Inception (2010) is one of those science-fiction movies that feels like it's not sci-fi. The technology is realistic and the story is grounded. Despite all that, it's a visual masterpiece of creative designs.

One of the artists on the film was Paul Christopher and he shared some art from his blog.

Here's what he said there:
"I was very excited to be a part of this project. I am an avid fan of Mr. Nolan's films and having heard that he penned the story, and the script as well...I knew this would be a very compelling project to be a part of, and feel very honored to have contributed. These images speak of the collaborative efforts and ideas of many talented associates in the Inception Art Dept. This was a very gratifying experience, especially working with such a visually accelerated Director. Bravo Mr. Nolan!"

Click on the images to enlarge

Official Synopsis:
Acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan directs an international cast in an original sci-fi actioner that travels around the globe and into the intimate and infinite world of dreams. Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb’s rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible–inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming. This summer, your mind is the scene of the crime.

See more of Paul Christopher's portfolio at paulchristopherart.blogspot.com

@ Copyright 2010 Paul Christopher, Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Pictures. All rights reserved

What do you think of the illustrations?

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Inception was an amazing film and the storyboards are mind-blowing. For example, in one scene Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) has a fight in the dream world. As it goes on gravity goes away leaving Arthur to fight up walls and ceilings. It's hard to imagine a scene from such simple lines as:

INT. HOTEL CORRIDOR - NIGHT
As Arthur hurries down the corridor, the corridor starts to
TILT, and Arthur is forced to run UP ONTO THE WALL- he rounds
a corner- STRAIGHT INTO another Security Man- Arthur HEAD
BUTTS him and they STRUGGLE- as they struggle, the corridor
SPINS around, THROWING THEM UP ONTO THE WALLS, THE CEILING as
wall becomes floor they DROP through a door into-
114.

INT. HOTEL ROOM - CONTINUOUS
The fight continues all over the spinning room- and we-

CUT TO:
INT. HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
Arthur and the Security Man DROP to the floor, Arthur on top. Arthur gets up- heads to the stairwell.

Gabriel Hardman did it though. DGA had an article on it in "Altered States" and a sample.

The dreamscape of Christopher Nolan's Inception was filled with odd angles and spinning rooms such as this one. Storyboards by Gabriel Hardman helped the director realize his vision for 500 visual effects shots.

Here's video of the final scene

See more of Gabriel Hardman's work, including his comic book work at http://www.gabrielhardman.com/

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Inception: The Shooting script is a book by director Christopher Nolan about his mind-bending dream film Inception. It's not a copy of the script. Its not a book of concept art and storyboards. Its not a making of the fim book. Its all three. He's cleverly managed to work in all three parts seemlessly into one book.

 

It starts with his brother interviewing him about the making of how he conceived the film ten years before. The interview is fascinating as he explains how he wrestled with how to present his concept about dreaming. "My interest in dreams comes from this notion that when you dream you ceate the worls that you are perceiving, and I thought that feedback loop is pretty amazing."

 

The screenplay begins and is fairly standard. What makes it special are the 15 pages of storyboards by Gabriel Hardman that are inserted into strategic places in the script.

 

Full color concept art by Nathaniel West takes up a section after the script and is beautiful. West has a real skill at making his digital art look like paintings. The detail and choice of color schemes makes them stunning to look at.

 

A hand-written map of the layers of Inception begins the book and an assembly guide for the briefcase sleep device PASIV follows the screenplay.

 

The book, like the movie, ends with credits. They don't list the art department though. The storyboard artist is named, but, none of the concept artists or illustrators are. Not even Nathaniel West is in there and he has a major part in the book.

Here's the list according to imdb:

• Gabriel Hardman (storyboard artist) http://www.heathencomics.com/
• Nathaniel West (concept artist) http://www.nathanielwest.net/
• Paul Christopher (concept artist) http://paulchristopherart.blogspot.com/
• Robert McKinnon (concept artist) http://robertmckinnon.blogspot.com/

 I was hoping for more concept art and storyboards, but, that's all they could fit into a paperback-sized book. It would have been better as a hardcover coffee-table book.

 

Overall, its worth reading if you're a fan of the film. If you're a real fan, you bought the $147 Inception Briefcase Edition North American Blu-Ray anyway.

 

Three and a half out of five stars.

 

Here are some scans from the very cool blogs book-crazed.blogspot.com and io9.

 

The Paris Cafe explosion by Nathaniel West

 

The Japanese Castle, Japanese Dining Room and Paris Workshop by Nathaniel West

 

A train hits Cobb's car in a storyboard by Gabriel Hardman.

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Inception is an amazing movie and the visuals are nothing less than stunning. Now Christopher Nolan is planning to release an amazing book about the film called simply "Inception: The Shooting script." Check out all the goodies in the product description:

Inception, writer-director Christopher Nolan's seventh feature film, joins the epic scope of The Dark Knight with the narrative sophistication of Memento.

The story of a group of thieves who specialize in invading the mind through one's dreams, Inception explores the writer-director's signature psychological themes of memory, paranoia, and self-doubt as his protagonist, Dom Cobb, is pitted against a hostile subconscious spurred on by personal demons and regrets from the past.

In a conversational preface, Nolan discusses with brother and frequent collaborator, Jonathan, the genesis of the idea for the film and the decade-long process it took to write it. Detailing the results of Nolan's efforts, Inception: The Shooting Script includes key storyboard sequences, full-colour concept art, and an appendix on the workings of the mysterious Pasiv Device that Cobb and his fellow extractors use to initiate the dream-share. An exclusive exploration of a highly original concept, Inception: The Shooting Script is the record of a writer-director at the height of his craft.
Includes: Writer-Director Christopher Nolan's initial handwritten outline of the Inception plot. A preface by brothers and collaborators Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan, in which they delve into the 10-year development process behind Inception. An 8-page colour insert featuring Inception concept art. An in-world appendix with instructions for operating the mysterious Pasiv Device mechanism.

I know you've wondered how that little dream device worked and it's cool to think he's going to break it down for us. Hopefully, he'll have some sketches of the jaw-dropping scene of Paris folding in half. You can pre-order it here.

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