MPC’S RICKY GAUSIS ON HOW HE SET THE LOOK FOR SHOWTIME’S COMEDY SERIES ‘MOONBASE 8’

Gausis worked with director Jonathan Krisel (Portlandia, Baskets) and DP Carl Herse (Black Monday, Kroll Show) on the show, starring Emmy nominee Fred Armisen, Tim Heidecker and Golden Globe and Academy Award nominee John C. Reilly

The new six-part series, which debuted on Showtime, follows three eager yet subpar astronauts who are stationed at NASA’s Moon Base Simulator, as they come across many unfortunate obstacles while working towards their first lunar mission. Ricky worked with director Jonathan Krisel (Portlandia, Baskets) and DP Carl Herse (Black Monday, Kroll Show) on the show, which stars Emmy nominee Fred Armisen, Tim Heidecker and Golden Globe and Academy Award nominee John C. Reilly

Grading the entire series, Ricky worked closely with Herse, who he collaborated with on SHOWTIME’s Emmy-nominated Black Monday. Commenting on the inspiration behind the look of the show, Ricky said, “Carl sent me references for Rinko Kawauchi for the interior set ups and Joel Sternfeld for the show exteriors.” He added, “In the case of Rinko’s photography, it served more as feeling for us with her softer contrast and more ethereal cool tones, while the exteriors played into the warm, baron and vast landscape world of Joel Sternfeld’s photography.”

He also commented on the two distinct looks in the series, explaining, “Combining the two different styles really helped to break up the two worlds and clearly remind the viewer that they aren’t on the moon when they do venture out of the base. Using Joel Sternfeld as a reference meant that we were unmistakably grounded in reality for the exteriors to play off the slightly slicker and more sci-fi tones inside the base.”

“It’s always incredibly smooth collaborating with Carl and artistically satisfying. I’m really proud of the look of the show we’ve crafted along with director Jonathan Krisel,” Gausis concluded.

Official Teaser: