Geektown BTS Podcast 40: 'Dickinson', Production Designer Neil Patel Interview

On this episode of the Geektown Behind The Scenes Podcast, I'm chatting with Neil Patel, production designer for Season 2 and 3 of Apple TV’s 'Dickinson'.

'Dickinson' is a comedy that audaciously explores the constraints of society, gender and family from the perspective of rebellious young poet Emily Dickinson. Set in the 19th century, the series is a coming-of-age story that finds Emily to be the unexpected hero for our millennial generation.

Neil used his training in architecture to bring many intricate designs to life that reflected the look of that period. One of the main focuses for season two was the Evergreens House which belonged to Emily’s brother Austin and his wife Sue. This house is an ornate Victorian Italian Villa Style home draped in a rich palette of blues, greens, and golds.

Another focus of this season is the rise of newspapers and automatic printing presses. This gave Neil the opportunity to design an elaborate steam-driven printing press that becomes a visual touchstone for several episodes. Other stand out designs include a luxury spa and the Boston Opera House - the latter having been particularly exciting for Neil with his background designing both Broadway and Opera productions.

Neil is a trained architect who has designed for film, television, and theatre, working on projects such as Hulu's 'The Path', HBO's 'In Treatment' and 'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver'. He's also working with Talking Heads frontman/artist David Byrne and writer Mala Gaonkar on a new immersive experience called 'Theater of the Mind'.

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