Many artists from different disciplines are needed to make a film like Disney’s ”Maleficent” (in theaters this Friday, May 30). Spaniard renowned jewelry designer and metal sculptor Manuel Albarran took over the accessories department.

Albarran was commissioned to design necklaces, rings, brooches, bracelets, pads and spines to help complete the look of the protagonist Maleficent, played by Angelina Jolie.

I talked to the Hispanic artist via telephone about his part in bringing to life a Dsiney icon.

How much information about the story you received from the studio?
Albarran-Maleficent
They sent me the script and some specific information of the Maleficent the character. Then I had to do some research on the tale and other legends. I also paid attention to what it was done by others, like the movie “Snow White and the Huntsman” to avoid any repeating something.

Do you think that the technological advances in digital effects could affect artists like you?

I don’t believe so. What an artist can do it can’t be done by a machine. We hand-craft artists have different techniques than digital 3D artists. They can’t reach some of our designs and vice versa. It also depends on the film: you won’t do a digital costume for a period drama. There will always be a mix of both worlds and that’s what I consider interesting.

The director, Robert Stromberg, served as a production designer in both “Alice in Wonderland” and “Oz: The Great and Powerful.” Are there any visual similarities with those films?

I don’t see any connection, honestly. This is also a 3D film so there could be familiar elements but nothing in terms of costume design. I was so focused on my character that I couldn’t pay attention to what was going on around me.

 

”From Disney comes “Maleficent”—the untold story of Disney’s most iconic villain from the 1959 classic “Sleeping Beauty.” A beautiful, pure-hearted young woman, Maleficent has an idyllic life growing up in a peaceable forest kingdom, until one day when an invading army threatens the harmony of the land. Maleficent rises to be the land’s fiercest protector, but she ultimately suffers a ruthless betrayal—an act that begins to turn her pure heart to stone. Bent on revenge, Maleficent faces an epic battle with the invading king’s successor and, as a result, places a curse upon his newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Maleficent realizes that Aurora holds the key to peace in the kingdom—and perhaps to Maleficent’s true happiness as well.”