The Con Air Movie Set: An Iconic Piece Of Hollywood History Source Bing.com
Con Air is a 1997 action-thriller starring Nicolas Cage and John Malkovich. The movie follows ex-con Cameron Poe as he is transferred to a prison transport plane, only for it to be hijacked by the inmates. The movie was an instant classic, and part of what makes it so memorable is the iconic sets. Here we explore the Con Air movie set and all the details that made it unique.
The Set Design
The set designer for Con Air was Alex Tavoularis, who had worked on many other iconic movies, such as The Godfather and The Godfather Part II. He created the set for Con Air by using an abandoned airfield in Arizona, which was perfect for the movie’s gritty atmosphere. The main set was a full-scale replica of an MD-80 airplane, which was used to film the hijacking scenes.
The replica was incredibly detailed, with the interior of the plane made to look exactly like a real aircraft. All the details, such as the overhead compartments, seats, and overhead display screens, were all made to look and feel like a real plane. Tavoularis even recreated the sound of the engines in the cockpit to add a level of realism to the movie.
The Prisoners’ Lair
The movie also featured a unique set piece: the prisoners’ lair. This set was built in a cavernous soundstage and was designed to look like a cave. It was filled with props and set pieces that made it look like an abandoned mining town. This set was used to film the scenes where the prisoners plan their escape and confront the authorities.
The set itself was filled with props and set pieces that enhanced the atmosphere of the scene. There were barrels, barrels of explosives, and even a makeshift armory. The set also featured a few props that were made specifically for the movie, such as a miniature version of the prison transport plane.
The Stunt Work
The Con Air movie set was also used for some of the movie’s most iconic stunts and action sequences. One of the most memorable stunts was the scene where John Malkovich’s character is dragged along the ground by the plane’s landing gear. This scene was filmed on the set, and was made possible by the use of a custom-made harness.
The movie also featured several car chase scenes, which were filmed on the set’s backlot. The set was also used for the climactic scene where the prisoners’ plane crashes into the Vegas strip. The stunt team used a specially designed model plane for the scene, which was crashed into a miniature version of the strip.
The Legacy of the Con Air Movie Set
The Con Air movie set remains an iconic piece of Hollywood history. The set was used to create some of the most memorable scenes in motion picture history, from the hijacking of the plane to the dramatic car chases. The set also served as the backdrop for some of the most exciting stunts ever seen on film.
The set was also a key part of the movie’s success. The level of detail and realism that was achieved on the set made the movie more believable and helped the audience to become immersed in the story. The set also helped to make the movie more visually appealing, which is one of the key elements of any successful movie.
Conclusion
The Con Air movie set remains one of the most iconic movie sets in Hollywood history. The set was used to create some of the most memorable scenes in the movie, and it helped to make the movie more believable and visually appealing. The level of detail and realism that was achieved on the set was key to the movie’s success, and it will continue to be remembered as one of the great movie sets of all time.
