The renowned film director Christopher Nolanknown for his meticulous approach and dedication to cinematic quality, was the subject of a curious anecdote regarding his next project, “Oppenheimer”.
During an interview on the Team Deakins podcast On cinematography, production designer Ruth De Jong shared details about how Nolan was willing to reduce the number of shooting days to ensure the film’s authenticity.
One of the main challenges for De Jong was to recreate the community of Los Alamos, where J. Robert Oppenheimer and his team developed the atomic bomb.
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At first, De Jong considered that this task would be almost impossible due to budget constraints. However, Nolan surprised the team by encouraging them to design without worrying about cost.
The surprise came when it was estimated that the construction of Los Alamos would require a budget of $20 million. At that point, Nolan decided to intervene and expressed a resounding “no” to the number.
budget adjustment
To address the economic issue, Nolan made the decision to reduce the number of shooting days by at least 30, from approximately 85 days to around 55. This move allowed for significant savings without compromising the integrity of the film.
The pressure to deliver exceptional results increased for De Jong as he was aware of the sacrifices Nolan was willing to make for the production.
However, the collaboration between the director and the production team proved successful. The only notable concession was filming some Washington DC scenes in New Mexico, as permission to film in actual government buildings was not obtained. This choice added an additional level of authenticity to the film.
The trivia surrounding “Oppenheimer” reveals Christopher Nolan’s dedication to his craft and his commitment to bringing stories to the screen in the most authentic way possible.