Ben Wheatley

Read more about the article How to Create Your Own Custom High-Rise Lego Set

How to Create Your Own Custom High-Rise Lego Set

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You may have seen the High-Rise Lego sets that I created on twitter this week…

Many have asked me how I created this set, so I have provided a step by step guide to creating your own custom set of High-Rise Lego!

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Read more about the article Location Visit: Laing’s School of Physiology, AKA the Ashby Building at Queen’s University

Location Visit: Laing’s School of Physiology, AKA the Ashby Building at Queen’s University

The Ashby Building at Queen’s University provided the filming location for Laing’s School of Physiology in the film High-Rise. The drive to the physiology department of the medical school took…

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Read more about the article Brutalist Architecture and the Inspiration Behind High-Rise

Brutalist Architecture and the Inspiration Behind High-Rise

 Balfron Tower

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Balfron Tower was designed by Ernő Goldfinger in 1963 for the London County Council, has long been cited as the inspiration behind J.G Ballard’s book High-Rise.

Much like in the novel, the architect lived in the Balfron tower, frequently throwing champagne parties for the residents, before moving out some short months later.

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Image from the High-Rise pamphlet
(Click the image to view full size)

The Balfron was the source of several sounds used in the film High-Rise, including the lift door sounds and the rubbish chute. (Source: High-Rise Sound Designer Martin Pavey)

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Early residents of the Balfron spoke favourably of their new lives there, despite the fact that the lifts often broke down, the heating didn’t work, there were no doorbells and the windows were draughty.

Later reports would show that anti-social behaviour, vandalism, leaking pipes and rodent infestation became common.

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Many consider Balfron Tower the direct inspiration behind High-Rise due to the book’s description of its location near the Thames.
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Read more about the article Lego Loki High-Rise Tour: Day Five – High-Rise at the Phoenix Cinema

Lego Loki High-Rise Tour: Day Five – High-Rise at the Phoenix Cinema

I arrived in East Finchley at the appointed hour and made my way to the beautiful Phoenix cinema.DSC_0075 DSC_0002

Inside I was greeted with a magnificent sight. The cinema foyer had been transformed into the High-Rise itself and one corner was filled with black rubbish sacks, and other items related to the film, including a 70’s video camera and cocktail glasses.
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Read more about the article Lego Loki High-Rise Tour: Day Four – High-Rise at the Picturehouse Central

Lego Loki High-Rise Tour: Day Four – High-Rise at the Picturehouse Central

Mortals, today I was at the Picturehouse Central for another High-Rise screening Q and A. I once again viewed the wonderful costumes.
 picturehouse-hr (3) picturehouse-hr (4)Before the screening I had the wonderful experience of meeting the director of High-Rise, mr Ben Wheatley.
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Read more about the article The Costumes of High-Rise

The Costumes of High-Rise

Today I visited the Picturehouse Central, ahead of tomorrow’s screening as I had heard that the wonderful costumes from Ben Wheatley’s film High-Rise were upon display in the venue.

I have spent many hours creating my own Lego versions of these costumes, and could not believe my eyes! There they were… Laing’s suit jacket, Charlotte’s yellow and black outfit, Helen Wilder’s dress, and Steele’s jacket, complete with his collection of teeth.hr-costumes (1)

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The beautiful yellow and black stripped top Charlotte Melville wears during her first meeting with Laing and to her party.

During the Q&A I attended at the British Library costume designer Odile Dicks-Mireaux pointed out that Charlotte often wears stripes and prints.

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Laing’s beautiful suit. Odile Dicks-Mireaux said that this costume was based on a suit worn by George Lazenby as James Bond in 1969.

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Read more about the article Lego Loki High-Rise Tour: Day One – Ballard Day at the British Library

Lego Loki High-Rise Tour: Day One – Ballard Day at the British Library

When I first heard of the High-Rise film tour, and heard of the Ballard day planned at the British Library I knew that I had to attend.

I arrived in the foyer and was struck by the magnificent sight of a High-Rise poster; the first I had seen since my arrival in London, despite constant assurances that they were adorning many a station.

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I partook of the coffee and helped myself to copious amounts of the pamphlets… (I lie. I took one. I would never be responsible for a shortage of pamphlets….) and finally took my place in the arena!

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