Bel-Air Season 3

Overview

Outside of The Office living on the platform, the new drama driven Bel-Air series was considered one of the first Peacock Originals that gained a lot of traction. Now entering its third season, it was pleasure to help design the campaign’s look and feel, with a focus on the key-art and static lead marketing materials. The first season art was all about Will, living in a new environment. The second season introduced the family at the Bank’s mansion. The third season was all about hot, sweaty, summer.

Because the storyline of Season 3 takes place during the summer, producers wanted the art to feel like a very hot summer in LA with the sun beating down. Outside of school, Will (and Carlton) are pushed to take risks they wouldn’t have before. Working closely with Leroy & Rose and Ignition we art directed various concepts that portrayed this idea while not trying to stray too far from the visual identity that had been established across the previous seasons. In the end the concept I favored the most was the family at a poolside country club, with the ground almost cracking beneath Will.

Working alongside the photographer Kwaku Alston, Producers, and the Peacock team, we shot the cast in a soundstage on the Universal backlot. Because the concept had the talent in and around water, the main question we asked was is it worth it to conduct the shoot in actual water, or add it in post? We ended up favoring shooting it practically (even though the end result really only required Will’s legs to physically be in water).

During the pre-light we tested out the setup on gray seamless as well as in an actual pool (behind the scenes below). We shot two different concepts to give executives and producers options. In the pool, because we wanted that low angle shot, Kwaku was a trooper. He put on swimming gear, got in the water, and wrapped the camera in plastic. Although the final result wasn’t able to capture the corner of the pool (due to the warping lens-distortion effect it created on the talent’s faces), it was a fun challenge.

We also used a practical yellow/orange lighting setup to create that hard hitting sunset from top corner of the frame. We shot cast members in groups, surrounding the pool, allowing for there to be practical interaction between talent and the set. Leroy & Rose really brought the concept home by boosting the saturation and adding vibrant colors, sweat, and the overall heat to the frame. We were able to provide continuity with previous seasons by making the water that turquoise/teal color we see in Season 1 and Season 2 art.