Decorating Pages: TV and Film Design

In this episode I speak with Director of Photography Simon Dennis. Simon has been working the last 5 years non stop in Ryan Murphy world and making it look stunning. Growing up outside of London, Simon was making films when he was young like a lot of us. He even admits to making his mom be the gaffer. Starting out making shorts, small films, and then springing into the mainstream with ”Dr. Who”, “...

"Better Call Saul" - In this episode I chat with Set Decorator Ashley Michelle Marsh of "Better Call Saul". Originally from Oklahoma, Ashley Michelle March moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico to pursue a career in TV and film as a Set Decorator. Starting as an assistant on the film “Observe and Report”, then coordinating on the TV series like “In Plane Sight” and “The Client List” she moved over to S...

In this episode I speak with Set Decorator Kimberly Leonard. Growing up in Los Angeles, and being inspired by her uncle, Donfeld, a costume designer, Kimberly studied design at Parsons and then hit the ground running on features, “Wheel of Fortune”, “Married with Children”, even working in a prop house till finding the set decoration buyer position. Kimberly mastered the position on shows like “St...

This is part two of my interview with Production Designer Marek Dobrowolski. His new film that has just been released is “I’ll find you” about A Catholic opera singer and Jewish violin virtuoso dream of performing together at the legendary Carnegie Hall in New York City, but the German invasion of Poland tears them apart. Shooting the whole film in his native Poland Marek was able to select histor...

In this episode I speak with Production Designer Marek Dobrowolski. Marek has designed a number of historically rich stories that have taken him to locations all around the world. After winning an Emmy for his work on “Hitler: Rise of Evil”, he continued his epic designs with Steven Spielberg’s “Into the West ' which he was also nominated for. His other designs include “The Craft”, “Terminator: Th...

In this episode I speak with Oscar winning Set Decorator Shane Vieau. Shane’s work has a dynamic effect on screen which you can currently see in his Oscar nominated work on "Nightmare Alley". He has decorated huge films like “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus”, “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”, “Crimson Peak”, “Suicide Squade”, “xXx: Return of Xander Cage”, “The Shape of Water”(Oscar) and “It: C...

On this episode I speak with Production Designer Ethan Tobman. Ethan is nominated for and ADG award this year for his design of Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well” in Short Format: Web Series or Music Video. He won the ADG award last year for “Black is King” in the Variety Special category. Ethan studied at NYU where he wrote, directed and production designed a short film at the age of 19 that went to C...

On this episode I speak with Set Decorator Amber Richards. Amber is a Set Decorator in New Zealand and is nominated for an Oscar this year for her work on “The Power of the Dog”. This film was shoot in New Zealand for Montana by director Jane Campion and is stunning in it's period decor. As I spoke with Amber I got a better sense of how crews work in New Zealand compared to the US. We talk about h...

On this episode, I speak to Production Designer Steve Olson, Set Decorator Jerie Kelter and Art Director Raf Lydon. These three are now nominated for an ADG award for their work on “Live in Front of a Studio Audience: “The Facts of Life” and Diff’erent Strokes”. Exciting to hear how these three collaborated to make these iconic sets come back to life. From the linoleum floors, the moldings, and ma...

In part two of this interview with director Craig Zisk we speak about how he decides to shoot a scene, and gives a great example of the one-er (scene shot in one take) he did on the show “Smash”. We talk about guest directors being visitors on long running shows and how he works in that environment. The importance of the Tone Meeting with the showrunner. We discuss “Cop Rocks”, “The Larry Sanders...

On this episode I speak with Director, Producer Craig Zisk. Craig has directed over 96 shows in his career jumping back from drama to comedy. He's directed shows like "NYPD Blue", "Alias", "Scrubs", "The Office", "Parks and Rec", "Brooklyn Nine-Nine", "Weeds", "New Girl", "Fear the Walking Dead", "This is Us", "Wu-Tang:An American Saga" and many more. He talks about his college days at USC while b...

On this episode I’m talking with Set Decorator Sarah McMillan who is Emmy nominated for her work on the riveting limited series “Mare of Easttown”. Sarah’s resume has some real hidden gems like AMC’s “Dispatch’s from Elsewhere”, Netflix’s “Living with Yourself”, the period film “Kill Your Darlings”, and her first Set Decorating job was on Gus Van Sant’s "Last Days". In starting out she set dressed...

Ryan Garton is a Set Designer who has worked on shows TV shows like “Banshee”, “Sleepy Hollow” and “Scorpion”, his work can recently be seen in the film “The Prom” and I’ve been working with him for the past year on “American Crime Story: Impeachment”.  Ryan has a gift for creating gorgeous virtual renderings of the sets he designs. These days with our schedules being so tight and revisions consta...

On this episode I speak with Director Michael Uppendahl. Michael has an very interesting story of how he got into directing that intertwines passion, talent and good old fashion luck. He is an award winning theater director and has been directing hugely acclaimed TV series like "Walking Dead", "Madmen", "Turn", "Legion", "Castle Rock", "Hunters", "Hollywood", "Ratched", "Fargo" and I am currently...

On this episode I speak with Production Designer Kalina Ivanov about her design of the 50's noir series "Lovecraft Country". Studying theater at NYU lead Kalina to storyboarding for films such as "Silence of the Lambs", "Quiz Show", "Sleepers" and more. Kalina transitioned to Production Designing films that range from comedies like "The Best Man", "Uptown Girls", and "Long Shot", to the TV musical...

On this episode I am airing an interview I did last month with my alma mater Jefferson University. They have a great online series of webinars of how-to's from some of their alumni in their speciality fields. You can check out other webinars on their website jefferson.edu. In this webinar give tips on staging your home for selling from a set decorators design eye. Very grateful that I was consider...

The ADG awards are this Saturday, April 10th, which lets me celebrate the nomination of my friend Shaun Page for his work on "Wheel of Fortune". "Wheel of Fortune" is nominated for an ADG Award in the Variety, Reality or Competition category. We speak about the nominated sets and how the show being on for 35 years and being nominated now is such a special accomplishment. Shaun also manages to flip...

In this part two interview with Production Designer Jim Bissell we throw back to "The Twilight Movie". His feelings about designing CGI heavy films like "300" and "Jumanji", working six times with director George Clooney including "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind"and "Good Night and Good Luck". His love of "The Spiderwick Chronicles", designing of a 5 million dollar parking garage for "Mission Imp...

It’s been a goal to speak with Jim Bissell since starting this podcast because on my wish list of designers and decorators I wanted to selfishly interview people who inspire me and inspire the world of cinema and tv. Jim Bissel has so many films that I cherish that of course I’m a total dork in this interview. He has a fascinating origin story that put him in the sights of Stevan Speilberg on one...

In this part two of my interview with Set Decorator Jan Pascale we discuss her beginnings in Pittsburgh as a set painter on "Mr. Rogers"! Then the obvious shift to Roger Corman films. Her early work propping then moving to set decorating on films like "Forever Young", "Dracula Dead and Loving It", TV shows like "Gidion’s Crossing" and "Boston Public", then decorating "Training Day". Her string of...

In this episode I speak with the "Queen of White House Set Decorating" Jan Pascale. Her career includes so many great looking film I had to give you two episodes of her amazing decorating stories. With the highly acclaimed film "Mank" already sweeping up the nominations, I'm sure Jan will not be overlooked for her decorating in this black and white film. Her resume includes gems like "Good Night a...

On this episode I explain the day to day of how Covid is effecting the way the set gets decorated. From meetings to last touches on set, the way we all work in this industry has changed, and I hope not for long.

On this episode I speak with Dean Holland, an Emmy winning editor for his work on The Office” He seven nominations fro his work on The Office and Parks and Recreation and the 76th annual Academy awards. He also has three Online Film and Television award nominations in directing for “Parks and Recreation” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”. I met Dean on “Parks and Rec” and was lucky enough to start up the N...

As a holiday present to my loyal listeners I’m giving away my top 5 tips for breaking into the business. I’m sharing the story of how I got into production and eventually a job in the art department. It is hands down the most asked question I get over the years. I’ve spent hours emailing people back the same story and the same tips. So this is my holiday gift to anyone looking to get into his craz...

On this episode I speak with Production Designer Rose Lagace. She is also the creator of the successful Hollywood art department insider website Art Departmental. We spoke in mid august and we both were starting back to work at the time. We talk about her show “The Baroness Von Sketch Show”, which if you haven't checked it out, it’s pretty funny and a little dark. We discuss the ebb and flow of th...