Project Spotlights

Key Takeaways

1. Adaptability: I was brought onto this project about a week before the shoot and needed to curate and design multiple spaces. I learned how to adjust on the fly and adapt to the situation at hand. I was able to manage multiple changing priorities while maintaining the director's vision.

2. Continuity: Filming on location in a very small space meant that many set pieces needed to be adjusted and moved for each shot. I worked with the director and producers to maintain continuity throughout this process and learned what to look out for when on set. 

3. Buying: I sourced items from multiple locations, including second hand stores and online sites like Facebook and Craigslist. The production trusted me to find, purchase, and transport these pieces. I was responsible for the petty cast and tracking the art department budget to ensure that we stayed within our means. I learned how to save money when sourcing items and when it is best to rent versus buy set items. 

Key Takeaways 

1. Wallpaper Application: We laid a wood appliqué wallpaper on the plaster walls of this residence. I learned how to successfully measure, cut, and lay the wallpaper to avoid uneven edges and bubbling of the material. We had to adjust our methods multiple times because the paper was not cooperating with the texture of the wall. I learned how to pivot quickly and solve issues on the fly. 

2. Time Management: We had tight deadlines for these spaces and were unable to get in and pre-dress with as much time as we desired. I worked with the art department team to create a streamlined process of wallpapering, striking and dressing our sets that ensured our work flow was optimized. It was important to keep track of our working time and keep the AD updated on the status of the sets. 

3. Organization: There was a mix of items rented from Warner Bros. prop house, purchased items, and items purchased meant for returns. I kept track of each item and where they were returning to, as well as the original packaging that each item was brought to set in. This was important because the production designer needed to return multiple items to stay within the budget and needed to keep all the original packaging materials and keep all the set pieces undamaged. 

Key Takeaways 

1. Resourcefulness: I sourced many of the items for this shoot from the facilities on campus, which were quite limited. I learned how to fill a space with the items available and take advantage of the pieces I had access to. I used these resources to capture the right tone and atmosphere for the film. 

2. Layering: Using smalls, I created moments of layering and visual interest that made the space feel more expansive than it truly was. By utilizing a variety of textiles, textures, colors, and materials, the space transformed into a cozy, lived-in environment for the characters to inhabit.

3. Turnaround: We used this location for two different sets with a 30-minute turnaround time. I learned how to efficiently strike a set and dress the next one according to a set dressing plan I created for each setting. It was important to move quickly while also ensuring all items were accounted for and returned to their proper places. I enjoyed the challenge of this project and the tight confines we worked in as a team. We collaborated to get the best shots with our limited time and resources.

Key Takeaways 

1. Teamwork: Working with a small team came with its challenges, but I truly enjoyed the process of creating this film with everyone involved. On this project, I learned the importance of having the right crew and what becomes possible when you work with people who share your vision. The director had a clear idea of what he wanted but remained open to suggestions from the crew. Working together as a well-oiled team is essential to creating a great film.

2. Script Analysis: I strengthened my script analysis skills by creating a detailed breakdown of set dressing and production design elements. This preparation helped me feel confident and organized for each scene. Script breakdowns are now the first step in my process for any design project, and I continue to refine my organizational approach to dressing and props.

3. Innovation: I struggled at first with how to create the bowl of fruit in a way that looked realistic while also clearly signaling its importance to the story. I enjoy the artistic problem-solving involved in these kinds of projects and the innovation required to find the right solution. Opportunities to create props and set dressing pieces are a refreshing change of pace, and I value them as a creative outlet within this role.

Key Takeaways 

1. Prop Fabrication: This set was my first experience designing and fabricating a set piece for a production. The piece was constructed with lumber and chicken wire, then covered in college-ruled notebook paper with the song lyrics and letters written by the artist. I learned how to design a set piece with the functionality of moving/repositioning it to better suit the director's vision. I used materials that were available to me, and I was proud of my first set fabrication project.

2. Visual Design: This project taught me how to tell a story through dressing and design. The letters that follow the artist through this music video seem like another character in and of themselves. I wanted the letters to feel like a presence looming over the artist because the song is about a lost love and the loneliness he feels when looking back at their relationship. I was able to translate these ideas to the screen, and this project taught me the importance of a storyboard and lookbook during the design process.

3. Confidence: This project gave me confidence in my skills and abilities as a designer to continue pursuing this career. I learned a lot about resourcefulness and how to work with all the different departments on set. I fell in love with the atmosphere of a set, and I haven't looked back since. I am grateful to have had the freedom this opportunity provided to explore my abilities and develop my style.

Key Takeaways 

1. Sourcing: I sourced all of the furniture for this project secondhand and refurbished it to fit within the color scheme. I learned how to find the best deals for these items and how to organize the transportation of large set dressing pieces to a location outside of Los Angeles. I enjoyed refinishing these furniture pieces and finding the perfect items in terms of style and scale.

2. Adaptability: This project required innovative thinking to adjust the plans to the realities of the location. There were considerable wind gusts once we arrived, and the original plan for the bedroom had to change. We pivoted to pinning and arranging the pictures on the actress's costume instead of on the ground. This still communicated the narrative and allowed us to move forward with shooting instead of scrapping the idea.

3. Resilience: This music video taught me resilience because the artist canceled the project before we wrapped filming. It was disappointing, but I was grateful for the people I met and the things I was able to learn. I understand now that some projects never make it to release and that the process is the most important part. I was proud of the work we accomplished as a team and continue to work with individuals from this project.

Key Takeaways 

1. Organization: I learned to keep an organization system for dressing and prop items on this film. I used the shooting schedule to prep items needed for the day while also lining up the items we would need for the next day as well. This meticulous organization is important, especially in the art department, because there is an excess of micellaneous things to keep track of. I use this method of organization now on all of my projects and find it very successful. 

2. Communication: I worked closely with the director for this project because he had a very clear vision of what he wanted for each set. I was able communicate clearly with the team about the position of the camera and the needs of each scene. I enjoyed working with this team because everyone had a clear idea of the project and worked together to create a cohesive film. This project helped me realize the importance of a good team dynamic when filming.

3. : Graphic Design: For this project, I created a few fake yearbook pages of the actors. The main character needed to flip through his old yearbook to find a picture of the character who disappeared. I reference yearbook designs from the 80s and created a layout of multiple senior year yearbook pages. I used Adobe CC for this project to design, illustrate, and organize the senior photos. I enjoyed creating the graphics for this scene and would like to do more of this work in the future. There is a lot of research and technical skill that goes into these projects for film that I admire. 

Key Takeaways 

1. Gallery Wall Curration: I learned how to organize the flow of a wall according to the image plan. We needed to place the images in the correct timeline groupings. Some items were not printed by the production team so we managed to reorient the pieces to fill dead space and lead the eye across the board.

2. Communication: We had a large team of non-art department personnel helping to organize this wall. I found it was important to communicate clearly about where each item belonged and how each piece should be hung. Communcation is the main skill on every set I've been on and always make sure to communicate with every department.

3. Adaptability: This gallery wall was a last-minute addition by the event holders, and we had to adapt to the tight deadline and get the wall together before the event started. I made sure that the materials were organized and brought this wall together in a short amount of time. This project taught me to accept new ideas as they come and adjust on the fly. 

Key Takeaways 

1. Prop-fabrication: This prop needed to be functional structurally and aesthetically. We worked with a design team to create the correct scale and look for the moon before beginning the fabrication process. This is one of the larger pieces I have worked on and I learned how to scale up the other prop-fabrication work I have done in the past. I learned to maintain a high standard for this work while also keeping the process on track and meeting the deadline for the music video. Working with the variety of materials we used for this project was a fun challege and I realized how important it is to select the right materials for every project.

2. Team-work: I worked in a large team to create this moon and I learned how a fast and functional art department team should function. We all filled our own unique roles to get this prop constructed and made sure to offer help wherever it was needed along the process. I enjoy creating large pieces like this as a team because we get to share in the joy of the finished product and seeing it in action. I look forward to working on more art teams that are able to produce work efficiently and successfully.

3. Patience: This project took quite a long time to complete. Drying times and design delays kept this project from the finishline for a few weeks. I learned to be patient and wait for the go ahead instead of jumping in without guidance. This piece came out so well because m team and I were able to step away for awhile during this pause and work on other pieces while we waited. I was able to understand the importance of prioritizing work in order of what's most important and also what is possible in that moment in time. 

Key Takeaways 

1. Time Management: This project required a large amount of coordinating with the AD and Director about the filming schedule. Spaces evolved throughout the episodes so it was important to keep track of which scene was filming currently and what the next iteration of that space would be. I enjoyed the process of planning out the art department schedule alongside the teams filming schedule to maximize our prep time.

2. Decision Making: The director for this project trusted me and my team to make a lot of design decisions for this space which can be intimidating. I learned to trust myself and my design instincts to create the best visuals for the project. I was able to dress each room with items on site as well as pieces that we sourced. I enjoyed the grittiness of this project and the horror themes. I found confidence throughout this process in my abilities as a designer and department head.

3. Leadership: On this project I was working with the biggest art team out of any of my previous projects. I learned how to deligate tasks to maximize efficiency and how to play to people's strengths. My team was able to keep great communication and work together seamlessly. I am confident in my abilities as a department head after this process and look forward to taking on more challenging roles like this in the future.