As I marvel at the breathtaking images of “Wicked”‘s Munchkinland, I can’t help but feel awestruck by the sheer tenacity and vision of Nathan Crowley. The man who brought us the mind-boggling sets of Inception and Interstellar has once again outdone himself, this time transforming a mere nine million tulips into a vibrant, magical landscape that would make even the Grinch green with envy.
Sweet Oz! “Wicked” fans now have a chance to visit Munchkinland. Well, sort of.
During the production of Jon M. Chu’s movie version of the Broadway musical, it was essential to use practical sets. For “Wicked,” this massive production took place on 17 stages and across four backlots, two of which were as large as four American football fields. One of the sets was the Munchkinland Munchkin Village, situated among a field of tulips. Since everything had to be authentic, about nine million tulips were required.
At first, production designer Nathan Crowley faced some resistance and was queried about his decision to avoid visual effects for the tulips. However, Crowley stood firm on following director Dan Chu’s vision of capturing everything on camera. “I told them, ‘I must do this, and you have to come along with me,'” Crowley recounted to EbMaster. “And they did.
In the realm of cinematic ventures, my latest hurdle was devising a plan: “I turned to Adam [Richards], my trusty location manager, and proposed, ‘We’re going to cultivate tulips, and we need to grasp the art of tulip farming.'” We managed to locate a seasoned tulip farmer named Mark Eves in Norfolk, England, who graciously agreed to assist us in planting and nurturing the bulbs – no small task, considering we had nine million of them!
Says Crowley, “They were the colors of the rainbow. They came up and it was just beautiful.”
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Norfolk Tulips (@norfolk_tulips)
Chu’s movie is a screen version of the popular Broadway play, featuring Cynthia Erivo portraying Elphaba and Ariana Grande playing Glinda. This film narrates the backstory of these two witches prior to the events in “The Wizard of Oz.
In Alice Brooks’ stunning cinematography, the unending lines of tulips created an eye-catching scene. The movie’s opening song, “No One Mourns the Wicked,” is staged in Crowley’s Munchkin Village, where the tulips act as a picturesque backdrop.
Crowley expresses his confidence in his idea with the tulips, saying, “I was certain it would succeed, as I had cultivated 500 acres of corn in ‘Interstellar.’ With the right farmer, I believed I could make it happen.
As a tulip enthusiast, I wondered what happened to the tulips once production ceased. To my delight, Mark [Eves] shared his process. Essentially, tulip farming involves planting the bulbs in the ground for them to grow into flowers. After cutting off their heads, the bulbs grow larger. In the next season, he places the bulb in a greenhouse to nurture new flowers. So, he’s been taking care of the bulbs and helping them grow again.
Come springtime next year, I’ll be part of the exciting adventure at Belmont Farms – a place brought to life by the Eves family! Get ready to immerse yourself in a magical world filled with vibrant tulip fields and an enchanting replica of Oz’s Munchkinland. Can’t wait to see you there!
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2024-11-24 23:16