Dawn Brown Interview: Watchmen Costume Illustrator & Star Trek Film Set Designer

Dawn Brown is a multi-talented Hollywood artisan who has worked on some of the biggest films around. Her credits include: Ocean's Eleven, Planet of The Apes, Big Fish, The Ring, X-Files and Charlie's Angels, just to name a few. She even did design for the aborted Superman Lives movie with Tim Burton. Currently, she completes work on J.J. Abram's feature film Star Trek, a big budget reboot of the legendary franchise. She's also a costume illustrator on the highly anticipated Watchmen, from director Zack Snyder, adapted from the landmark graphic novel.

In this revealing chat, Dawn tells us why monkey brains splattering on a wall demands a new paint job, reminisces about eating lunch in Wayne Manor Library and talks right on up to what will surely be some of her most scrutinized work ever in Star Trek and Watchmen. For no matter the ultimate reception to both movies, they're two of the most eagerly awaited films in recent memory.

Did you always admire set design? Recently, I watched an episode of Rod Serling's classic series, The Twilight Zone. It occurred to me without the amazing set, the story would have lacked dramatic power. Was this evident to you as well at an early age?

Absolutely, I would give credit to Ralph McQuarrie's beautiful paintings in the "Art of Star Wars" books. Along with Joe Johnston's storyboards, and the models and creature sculptures...That was the first time I was aware of how the design of movie sets and shots and characters play such a vital role in telling a story.

What was a big surprise while working on your first set or any set - something that surprised or fascinated you about the whole process?

My first feature film was Clive Barker's Lord of Illusions. I was the art department coordinator and spent most of my time in the art department. For one reason or another, one day I was asked to sit in with the Second Unit shooting company. I was excited to have the opportunity to actually be on set and see what they do. The scene they were shooting involved a baboon puppet being shot in the head, and his brains explode everywhere.