Behind the Action: Meet the 'SPECTRE' Crew

Every James Bond film requires a huge amount of effort and commitment from everyone involved in the production. From the first script drafts to the final editing, nothing is left to chance and certainly not to amateurs. ‘Eye on Bond‘ profiles the key figures who go through extraordinary lengths to make sure that the latest film ‘SPECTRE’ will become yet another global sensation.

Director Sam Mendes

After the immense success of ‘SKYFALL’ (2012), producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson were longing for Mendes to return. Although he wasn´t keen on the idea at first, the story of ‘SPECTRE’ made him change his mind. The latest installment in the Bond film series will be Mendes’ 15th feature film as a director but he also directed 18 stage productions. His most notable works include ‘AMERICAN BEAUTY‘ (1999), ‘ROAD TO PERDITION‘ (2002) and ‘JARHEAD‘ (2005). Mendes is also an executive producer on the TV-series ‘PENNY DREADFUL‘ starring Ex-007 Timothy Dalton and Eva Green.

Sam Mendes is an attractive mix of seriousness and warm-heartedness, very dedicated to everything he does and has a passion for Bond.

Executive Producer Callum McDougall

McDougall is no stranger to James Bond, in fact, he has previously worked on every Bond film since ‘THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS’ (1987) with the exception of ‘THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH’ (1999). He also fulfills the role of a Unit Production Manager whose job it is to oversee and regulate the budget of ‘SPECTRE’ – a task that can prove to be quite challenging with a blockbuster production like Bond. Working closely with director Sam Mendes, McDougall can often be seen on set during filming and is involved in choosing the right locations for the crew to film in.

Associate Producer Gregg Wilson

The job of an associate producer is to perform production functions that have been delegated to him by the producer. In true family tradition, Gregg Wilson occupies that role since ‘SKYFALL’ in 2012 and thus is the right hand of his father Michael. His involvement with 007 however began as a development executive with ‘DIE ANOTHER DAY’ (2002). Beside films, Gregg has previously worked as a sound designer for video games such as ‘STARSHIP TROOPERS’ (2005).

Director of Photography Hoyte van Hoytema

Hoyte Van Hoytema

Director of Photography

Dutch-Swedish cinematographer van Hoytema has had a global breakthrough with his BAFTA winning work on ‘TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY‘ in 2011 and could secure himself a Hollywood foothold with ‘HER‘ (2013) and most notably ‘INTERSTELLAR‘ (2014) for which he won a second BAFTA Award. Delivering stunning visuals is a creative process that is subjected to many factors. From what we have seen of ‘SPECTRE’ so far, it is highly likely that van Hoytema raises James Bond to a whole new level in terms of cinematography.

Production Designer Dennis Gassner

Bond films have always drawn strength from lavish settings, beautiful locations and outstanding detail. Responsible for merging those three is the production designer. Dennis Gassner first took on this challenge with ‘QUANTUM OF SOLACE’ in 2008 and recent photos from the set of ‘SPECTRE’ in Mexico promise to make the 24th Bond film one of the best looking ones. Gassner has won an Oscar for Art Direction/Set Decoration of ‘BUGSY‘ (1991) and has been nominated four times.

Costume Designer Jany Temime

In the espionage world of agent 007, elegance and style have played an important part since the first film was released in 1962. ‘SPECTRE’ will be Jany Temime´s second Bond film after having been in charge for the costume design in ‘SKYFALL’ which earned her a Costume Designers Guild Award. Who could forget the sparkling Swarovski dress of Bond Girl Séverine? The new Bond film raises the bar with countless costumes for the lush opening sequence set during the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City. What else will Temime dazzle us with?

Special Effects Supervisor Chris Corbould

His job is definitely among the most important on a Bond film when things have to be blown up or smashed. Since 1977, Chris Corbould has worked on the Special Effects team of 13 Bond films – excellence and experience in itself when you look at all the magnificent action sequences. Moving with the times and an ever-growing appetite for bombastic effects, Corbould and his team are challenged with keeping the effects of Bond believable but stunning. Corbould won a Visual Effects Oscar for ‘INCEPTION‘.

Stunt Coordinator Gary Powell

Another long-standing Bond crew member is Gary Powell who has been on board with 007 since ‘GOLDENEYE’ in 1995. When it comes to stunts, there is no one more suited for the job and capable of baffling audiences. Some of the most unbelievable and daring stunt work of the recent Bond films has been coordinated by him and his 007 stunt crew – countless action situations that only a secret agent could survive. For ‘SKYFALL’, Powell and his team won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture.

Casting Director Debbie McWilliams

Who will play whom in a Bond film? Finding the right actors is down to Debbie McWilliams who has been in the 007 Casting Department since ‘FOR YOUR EYES ONLY’ in 1981. One wonderful aspect of her job is, that actors in the Bond films don´t need to be selected according to commercial importance or impact. There are very little limitations with casting talents for the James Bond franchise as it is big enough to stand out from pretty much anything else. Whoever is right for the part gets chosen by Debbie McWilliams. A very delicate profession as ever so often aspiring actors get parts in Bond films instead of high-profile Hollywood royalty.

Composer Thomas Newman

Once again working with director Sam Mendes after ‘SKYFALL’ is composer Thomas Newman. It will be down to him to underline the 24th on-screen adventure of James Bond with a fitting and exciting musical score. Not an easy task this time around as ‘SPECTRE’ already has the reputation of being the most anticipated Bond film in years. Matters are complicated further due to the critical reception of Newman´s score for ‘SKYFALL’ which wasn´t an overall hit with fans. Despite many well-set highlights, it wasn´t the type of Bond score you immediately embraced. Following in the footsteps of legendary Bond composers such as the great John Barry, Marvin Hamlish, Bill Conti and David Arnold is not a walk in the park and can probably be a tiny bit intimidating at times. However, Newman gets his second chance with ‘SPECTRE’ and maybe he will surprise us with full-blown Bond sound.

All in all, ‘SPECTRE’ is in the hands of these 00-experts and their individual departments. They know the stakes are high, especially with the Bond fan community. Only five months remain until the release of ‘SPECTRE’ and everybody wonders: will they top ‘SKYFALL’?

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Behind the Action: Meet the ‘SPECTRE’ Crew

By Benjamin Lind | May 27, 2015