens needed to be suitably robust. For lethal training on the Fort Salem base, we created a “Rough Room”. Here our soldiers hone their skills in defensive and offensive combat situations.

In another universe, this place would be called a weapons training facility or firing range. Starting from that premise, we started with a contemporary “weapons facility” theme. Thanks to Brian Kane’s ongoing discussion and regular input from Steven and Eliot, we were able to bring our initial idea fully into the Motherland world. Modelled in SketchUp and rendered in SU Podium. Final illustration by Frank Hong.

Rough Room

Final Rough Room concept

Final approved model

Bringing the room into our world

Second pass – playing with layers

First pass – a literal firing range.

From Motherland: Fort Salem, Season 1.

On the scripted page, there’s a powerful layering of imagery and a blurring visual boundaries during the Gallows Hill scene. What we think is real is only pretend and what we discover to be real in this world is fantasy in our own.

With show runner Eliot Laurence and director Steven Adelson, the art department was determined to give this scene the visual impact it demanded. In order to achieve this, we drew on theatre imagery from the 18th century, specifically the street spectacles of France and Italy. This was a world of flickering floor lights and painted canvas, where great crimes and great deeds were both on the playbill. The “hand pained” curtain and backdrop were in fact created digitally by the brilliant Jonathan Stamp and then printed onto commercial sign canvas.

Sarah Alder faces her tormentors

Sarah Alder signs the Accord

The Salem Accord recited

Stage as gallows

Gallows becomes Accord signing

Backdrop painting

Galows stage transformed

6 days from initial scout until filming. We try not to make a habit of this, but we can bring it when we need to.

Supergirl properties copyright Warner Bros. Television & DC Entertainment

Working with existing textures, a few carefully selected set pieces and a very skilled lighting department.

Alien Space Prison

Bulkhead Door

One owner, genty used

Cafeteria

Where sea and steel become one, but in a good way. Barge on Fraser River.

Engine Room

Alien Super-Max

Alien Super-Max Detention Corridor