Putting such a prodigious visual sensibility to work on Breaking and Entering, a story set in a very ordinary slice of London, might seem like overkill, but McDowell immediately saw his challenge in writer/director Anthony Minghella's tale of urban renewal and personal drama — not only would he be kept busy building up the industrial, many-windowed offices of Green Effect (the landscape-design firm run by Jude Law's character, Will), but he'd also have the challenge of helping tell the story by effectively visualizing the difference between Will's tony Primrose Hill neighborhood and the more multicultural environs of Bosnian refugee Amira (Juliette Binoche) and her son Miro. Finally, he'd have to learn about landscape design himself, so he could help make the work of Green Effect in the film seem credible.
F&V asked him to describe his working methods, to talk about collaboration with cinematographer Benoit Delhomme and others on the crew, and to explain how digital previs and VFX technology are changing the way a production comes together.
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