Totom Construction

🔹 *Cleaner* / Colour and Mood / Russell De Rozario 🔹 Totom Construction built all the sets for *Cleaner*, bringing to life Russell De Rozario’s designs. In an interview with Russell, he shared the thought process behind a colour pattern running through the film. He described his love for fields of colour, much like those seen in old movies - rich, saturated hues that evoke deep emotions. He also drew inspiration from Van Gogh’s paintings, particularly The Night Café, with its striking blues and yellows. “People respond to colour. They feel the colour.” Each set in Cleaner follows this principle, creating a distinct mood for every scene: 🎨 The pinks and oranges of the council flat 🔹 The deep cobalt blue of the Control Room 🖤 The gold and black of the Gala, leading through the arch into… 🔴 A blood-red draped antechamber ⚫ Finally, the stark contrast of the monochrome Plant Room The careful use of colour enhances the atmosphere of the film, guiding the audience through the story. Read more from our interview with Russell here: https://lnkd.in/eQvcU-WS #CleanerMovie #FilmSets #ScenicConstruction #SetDesign #BehindTheScenes #MovieMagic #PracticalEffects #SetConstruction #FilmProduction #ScenicDesign #FilmSetDesign #TotomSets #ProductionDesign #FilmSetConstruction #Filmmaking

🔹 Cleaner / Control Room / Russell De Rozario 🔹 Russell De Rozario and his Art Department designed a modernist control room with precision lines, hard-edged metal, and reflective surfaces. Set high up in a Canary Wharf tower, the space features vast windows overlooking the city. Totom helped create this contemporary setting, constructing each element with technical expertise to ensure a high-end finish. Screens and tech terminals were seamlessly housed within the space, reflecting the sleek, functional aesthetic of the design. Russell had a clear vision for colour progression throughout the film, inspired by the fields of colour in Van Gogh’s paintings - such as the blue and yellow of The Night Café. In the Control Room, deep cobalt blue dominates, with a striking contrast of piercing yellow lighting concealed in the wall units. The suspended ceiling was carefully built to incorporate lighting panels, casting a cool light across the metallic floor tiles and acrylic surfaces below, enhancing the futuristic atmosphere of the space. #CleanerMovie #FilmSets #ScenicConstruction #SetDesign #BehindTheScenes #MovieMagic #PracticalEffects #SetConstruction #FilmProduction #ScenicDesign #FilmSetDesign #TotomSets #ProductionDesign #FilmSetConstruction #Filmmaking

Cleaner is a thriller where the setting plays a key role in the story’s tension and atmosphere. Totom worked closely with Production Designer Russell de Rozario to construct the film’s diverse environments—from striking high-rise facades to intricately detailed interiors. This project highlights the balance of creativity, logistics, and practical execution in set construction. Read more about our role in bringing Cleaner to life in our latest blog: https://lnkd.in/ePkfbxwT #CleanerMovie #FilmSets #ScenicConstruction #SetDesign #BehindTheScenes #MovieMagic #PracticalEffects #SetConstruction #FilmProduction #ScenicDesign #FilmSetDesign #TotomSets #ProductionDesign #FilmSetConstruction #Filmmaking

We recently collaborated with AllSet to construct a stairwell for the promotional shoot of Gangs of London Season 3. Designed to capture the gritty feel of the series, this set played a key role in shaping the visuals of the campaign. Swipe through to see the set in action and behind the scenes of its construction. #SetConstruction #ScenicDesign #GangsOfLondon #SetBuilding #TVProduction #FilmAndTVSets #BehindTheScenes #ArtDirection #ImmersiveEnvironments #SkyOriginal

The Plant Room: A Monochrome Maze of Metal and Motion 🎬 For Cleaner, the Plant Room was designed as a vast, industrial labyrinth - a space filled with staircases, walkways, and towering machinery, setting the stage for a high-stakes cat-and-mouse fight scene. Production Designer Russell De Rozario took inspiration from 1960s and ’70s sculpture, particularly the large-scale works of Eduardo Paolozzi. This resulted in a set that was as much an art installation as it was an industrial environment. How We Built It: 🔹 Totom’s metalworkers collaborated closely with the Art Department, fabricating the stairs and platforms to fit seamlessly around hired industrial elements, like cylinders and expansion vessels. 🔹 A monochrome palette reinforced the cold, mechanical atmosphere, allowing the actors (especially Daisy Ridley) to stand out in dramatic close-ups. 🔹 Hard-edged lighting features, with stark imitation fluorescent tubes, intensified the cool, grey tones, adding an unrelenting, high-contrast aesthetic to the space. By offering a neutral canvas for movement, the Plant Room set amplified every chase, every fight, and every moment of tension, making it a truly immersive battleground in the film. #CleanerMovie #FilmSets #ScenicConstruction #SetDesign #BehindTheScenes #MovieMagic #PracticalEffects #SetConstruction #FilmProduction #ScenicDesign #FilmSetDesign #TotomSets #ProductionDesign #FilmSetConstruction #Filmmaking #IndustrialDesign

Real Glass, Real Scale, Real Impact For Cleaner, Totom built two high-rise facades to bring the Canary Wharf skyline to life. These were not just scenic backdrops, they were practical set pieces designed to work seamlessly with the interiors for fluid, dynamic cinematography. ✔️ A three-storey, 15-pane glass facade connected to the Gala Room for sweeping exterior shots. ✔️ A single-storey, 4-pane glass facade linked to Gerald’s penthouse suite for more intimate perspectives. To ensure maximum realism, the facades used 10mm low iron extra-clear glass - avoiding the green tint found in standard panes. The lower sections were clear toughened glass, while the overhead layers required toughened laminate glass (two 5mm sheets bonded with a 1.5mm laminate layer, making them 11.5mm thick). Construction Challenges: 🔹 Dibond panels were precision-folded on-site at Stage Fifty, lifted into place using a mega truss, and locked off to the ceiling. 🔹 Laminated glass was used for overhead sections, a much safer option for high installations. If broken, the glass stays stuck to the laminate sheet rather than falling as dangerous shards, ensuring on-set safety. 🔹 One large pane of sugar glass was installed for a key stunt where Daisy Ridley’s character, Joey, smashes through into the hotel room, adding a dramatic practical effect to the scene. 🔹 Blue screens were strategically placed to extend the skyline and complete the illusion of a vast high-rise towering over London. 🔹 By blending physical set construction with VFX extensions, the facades of Cleaner delivered cinematic scale and authenticity, allowing for high-stakes action sequences that feel as real as they look. #CleanerMovie #FilmSets #ScenicConstruction #SetDesign #BehindTheScenes #MovieMagic #PracticalEffects #SetConstruction #FilmProduction #ScenicDesign #FilmSetDesign #TotomSets #ProductionDesign #FilmSetConstruction #Filmmaking

The Gala Room in Cleaner: Power, Wealth & Tension in One Set How do you create a space that embodies power, wealth, and tension - all in a single set? That was the challenge for Production Designer Russell de Rozario, working with Totom’s expertise, on the Gala Room in Cleaner. The scene is set for an extravagant party where 300 executives from an energy company gather - until the night takes a dramatic turn as they are taken hostage by terrorists. To craft a setting that feels both ultra-modern and ancient, the team designed a stunning space featuring: 🖤 Glossy black marbled floors - a sleek, reflective surface reminiscent of liquid oil 💛 Intricate gold Aztec sculptures - a nod to the film’s themes of power and exploitation 🖤 Luxurious black drapery - a clever way to define and scale the space 💛 Bespoke ceiling pendants - casting dramatic lighting across the scene Russell told us that he ‘liked dark’ because it enhances the presence of gold, making its shapes stand out with greater depth and contrast. Inspired by the blackness and gloss of oil, punctuated by the ancient gold of Aztec civilization, he and director Martin Campbell used this contrast to visually reflect corporate excess and hidden danger. The tension builds to a dramatic gas attack, stunning the guests. Totom’s team built cylindrical poseur tables, wrapped in Aztec graphics, that discreetly housed SFX ‘mineral water’ canisters, remotely activated for a seamless on-camera effect. This scene is a true blend of production design, scenic construction, and practical effects - a testament to the power of immersive set design. More behind-the-scenes insights coming soon. #CleanerMovie #SetConstruction #BehindTheScenes #FilmProduction #ScenicDesign #FilmSetDesign #TotomSets #ScenicConstruction #ProductionDesign #FilmSetConstruction #Filmmaking

Building the World of Cleaner Before Cleaner’s gripping thriller unfolded on screen, the world had to be built - piece by piece, set by set. At Totom, we collaborated closely with Production Designer Russell de Rozario to construct the film’s striking environments, from an opulent gala hall to a high-rise industrial plant room. Every build required precision, creativity, and practical solutions to bring this ambitious vision to life. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing behind-the-scenes insights into how we: ➡️ Balanced cinematic vision with production realities ➡️ Used colour & materials to tell a visual story ➡️ Integrated practical effects & set construction techniques From luxury to industrial grit, the sets of Cleaner showcase the power of expert set construction in bringing films to life. Follow along as we break down how it was done! #CleanerMovie #SetConstruction #BehindTheScenes #FilmProduction #ScenicDesign #FilmSetDesign #TotomSets #ScenicConstruction #ProductionDesign #FilmSetConstruction #Filmmaking

A Big Night for Independent Film 🎬 At the 2025 Oscars, Anora and director Sean Baker made history. With a budget of just $6 million, this independent film took home five major awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. Baker’s success highlights the strength of independent filmmaking, where resourcefulness, creativity, and dedication drive results just as much as funding. His message was clear: indie cinema is vital, and smart, efficient production choices make all the difference. At Totom, we’ve seen firsthand how careful planning and expert craftsmanship can elevate productions of any scale. Whether working on major TV projects or smaller independent films, it’s always about bringing vision to life - without waste, without compromise. A well-deserved moment for Anora and indie film as a whole. #Oscars2025 #Anora #IndependentFilm #SetConstruction #FilmProduction #IndieCinema

Construction on Location: Transforming Existing Spaces for the Screen Totom Construction is often called upon to transform real locations by adding scenic elements, creating sets that seamlessly integrate into their environment. For Ruby Speaking, an open-plan office space was skilfully turned into a series of smaller work areas. We constructed and installed glass screens - some with built-in doorways - assembling everything on-site with precision. The transparent partitions allowed the camera to explore dynamic layers and capture a range of interesting angles. For Scoop, we helped bring a BBC newsroom to life inside an empty office block. Glass partitions and timber room dividers formed distinct spaces, allowing actors to move seamlessly between areas. Free-standing shelving added further definition, while reflections and shadows played a key role in enhancing the on-screen visuals. By working within real locations, our construction team ensures each build not only meets the production’s needs but also enhances the storytelling through thoughtful scenic design. #SetConstruction #OnLocation #FilmProduction #ScenicDesign #ProductionDesign #TVIndustry #Scoop #RubySpeaking