LOS ANGELES – It’s a special moment for Cynthia Sleiter, who was nominated for an Oscar for the sets for Conclave, Edward Berger’s thriller starring Ralph Fiennes and Sergio Castellitto filmed in Rome, Cinecittà and the Reggia di Caserta.
She returns to the Oscars after her experience in The Last Emperor, Bernardo Bertolucci’s masterpiece that won nine statuettes, where Cynthia was a set assistant. Born in Edinburgh but raised in Rome, Sleiter has worked with such great directors as Ridley Scott, Martin Scorsese and Woody Allen. We interviewed her at the Festival Los Angeles, Italy event in collaboration with The Italian Cultural Institute, in which she received Italian Excellence award.
What was it like to make the Sistine Chapel?
“It was a great challenge, a great quality in ten weeks, thanks to the excellent Italian workers. Thanks also to the many women who were among these amazing professionals. Even the explosion was calibrated to each and every step.”
Santa Marta?
“Another undertaking was recreating Santa Marta, we didn’t find anything we liked, so we decided to rebuild it. in Cinecittà . We wanted a special atmosphere with long corridors and secret rooms. Every detail was taken care of, the phones but especially the shutters to filter the right light.”
For the night of the Oscars?
“I’m as excited as the night before exams.”
The article Cynthia Slater, an Oscar-worthy set design. comes from TheNewyorker.
