A brush with murder
Created by Aram Rappaport for his platform The Network, The Artist transports viewers to the Gilded Age for a story of murder and ambition featuring a host of celebrities of the era. Rappaport tells DQ six things we need to know about this six-part series.
Set in the twilight of the Gilded Age, The Artist tells the story of a murder and ambition, starting with a slaying that strikes the estate of an eccentric and failing tycoon. When he hosts the era’s biggest celebrities – including inventor Thomas Edison, artist Edgar Degas and actress Evelyn Nesbit – lies, mystery and ambition collide as the truth is shockingly revealed.
Created by Aram Rappaport for his platform The Network, the series boasts a cast headed by Mandy Patinkin (Homeland) and Janet McTeer (Kaos). It also features Danny Huston, Hank Azaria, Patti LuPone, Zachary Quinto, Clark Gregg, Katharine McPhee, Jill Hennessy and Ever Anderson.
Rappaport also writes and directs the six-part series, which is produced by The Network Studios and distributed by Fifth Season. Part one premieres in the US on Thanksgiving (November 27), with part two launching at Christmas.
Here, Rappaport tells DQ six things we need to know about this series, from its semi-fictional foundations to its new approach to the evergreen murder-mystery genre.
Fact to fiction
One of the key elements of the series is the semi-fictionalised versions of some of the Gilded Age’s best-known celebrities, including Thomas Edison, Edgar Degas and Evelyn Nesbit. What was most exciting about bringing these figures to life was exploring and filling in the historical gaps that are either lesser known or were erased entirely over time. The conspiracy theory that Edgar Degas might have been Jack the Ripper, Thomas Edison’s ruthlessness to succeed at all costs, Evelyn Nesbit going into hiding prior to ‘The Trial of the Century’ – all of these details provided unique storylines to drive our murder mystery in unexpected and sometimes shocking directions.
Bringing historical celebrities to life
Once the characters had been conceptualised, we began to formulate the casting process for both our historical figures and the original characters. We assembled an extraordinary ensemble cast for the series, including Mandy Patinkin, Janet McTeer, Danny Huston, Hank Azaria, Patti LuPone, Zachary Quinto, Clark Gregg and Katharine McPhee. For some, these roles were shaped in collaboration with the actors, through a collaborative back and forth to hone the characterisation; and for others, their roles presented a chance to push the envelope in their craft by embodying our realisation of a historical celebrity. Each actor embraced the opportunity to step outside their comfort zone, reimagining history in ways we’re confident will surprise viewers.
Recreating the Gilded Age on screen
Our version of the Gilded Age is almost entirely candlelit, creating a grittier and more frenetic visual atmosphere than viewers might be used to in televised representations of this era. We shot most of the show in what was essentially a living art museum, with iconic works by masters like Degas, Monet and Manet hanging from every wall – genuine pieces in their historical context, rather than set dressing. This added a level of texture and authenticity to the setting that exceeded our wildest dreams.
Shooting on location
One of our central characters is Norman Henry, an eccentric and failing tycoon who resides in a once-glamorous estate in the English countryside – the setting in which the main action of the series takes place. We found this key location in a Gilded Age country house in Connecticut that remains untouched to this day, with even the linens from that era still remaining in their drawers – originally designed and built by one of America’s first licensed female architects, Theodate Pope Riddle. We feel very lucky to have been able to shoot in such an authentic way with the support of the Hill-Stead Museum, with the preservation of the house being a top priority throughout production. The setting enabled our actors to feel immersed in the historical world we were creating, and created a faithful and lifelike backdrop that is as important as the characters themselves.
A unique murder mystery
Murder-mystery series continue to be popular worldwide, but we’re looking to redefine the genre with our unique take and setting. Everyone knows what a ‘whodunnit’ is – there’s a murder, and that’s the mystery. By anchoring the action in The Artist in historic flashpoints, we’re blending period drama with murder mystery, and inviting our audience to question everything they know about these well-known figures, and ultimately decide what’s truth and what’s fiction… until the bitter end.
International appeal
More than just a historical murder mystery, The Artist is a universal story about love, companionship and reclaiming your power when you lose your way. We have a world-renowned cast, playing world-renowned characters to bring these central threads to life. We’re working with global film and TV studio Fifth Season on international distribution to bring the series to audiences globally, and we feel that viewers everywhere will relate to both the themes in the series and being captivated by the mystery that will have you holding your breath until the final credits roll.
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tagged in: Aram Rappaport, Fifth Season, The Artist, The Network