Decorating Pages: TV and Film Design

This weeks episode I speak with Production Designer Maya Sigel. One of her recent projects is the Apple TV+ series "Hello Tomorrow!", a science fiction comedy series that takes place in a near-future world yet has a retro design that Maya has created. In addition to her work on "Hello Tomorrow!", Maya has also worked on several other TV shows and films as a production designer, including "To the B...

Production Designer John El Manahi has over two decades of experience in designing sets for films. Recently, El Manahi has been busy working on his latest project, "Spinning Gold," a biopic about the life and career of legendary music producer Neil Bogart who was the cofounder of Casablanca Records. El Manahi's work on "Spinning Gold" perfectly capturing the glitz and glamor of the music industry...

On this episode I speak with Production Designer Jennifer Möller, who’s recent film “Sick” on Amazon will make you think twice about taking off that mask after covid. The horror film has a fresh take on the dangers of living through the pandemic. Jenny has been focusing on Production Designing films like “Wildcat”, “Happily”, “Wish Upon a Unicorn” and also has been Art Directing on projects inbetw...

On this episode I speak with Costume Designer Queensylvia Akuchie. With her parents coming from Nigeria, she is a first generation American and grew up in Washington D.C. She started her costume designer path while attending school in Atlanta. Interning and working her way up in the costume department on many Tyler Perry projects like “Madea goes to Jail”, “Madea's Witness Protection” and other fe...

On this episode I speak with Set Decorator Erinistine Hipper who is nominated this year for Best Production Design for her work on the film “All Quiet on the Western Front”. She has also been nominated this award season for the ADG and BAFTA and nominated for an ADG and won the SDSA award for her set decoration for the film “Tar”. The dramatic difference in her work in these two films shows the sc...

This week's episode I speak with my friend, Set Decorator, David Smith. David has been working non stop since the Covid break on projects like” Inventing Anna”, jumping in with Jan Pascale on :Top Gun: Maverick” and “Air”, the first season of “The Old Man”, The upcoming film “Knox goes away” directed by Michael Keaton and just released on Netflix “Your Place or Mine”. He talks about the book budge...

If you are one of the few people not watching "The Last of Us"... you need to get on it ASAP. In this week's episode I speak with Production Designer John Paino who has brought this incredibly beloved video game to life. Designing this post-apocalyptic world with 180 locations, no permanent sets to fall back on, building full towns, neighborhoods, tunnels all with the look of 20 years of growth an...

On this episode I talk with Set Decorator Tara Stephanson-Fong. Tara grew up in Hollywood and was introduced to the world of production design by her father, Edward Stephanson, who was a production Designer with credits like The Golden Girls, Good Times, Sanford and Son, Maude and many other iconic sets.. Tara started interning at a young age on sets where she learned the art department and progre...

On this episode I speak with my friend, Production Designer Denise Pizzini. Denise is an award winning Production Designer whose work includes “Better Call Saul”, HBO’s “Run”, “The Muppets”, “Community”, “Speechless” and that’s just for Production Design!. She also has Set Decorated films like "The Italian Job", "Thirteen Days", "Life as a House", "A Walk in the Clouds" and more. She has won an AD...

Thank you for listening to 100 episodes of Decorating Pages! It's been an educational and rewarding experience to bring this podcast to you. I hope you have enjoyed hearing from some of the most creative people in the tv and film industry. I know I have learned so much from my guests and listening to their creative process. On this 100th episode, I recap some of my favorite guests, share what the...

Are you in the Holiday spirit? This weeks’ episode I’m talking about how the Holiday decor in classic films gets us in a festive mood! Films that are classics like Miracle on 34th street to modern day gems like Elf. Also, giving some online holiday decor buying tips. Subscribe to Decorating Pages Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio,iHeartRadioFollow at: @decoratingpages on T...

On this episode I speak with Production Designer Victoria Paul. Victoria started her working career as a furniture maker then decided to enter theater school at NYU. During and after college Victoria worked on SNL as a scenic painter and then as an art director on the show.  Working up to Production Designer she designed films such as “Desperate Hours”, “My Cousin Vinny” and “Breakdown” and more....

On this week's episode I speak with Production Designer Laurin Kelsey. Laurin has an interesting story of how she got into designing, she was mentored by a prop master who taught her the day to day of production during high school summers. After attending University of Victoria in Canada, she was then accepted into the elite Set and Costume Design program at the National Theatre School of Canada i...

On this episode I speak with Set Decorator Melissa Licht, the Set Decorator of “Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story”. We discuss how recreating the serial killer's apartment, his grandmother's home and especially the victims houses were especially emotionally taxing in researching and dressing. Melissa also Set Decorated the limited series “Hollywood” on Netflix which she was nominated for...

Today I’m speaking with Production Designer Eve McCarney. Eve started her career as an Art Director in Advertising and after deciding it wasn't for her she followed her path into Production Design. Originally from Philadelphia Eve started working independent projects in Philly, NYC and eventually making the move to Los Angeles. Eve attributes her success to working on projects while continuing to...

In this episode I speak with Production Designer Neil Patel. Neil is currently shooting Showtime’s “Shaka: King of the Zulu Nation” in South Africa and promoting the new series “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin” on HBO Max. Neil came off of designing AppleTV+ ‘s 19th century spin on Emily Dickinson’s life story called “Dickinson” to take on “PLL” during covid. We talk about the locations and the...

Check out this episode with Production Designer Joshua Petersen. With his new show "Everything's Trash", on Hulu, he designs an exciting and fresh look of modern day Brooklyn, NY. The show centers around a young female podcaster who is juggling her messy life and her podcasting career. Originally from Oregon, Joshua had a passion for drafting and had a love for film and tv design. Working his way...

In this episode I talk with Costume Designer Kathleen Felix-Hanger. Starting out on the film “Waterworld” as a Costume PA, she quickly learned her trade on the job. Working her way up to costume supervisor on shows like “Judging Amy”, “West Wing” and then becoming Costume Designer on “Dexter”, “VEEP”, and now HBO’s “Hacks”. She is currently nominated for her second Emmy for Outstanding Contemporar...

On this episode I speak with Set Decorator, Jennifer Lukeheart about her career and how she is currently nominated for two Emmy awards. Outstanding Production Design for half hour  for “Hacks” and Outstanding Production Design for One Hour Contemporary “The White Lotus”. Jennifer got her start as a PA on music videos and as she describes was inquisitive and was able to work her way up. She decorat...

Pat Irwin has been making music in New York City since the late 1970’s. He was a founding member of two bands, 8 Eyed Spy and The Raybeats. In 1989 he joined The B-52s and toured and recorded with the band through 2008. He then transitioned into writing music for film and television and recently composed the score for “Dexter: New Blood” on the Showtime. His other scores include the Netflix series...

In this episode I speak with Production Designer Eric Schoonover. Eric took over this season on HBO’s ”Barry” in its' third season. Having been the Art Director for the first two seasons and nominated for their work for the show, he talks about taking over, and the show's turn in storytelling. He has previously Production Designed seasons of “Portlandia” and came from non-union work filling many o...

Production Designer Liz Toonkel's new film “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On” is a whimsical film about a little shell who lives with his grandmother in an Airbnb and is on a quest to find his family. It is adorable! Liz and her team designed a magical little world for Marcel. Using household items at the scale of the shell and making a home and fanciful little gardener this adorable character. Liz...

In this episode I speak with Production Designer Laurence Bennet who is best known for his work on his Oscar nominated films “The Artist” and “Crash”. His current project "The Offer" on Paramount Plus, is a monumental effort to pay tribute to one of best films of all time “The Godfather”. This period limited series gives a behind the scenes of the making of this iconic film and shows how we all wo...

In this episode I speak with Set Decorator William DeBiasio. His story is interesting because it goes to show it’s never too late in life to start in this business. With his desire and drive, coming from a retail background, he started at a prop house, then a set dresser,  continued to buyer and eventually a Set Decorator.  He had long stints on "The West Wing", "Alias", "Chuck", "Melrose Place",...

This is part two of my interview with Director of Photography Simon Dennis. We deep dive into dorking out about our love for the film “The Conversation”. He talks about shooting “Peaky Blinders”and “Black Sails”, and the super cool set up he has on set to adjust color, and bring up references. I hope you caught last week's episode with him. We talked about how he got into being a DP, not knowing w...