I was the Turkish Art Director on Vertinsky, a Russian TV series about the legendary singer, songwriter, and cabaret artist Alexander Vertinsky. The production was filmed across multiple countries, and the Istanbul leg required transforming entire streets to convincingly capture the period atmosphere. While the series spanned locations across Europe and Russia, my contribution focused on the Istanbul unit, where, in a short time, modern streets were reshaped into a believable historical backdrop.
Working under a tight schedule and limited budget, my role was to bring the Russian Production Designer’s vision to life on location. This meant adapting designs to real, modern environments while maintaining historical accuracy and visual continuity. Facades, street layouts, signage, textures, and small details all had to work together to create spaces that felt natural, lived-in, and true to the era — even under close camera scrutiny.
It was a demanding and adventurous production, defined by speed, collaboration, and the challenge of making history feel immediate and real.
Eray Bintas 