Netflix Guillermo Del Toro's Frankenstein: "Making of Frankenstein" Event
- DESTINO FOUNDATION
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
The DESTINO Foundation had the privilege of attending exclusive events focused on the making of Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein. These sessions featured the film's core creative team, including Oscar-winning collaborators who shared how they translated del Toro’s lifelong vision into a "handmade" cinematic masterpiece.
The "Archaeological" Approach to Design
Guillermo del Toro describes his process as being an "archaeologist who creates his own ruins". This philosophy was the foundation for every department:
• Production Design (Tamara Deverell): Rather than building a traditional lab, the team created a historical narrative for every space. For instance, the laboratory was designed as a repurposed, abandoned water tower, complete with a two-story Medusa head—a symbol of a "misunderstood monster"—that served as a witness to the film’s events.
• Layering and Texture: The sets were built with physical layers of paint, aging patinas, moss, and rust to ensure they felt "picture perfect" and immersive for the actors.
Costumes as Storytelling (Kate Hawley)
The costumes were not just clothing but visual echoes of the film's deeper themes.
• Handcrafted Detail: Every piece of embroidery seen on screen was done by hand.
• Symbolic Echoes: The costume design used "visual language" to mirror the architecture of the sets. For example, the ribbon bodice on a specific dress echoed the creature's rib cage, while a character’s shawl was designed to resemble butterfly wings to represent an "ethereal" quality.
• Functional Design: Kate Hawley emphasized starting with the "foundation" (underwear) and layering up, allowing characters to appear in various states of dress while maintaining historical accuracy and storytelling depth.
The Creation of the Creature
The team spent 30 years gearing up for this specific design.
• A "New" Being: The goal was to avoid looking like a "repair job" or accident victim. Instead, they built a creature that felt like a "new, unborn human being"—beautiful yet tragic.
• Color Palette: They moved away from typical "zombie colors" and used translucent hues, including alabaster and iridescent shades, to fit del Toro's specific world.
• Jacob Elordi’s Performance: The actor underwent ten-hour makeup sessions, which del Toro described as a "sacrament"—a process where the man disappears so the character can emerge.
Production Logistics and Stewardship
• Immersion: Most sets were 360-degree builds, allowing the camera to swing into any corner and enabling actors to truly "step into a space" rather than acting against green screens.
• Custom Build: Because a ship that fit the film's exact needs didn't exist, the production custom-built a full-size ship on a giant gimbal to create authentic movement for the actors.
These events highlight the DESTINO Foundation's commitment to showcasing the "high-protein storytelling" that happens when world-class artisans collaborate at the height of their powers.
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