In early summer 2006
The Tale of Desperaux was in pre-production in London's Soho. I had read the book & while not so taken by the plot I was fascinated by some of the characters individual stories-particularly Gregory the gaoler. I thought him & his dungeon environment very cinematic & wanted to be involved with the project in some capacity.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmj_Lv0g469t0eWbDIVAbR7BWVOfzi54zaOnH1KktGiCh3cc0DS0tVi0v6mZrI9WF0LXmtVh7qm5maRXDsQzvmk5jR8ueDyP79qmToZ0HAju7cWNQ1GN2SURsWCVtZfGuSOLp/s400/Desperaux6.jpg)
I contacted the production office & showed them this painting I had made of Gregory. Apparently there were no more positions in Story so they agreed to give me a try-out in the art dept. I thought I could contribute to character design but the style of the film was very realistic & my more flat style was inappropriate.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXLtHsll-GHZrtirXHMKKutwmAuflVsV7wA80lyxii1KbBxSPyv7NfR5iitvZu8p6IzZkQkFwQl7XmUnIHGTGPWj5puKLlkNtjOYKc2Fx9xS_1Jv1SbrU3ZA8K1QWG_rijgdC/s400/Desperaux2.jpg)
Nevertheless I did enjoy researching the Flemish masters & trying to incorporate some of their forms & style into my drawing.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfulhZhkK0j-ZGm_OxlSdnmq-QRVRK83017j_T7nkQLWQYeelrRP7MYF21gJHV-IPtkr9UTnTOD-sObT6U5yp0hqQ4BMPVDOT7-BRIWfVW5EDEN-vbntOTsG3Gykats6LjQMMZ/s400/Desperaux3.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimX-3i028lIMLTozSUlntGOiTmeKOedTjMrn0g6P82NCrEPf-yjijNNuNEjBECHztEfymy-CNiIzmyoYnNe95k-DKL9a2NXOX2Oz2kMf4cx5aHIy0xSdMG46l6B6ix8qiXtdII/s400/Desperaux4.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8IALUmkuwldp4PEBcrAi0ewQtouaX5OYb4XFQK8d9OW5jlaGETJ6kzRofLY2kPYYFwJPfh1VFNNIAXdAAtyQt5ai8S92QpsOxIxDDlAa2j2Zj1lpS5xwINjVCbeSkdNJLKSLK/s400/Desperaux5.jpg)
The Production Design dept. was looking for layout artists to design this Brueghel-like world. I brain-stormed a bunch of sketches suggesting what common kitchen items might the mice have appropriated to build their town. However, realistic, correct-perspective drawings were sought but I really wanted to work on the characters -they were much more fun to draw!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI5JNKFI03wPiTxQeMx5gdCnQ-YdUjlQhNZHEjk0xnpgjYqIsJJuEC-j70NG8O_D-85g-or7NeojMVqfuAvxJkqdk6dq8GgFAkuVUm-6i8GzTPnCJWg-nbVDv36SaN5lbDUPPF/s400/Desperaux1.jpg)
In the end Production appreciated my efforts to help but there wasn't a position suitable for me (or vice versa). I went to France instead . . .