Philip Messina Volume 2 - Black Bag

In Volume 2 of our conversation with renowned production designer Philip Messina (The Hunger Games, Ocean’s Eleven), we continue our deep dive into his work on the upcoming spy thriller Black Bag. Messina discusses the creative and technical process behind designing the film’s central house - a location that carries much of the story’s emotional and psychological weight.

He also breaks down the two major dinner table sequences, explaining how subtle choices in layout, props, and lighting helped build tension and support character dynamics. We also explore the fascinating story behind the film’s original opening scene - a sequence that was ultimately cut from the final film, but went on to become the main promotional image associated with Black Bag. Messina reflects on his long-running collaboration with director Steven Soderbergh, and how their shared visual language has evolved over time. He also opens up about the films and production design work that have most inspired him throughout his career.

This episode offers a rare and detailed glimpse into the mind of one of the industry’s most thoughtful designers, and is essential viewing for anyone interested in how the spaces we see on screen are crafted to shape story and emotion.

This interview is so much fun!

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

3:26 Back in Production with Steven Soderbergh

4:58 Designing the dinner table sequences in 'Black Bag'

7:41 Designing the interior of the house in 'Black Bag'

14:15 Creating the right look for a sexy spy thriller

19:31 Re-shooting the opening scene of 'Black Bag'

24:42 The red soccer ball...(Minor Spoilers)

29:02 Bond and Moneypenny in a new spy thriller...

34:58 Designing the 'wall of screens' in 'Black Bag'

40:05 The demise of the mid-budget auteur film?

44:28 Best Production Design films of all time

49:51 Outro

Watch now on YouTube, or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Hosted by Will Frost (@will.frost_)

Guest Starring Philip Messina

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