ERAY BINTAS

Rise of Empires: Ottoman – Mehmet vs Vlad is a 6-episode Netflix docuseries retelling the legendary rivalry between Mehmed II and Vlad the Impaler. As Art Director, I helped build the 15th century from the ground up — from throne rooms and war tents to military camps, cannons, and an endless amount of props.

One of the biggest challenges was the exterior night war scenes. Creating believable battlefields in total darkness meant carefully balancing realism with visibility, while maintaining historical accuracy. Entire environments had to feel alive — mud, fire, smoke, torches, siege equipment — all working together to sell the chaos of war. Weather, terrain, and scale added constant pressure.

Building atmosphere was key. With the support of historians, every detail — from camp layouts to weapon placement and lighting sources — was designed to reflect how these battles would have actually felt in the 15th century. The goal was never just to build sets, but to create a world that felt lived-in, tense, and authentic.

Having also worked on Season 1, I already knew the visual language and historical universe of the show, which made collaboration smoother and allowed us to push the environments further this time.

Produced by Karga Seven Pictures, directed by Emre Şahin, and shaped by Production Designer Zeki Sarayoğlu.