Gunpowder is a show which didn’t quite grip me through its story(perhaps because the ending was preordained through years of Firework nights), but mostly through its sublime use of grotesque sets and gorgeous lighting. Every inch of every shot is either full of thick, oozing mud or dark chiseled candle light, which brought that world alive for me. Throughout I was thinking to myself how much I just didn’t want to be there, which I think is testament to how well this shows lighting and sets were put together. The use of constant contrasting light between harsh, cool and sinister to the warm candles in the homes and pub scenes really set this short series apart from the rest. Sets that stood out to me include the Tower of London which felt like a foul labyrinth you’d never wish to stay in, or the executioners block where by far the most gruesome scene takes place, I found to be cold and eery, a set and scene that draws you in and something I wont be forgetting for some time.
This series confirmed to me that I wish to create a period set, more specifically a tavern as I think it fits my chosen location perfectly. Whether I do a fantasy take on this I am unsure, but look forward to getting started on it.
Bending Sticks 