Anderson became interested in the fashion industry after reading about designer Cristóbal Balenciaga.[18] Reynolds Woodcock's obsessive fastidiousness is loosely inspired by English-American fashion designer Charles James.[19] Daniel Day-Lewis, a renowned method actor, spent a year learning dressmaking under the tutelage of Marc Happel in preparation for the role. Day-Lewis gained enough skills that enabled him to recreate an iconic dress by Balenciaga during the year.[20]
Filming
Principal photography began in late January 2017 in Lythe, England, United Kingdom,[21][22] with a number of other locations in the North York Moors National Park also featuring, including Robin Hood's Bay and Staithes.[23] Filming also took place in 2017 at Owlpen Manor in the Cotswolds[24] and in the London neighbourhood of Fitzrovia, in Fitzroy Square, and in Grafton Mews.[25] Woodcock drives a maroon Bristol 405 in the film.[26] Filming also took place at the Grandhotel Giessbach, Brienz, Switzerland, Lake Brienz, and Brienzer Rothorn. The New Year's Eve party was filmed at the Blackpool Tower ballroom with approximately 500 supporting artistes.[27]
Cinematography
It was reported in June 2017 that Anderson himself would be serving as cinematographer for the film, because Robert Elswit, Anderson's frequent collaborator for cinematography, was absent during production.[28] Anderson denied this, saying there is no official credit for cinematography and that it was a "collaborative effort".[18] Michael Bauman, who previously worked as Anderson and Elswit's gaffer, was credited as the "lighting cameraman". Anderson and Bauman pushed their 35 mm film stock and filled its frames with "theatrical haze" to "dirty up" their look; according to Bauman: "One of the first things [Paul] said was, 'Look, this cannot look like The Crown'. That was a big thing. When people think of a period movie it becomes this beautifully polished, amazingly photographed—I mean, The Crown looks beautiful—but super clean, gorgeous light, and he was clear it couldn't look like that."[29]
Soundtrack
The soundtrack was composed by Jonny Greenwood, who previously worked with Anderson on the soundtracks for There Will Be Blood (2007), The Master (2012) and Inherent Vice (2014). It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Score, Greenwood's first Academy Award nomination.[30] Greenwood's soundtrack features prominently in the film, with nearly ninety minutes of music appearing during the film's 130-minute runtime.[31][32]
