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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High-Rise in Newcastle and an Evening With Clint Mansell

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One of the wonderful things about my travels to see the film High-Rise is that it has given me the magnificent opportunity to visit many of the wonderful independent cinemas of Midgard. On Asgard our choice is limited, and large soulless chain cinemas fill their screens with the latest blockbusters, selling over priced popped corn and questionable meat products.

On my travels I have had the pleasure of visiting the home of film premières: the Leicester Square Odeon, enjoyed the huge screen (and the cakes) at the wonderful Central Picturehouse, had my first taste of visiting the BFI, witnessed the majesty of the Barbican, and saw the beauty of the Phoenix Cinema.

I was familiar with the Tyneside cinema, but had never had reason to visit before, so my heart sang with joy when I saw the beautiful 1930’s interior, and deep red curtains. This was likely to be my final visit to the High-Rise in a cinema, and I was delighted to end my journey in such a beautiful venue.

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This was my eighth visit to see High-Rise, and even after so many viewings I was still excited as the opening titles appeared upon the screen.

I paid special attention to the music this time, knowing that just a few short hours later I would be seeing it performed live at the beautiful Gateshead Sage.
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I have long been a fan of Clint Mansell’s film scores, ever since I saw Requiem For A Dream in my chambers on Asgard, but I had never seen him live until this night!evening-clint-mansell-(11)evening-clint-mansell-(21)Mr Mansell and his band performed tracks from many of his film scores, and I am unashamed to admit that I cried like a baby abandoned in a temple on Jotunheim when he performed his wonderful score from Moon.

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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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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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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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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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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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