THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

Based on Gaston Leroux’s novel The Phantom of the Opera, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical phenomenon has been nominated for Cinematography, Music (Song) and Art Direction.

Set in Paris in 1870, it’s the story of a disfigured musical genius, Erik (Gerard Butler), who terrifies the denizens of Opera Populaire, the city’s premiere opera house. When he falls fatally in love with Christine (Emmy Rossum), the Phantom devotes himself to creating a new star for the Opera.

The Phantom thinks he’s found love, until Christine’s childhood boyfriend, Vicomte de Chagny (Patrick Wilson) shows up. The film is directed by Joel Schumacher.

The Phantom sets were built entirely on eight stages at Pinewood Studios over the course of 40 weeks, utilising 73 tonnes of steel, 15,000 litres of paint, over 92 miles of lumber and 51 miles of scaffolding. A crucial set piece in the story-a 17 ft high and 13.2 ft wide chandelier-is primarily crystal and glass, weighing 2.2 tonnes and valued at more than USA 1.3 million. Costume designer Alexandra Byrne and her team handmade 300 costumes, and modified another 2,000 obtained from wardrobe houses across Europe.