Words: Tina Edward Gunawardhana
Feted as one of the best in world when it comes to art direction and making movie sets, Errol Kelly is the cinema industry’s super set-man
Long considered a legend in the film industry, Errol Kelly has spent his entire life behind cameras quietly beavering away building some of the finest film sets for award winning blockbuster movies such as Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Indochine and Water. He has worked on over 60 international films as an Art Director rubbing shoulders with industry heavyweights such as Stephen Speilberg, John Boorman and Deepa Mehta. He is blessed with an eye for detail and perfection and can execute the requirements of even the most demanding film director. From building a mechanical robot standing over 65 feet tall on a film set in the Philippines to recreating vistas of India on location in Sri Lanka, Errol’s most daunting challenging was to recreate the Ghats of Varnasi on the banks of the Bolgoda lake for the Academy nominated film Water. A flagbearer for the Sri Lankan film industry, Errol Kelly is regarded as Sri Lanka’s finest art director and production designer who remains the epitome of humility despite his noteworthy achievements and contribution to the film industry.
