Welcome to the documentary in the studio from the BBC World Service,

the program that investigates the creative process.

I'm Francine Stock, and the woman you're about to encounter

can conjure solid realities from airy concepts,

massive architecture from everyday materials,

and above all make us believe that for a couple of hours, more or less,

we live in someone else's world,

even the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.

When you build big sets like the Vatican, I think the first day that we had 180 cardinals

in all their glorious costumes, in a fully dressed, fully lit set.

It was amazing. It was really powerful.

This is Susie Davis. She is the production designer of films from 19th century costume

drama Mr Turner to the modern Gothic extravaganza Saltburn.

Her latest film, Conclave, is the story of a papal election.

And I spoke to her just before the real conclave was about to start.

The movie version of Robert Harris's novel was directed by Edward Berger.

And it was Berger who approached Suzy directly.

He'd reached out, asked me if I was available,

and could I go to Rome for six months to make a movie?

I was like, oh, it's a hard life, isn't it?

So I checked my diary and very quickly said yes.

Conclaves' timely narrative centres on Father Lawrence,

...