Building a Lived-In Downtown

Sinners is the kind of movie where you can pause any frame and feel the history.

Ryan Coogler’s 1932 Mississippi Delta vampire epic follows twin brothers (both played by Michael B. Jordan) who open a juke joint in an old sawmill, only to collide with vampires, the Klan, and a century of American sins. The film has become one of 2025’s most acclaimed releases, with strong box office, critics’ scores, and early awards – putting it squarely in Best Picture conversations. (Wikipedia)

In this episode of Decorating Pages, Emmy-winning set decorator Kim Wannop sits down with Oscar-winning Production Designer Hannah Beachler (Black Panther) and Set Decorator Monique Champagne (Nickel Boys, Sinners) to talk about how they built the film’s world from the ground up:

• Churches, houses, and stores placed like tiny islands on vast plantation landscapes

• Annie’s house as a warm, healing, hoodoo-and-capitalism space, one of the emotional hearts of the movie

• A downtown resurrected from empty, moldy buildings into a living 1930s Black business district

• The juke joint as a complete building you can shoot 360º – including upper levels, real water, and safely-distanced alligators

• The film’s bold red/white/blue color story and how production design, set decoration, costume, and lighting keep that palette humming across the film

If you loved Sinners or you’re tracking the craft side of awards season, this conversation is a deep dive into how design and decoration carry history, politics, and horror in one of the year’s most visually powerful films.

Discover the Art of TV & Film Design with Decorating Pages Podcast

Hosted by Emmy-winning Set Decorator Kim Wannop, this podcast takes you behind the scenes of your favorite shows and movies. Each episode features in-depth conversations with the industry’s top production designers, set decorators, prop masters, and art department professionals, offering rare insight into the creative process of visual storytelling.

Whether you’re a film and TV fan, aspiring designer, or entertainment industry pro, Decorating Pages Podcast is your backstage pass to the world of production design. Learn how sets are built, stories are shaped visually, and characters come to life—one episode at a time.

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🎬 Explore More from Decorating PagesLove the behind-the-scenes world of TV + film design? Check out these exclusive resources curated by Kim Wannop, Emmy-winning Set Decorator and host of Decorating Pages Podcast:

🎓 Learn Set DecoratingTake my Set Decorating Masterclass—15 audio lessons packed with insider tips for breaking into the film & TV industry. Includes FREE Quick Reference Template. Start here: https://www.decoratingpagespodcast.com/masterclass