The Making of Elvis: In Conversation with Catherine Martin and Mandy Walker

Director-producer-cowriter Baz Luhrmann takes us on the moving journey of a rebel and an icon as America’s cultural landscape evolved over more than 30 years. Elvis celebrates the extraordinary life of a trailblazing artist, the loves and poignant losses he faced as a man and the timeless music and groundbreaking performances he gave the world. The film explores how Presley’s unprecedented rise to fame was sparked by larger-than-life manager Colonel Tom Parker, whose shortcomings were also primarily responsible for the singer’s tragic demise. Austin Butler and Tom Hanks co-star.

Join WFTV for a conversation with multi-award-winning Production and Costume Designer and Producer, Catherine Martin (Moulin Rouge!, Great Gatsby and Australia) and Cinematographer, Mandy Walker (Australia, Mulan, Hidden Figures) who will be discussing their journey in the industry and most recent work on the critically acclaimed Elvis.

Catherine and Mandy will be offering a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film and devising the look and feel of Elvis in their roles and collaboration with Director Baz Luhrmann to achieve their creative vision for the film.

Catherine will be sharing her creative inspiration and research process for designing the sets and costumes for characters and Mandy will be discussing the craft cinematography, sharing insights to the technical and creative aspects of her role and reflections on creative visual references and personal shooting style as well as the equipment she gravitated towards.

WFTV members will have the opportunity to watch Elvis in advance of the Q&A event. Individual screening links will be distributed by Warner Bros. closer to the event. To receive a screening link, WFTV members must register by Friday 06 January.

Event Schedule:

19:25: Please join the webinar waiting room

19:30: Event begins, talk with Catherine Martin and Mandy Walker

20:15: Audience Q&A

20:30: Finish

Speakers

Catherine Martin, Production and Costume Designer and Producer

Catherine Martin is an award-winning production and costume designer and producer who has collaborated with Baz Luhrmann on the distinctive look of all his films and theatre productions for over 30 years. Martin is a partner in Bazmark Inq, which includes subsidiaries Bazmark Live and Bazmark Music, and is one of the world’s most innovative producers of film, theatre and entertainment. She was guest editor on the first signature edition of Vogue Australia and collaborated with Karl Lagerfeld on the look of two lavish Chanel No. 5: The Film campaigns. Martin also has her own homewares brand, Catherine Martin Home.

Mandy Walker, Cinematographer

Australian cinematographer Mandy Walker AM ASC ACS is one of the few female DoPs working on the biggest-budget feature films today. Walker is a member of the Order of Australia and has been inducted into the ACS Hall of fame. A sitting Governor for AMPAS, she is also a recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS). Walker made history when she became the first woman in history to take home the Best Cinematography award for feature film at the 2022 Australian Academy of Cinema Television Arts (AACTA). Currently, Walker is in production on Disney’s Snow White (2023). Her latest work can be seen in Baz Luhrmann’s multi award winning film, Elvis (2022). Elvis marks the fourth collaboration between Walker and Luhrmann, who worked together on critically acclaimed video shorts Chanel N°5: The Film (2004), Chanel N°5: The One That I Want (2014) and the Oscar nominated feature film Australia (2008), which earned Walker a slew of awards including the Film Critics of Australia Award for Best Cinematography. Her other feature credits include Mulan (2020), The Mountain Between Us (2017), Hidden Figures (2016), Tracks(2013), Shattered Glass (2003), Australian Rules (2002), Lantana (2001), The Well (1997) and Parklands (1996).

Host, Wendy Mitchell

Wendy Mitchell is a journalist, moderator and film festival consultant. She is a contributing editor at Screen International, the UK and Nordic delegate for San Sebastian and the producer of Sundance London. She has also been a speaker, mentor or consultant for Berlinale EFM, Cannes Marche, EAVE, First Cut Lab, The National Film and TV School and more.

How will the online event work?

This event will be live streamed via Zoom.us. Viewing details will be sent via your confirmation.

Attending participants will not be visible to others and will be muted throughout the session. After the talk, there will be an opportunity for audience members to ask questions by using the Q&A feature.

This event is for existing WFTV members only.

If you are not a member and would like to join, membership costs just £100 + VAT/yr , please click here or email admin@wftv.org.uk

At WFTV we’re really keen to ensure that all our events are accessible for everyone. So if you have any particular access needs, please can you let us know before an event and we will do our best to accommodate you. We would be grateful if you can give us as much notice as possible – please contact admin@wftv.org.uk