STARNO collaborated with MELS Studios to provide high-end digital environments for Baz Luhrmann’s vibrant Netflix musical drama, THE GET DOWN. Our primary mission was the historical reconstruction of 1970s New York City, specifically capturing the raw and authentic atmosphere of the South Bronx during the birth of hip-hop.
The project involved creating highly detailed Matte Paintings to reconstruct period-accurate city blocks, including the intricate facade of a music venue specifically designed for the show. Using a combination of live-action plates, on-location reference photography, and 3D base assets, we meticulously recreated the gritty urban landscape of an era defined by its unique architecture and cultural revolution.
Working closely with the visual effects team, Joseph Charette and Frédéric St-Arnaud focused on blending digital extensions with real-world textures to ensure that every storefront, street light, and brick reflected the historical reality of 1977 New York.
Created by Baz Luhrmann and Stephen Adly Guirgis, THE GET DOWN is a mythic saga of how New York at the brink of bankruptcy gave birth to a new art form. Set in the late 1970s, the series follows a ragtag crew of South Bronx teenagers who have nothing but their dreams and their verbal wordplay.
Through the eyes of Ezekiel "Zeke" Figuero and the mysterious Shaolin Fantastic, the show chronicles the transition from the disco era to the rise of hip-hop and graffiti art. It is a vibrant, music-driven story about the young people who changed the world forever through creativity and passion amidst a crumbling city.
STARNO TEAM:Frédéric St-Arnaud, Joseph Charette
MELS Studios / Sony Pictures Television / Netflix
NETFLIX TV SERIES – 2016