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"Asteroid City" is a 2023 American comedy-drama, romance, and science fiction film written, directed, and co-produced by Wes Anderson, based on a story by Anderson and Roman Coppola. The film's plot revolves around the transformative events that occurred at the 1955 Junior Stargazer Annual Convention. The film also offers a glimpse into the beige desert landscape of the "Asteroid City," which was filmed in Spain.
"Asteroid City" was filmed using film cameras and did not require the use of lights.
This is director Wes Anderson's 11th feature film, starring A-list actors such as Maya Hawke, Scarlett Johansson, Margot Robbie, Steve Carell, Sophia Lillis, and Tom Hanks.
"Asteroid City" has piqued the curiosity of many viewers because it uses no artificial lighting for any daytime scenes, both interior and exterior. Written and directed by Wes Anderson, "Asteroid City" is set in a Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet conference in a fictional desert town in 1955 – a time when concepts of the universe and space were booming. The conference brings together students and parents from across the country to compete for scholarships, as well as to relax, watch comedy, enjoy romance, and more. However, strange earthquakes of unknown origin cause fear that aliens might be lurking among the people living in Asteroid City.
The film offers a glimpse into the desert landscape and beige-toned themes of the “asteroid city,” which was filmed in Spain.
"Asteroid City" is a work full of aesthetic composition and color, much like Wes Anderson's previous successful films. This element gives it a realistic and vivid feel, like a work of art. With its star-studded cast and intriguing setting, it seems Anderson will continue to deliver another classic.
The film's story takes place in 1955, but the techniques used by Wes Anderson are reminiscent of a bygone era in film history. "The filming process was like shooting films from the early days of cinema: they built sets out in the sunlight, then just stretched a sheet over them to diffuse the light," according to cinematographer Robert Yeoman.
Production designer Adam Stockhausen created a nostalgic 1950s vibe for the famous town.
With "Asteroid City," Wes Anderson's dream was to utilize entirely natural light. Even in the desert dining hall scenes (daytime interior shots), the art design team would create ceilings with skylights, then apply a super-thin diffuser to achieve stunning lighting effects.
According to cinematographer Robert Yeoman, Wes's style was all about minimalism and lofi. "I used to work on sets with hundreds of people, huge lighting rigs and equipment. But Wes didn't believe in that kind of thing; he wanted to move and work quickly and efficiently. Besides the actors, the set would only have director Wes, me holding the camera, one person taking the focus, one second-in-command holding the slate, one person in charge of the dolly, and one person holding the boom microphone. Wes had a small monitor, but mostly he would sit and observe the actors. In Wes Anderson's ideal world, a feature film only needed eight people."
Scarlett Johansson looks gloomy and desperate in Asteroid City as a famous actress who thinks her town might be doomed.
"Asteroid City" was filmed using film – a passion shared by both the director and the cinematographer. “When filming with digital cameras, you just keep the camera running while adjusting the actors’ hair and makeup, and you feel like everyone’s concentration wanes. With film, everyone knows they only have a limited amount of film, so everyone is more focused. Somehow, that focused energy also shows up on the negatives,” Yeoman said.
"Asteroid City" was released in select theaters on June 16, 2023, and expanded globally on June 23, 2023.
Director Wes Anderson's 11th feature film, "Asteroid City," has just been released and features an all-star cast.
"Asteroid City" is a work full of aesthetic composition and color, reminiscent of Wes Anderson's successful films.
