We attended “Ant-man and the Wasp’s” latest in-home release party with Marvel President, movie Director and Visual development team!
Marvel Studios celebrated both the digital release of Ant-man and the Wasp, along with 10 years of brilliant and creative minds that make the Marvel universe a possibility. The commemoration took place at the Hero Complex Gallery, where pieces of exclusive artwork (10 from Ant-Man and The Wasp and 19 from each of the MCU films) were displayed around the venue. Throughout the event, guests were able to walk around and take in the intricacy of the artwork concepts from some of Marvel’s blockbuster films. Along with the artwork, the details continued to show at the event with the snacks provided as well; having them relate and highlight the size concepts of Ant-man and the Wasp film, which was super cool to see!
Inside the media room, there was a sneak peak viewing of the Digital Exclusive Bonus Feature “10 Years of Marvel Studios: The Art of the Marvel Cinematic Universe” a featurette about what it takes to bring the MCU to life and the role concept artists play in bringing Super Heroes from comic book to screen. Not only did the we get to hear the visual development team’s comments in the bonus feature but Director Peyton Reed, Head of Visual Development Ryan Meinerding, Director of Visual Development Andy Park and Senior Concept Illustrators Rodney Fuentebella, Jackson Sze and Anthony Francisco were all in attendance for an exclusive Q&A.
Were you guys geeking out, when you were given this opportunity to be like “Oh I’m gonna actually create the marvel universe?”
Ryan Meinerding: I was geeking out the first time I stepped foot into those offices. I mean back then we didn’t know how far it was gonna go and how amazing it was gonna be. But for me it was essentially a start-up movie studio, it was just the energy and the excitement of being around that, it was incredible. I mean I can’t really explain how fun it was. And then to essentially be able to hire an incredibly talented group of artists to help from Avengers forward, bring that universe to life was such a joy.
Andy Park: I grew up in the 80s you know collecting Marvel comics specifically and I dreamed of just working in comics and I also got to work in the films. So when they hired me for The Avengers I was completely geeking out the first month I was there. I was in the office by myself and I’d be painting and then eventually I’d have to sit back and be like you know it’s an out of body experience and tell myself “I’m working at Marvel Studios” and then I’d start painting again and then 10 minutes later I’d sit back and tell myself “I’m working on the Avengers”. It’s been eight years and I don’t necessarily sit back and stop working but I’m always recognizing and always like “Woah, I can’t believe this is real, this is awesome”.”
Rodney Fuentebella: I just wanted to add that I remember that. Andy and I would just be like talking to each other cause we were sitting in the office, “we’re working on these movies….HIGH FIVE!”
Director Peyton shared some insight on how rigorous it is to transform an idea from paper to real life:
“I think one of the things I was really struck by starting with the first movie with Ant-Man was the idea that, comic fans are used to how these suits look in comics but in comics, they can kind of skim by the idea of functionality. What they [visual development team] do is so crucial, I do think, it’s the secret weapon of the MCU is making these things not seem silly, making them seem really believable in the real world and really cool and functional. I think you can all look at all of your work and you could probably describe in excruciating detail the way every one of those suits works, and the textures and the feel, it’s a really integral part I can say first hand now. You know having done the two movies, on how they look in front of the camera and it goes so far in terms of how the audience buys the drama that’s going on and with Ant-Man and the Wasp, there was a lot of what, particularly in this movie, what the wasp costume would look like. We felt a lot of pressure on what does that suit looks like. It’s not easy, they make it look really easy. Like, I know you guys go through so many permutations about what all these suits are and how they work and to get to see that stuff behind the scenes is fascinating but it’s such a crucial part of our movie. The characters don’t have superpowers so it’s really all about the suits. You start thinking about how much hard work it is and how complicated it is. I think we all sweat all of those little details and then that’s just the design phase when it actually goes to manufacturing the suit itself. Looking at textures and colors and that sort of stuff. They’re very involved I think throughout in a great way, it really is important. It not only forms the character, it’s actually a crucial part of the character and you talk to any of the actors in any of these movies who’ve ever put a suit on, and when they put that suit on their posture changes, their attitude changes and its such a part of their process as actors.”
What is it like for you guys to see something that was just in your mind and you’re scribbling away on your screens for months and years and then you see it on this huge screen, what is that like for you guys?
“I think it’ll never get old, it’s very surreal. The design phase and then the decision phase and then making the actual suit. And then to get the essence of the concept design to come to life on the actual actor to the final fitting. So to go through all that work and then finally to go to the premiere to see it in, its totality, it’s a unique feeling that I’m always gonna geek out and be proud of at the same time.”
Ant-Man and The Wasp will be available digitally on 10/2 and Blu-ray on 10/16.
