Hello there friend,
Maybe you already know me, maybe you don't. This first post is a little bit about who I am and why I created this blog.
I always thought my problem in life was that I couldn't decide on the one thing I wanted to do as an occupation. I once thought that I wanted to graduate from college with three different majors. Deciding I had neither the money or time to accomplish this feat, I settled for something safe and practical majoring in Psychology with a minor in film. The funny thing is, I'm back in school now doing something completely different. I decided I didn't want to attempt a masters degree in Psychology, even though I proclaimed I would upon hearing that the majority of people who go on to get a masters degree are men. Side note, I always love proving people and statistics wrong. But, I didn't have a passion or the money for it. Sure, I'm fascinated by Psychology. I love reading books by Oliver Sacks and the latest issue of Psychology Today. And I use psychology in many of my design decisions. But listening to people and their problems? I already do that at my current job working in a restaurant where I am constantly pressured with questions about my future.
I am constantly asked, "Are you STILL in school?" "You're STILL here?" "What are you doing with your life?!" First, just because I work in a restaurant doesn't mean I'm not doing anything with my life. And secondly, yes I am still in school because these days everyone has a bachelors degree. Maybe 20-30 years ago, you could get away with just going to college for four years and then getting a good paying job once you're done. But the world has changed. Everyone has a bachelors degree, it isn't enough. You've got to find out how to make yourself stand out somehow. It's all about the skill set you create for yourself. Which is what I'm doing in school now.
Art has always been my passion in life. My mistake was thinking I couldn't have a career that somehow incorporated art. I didn't have anyone in my life saying pursue your passion. Unfortunately, it was quite the opposite. There were a lot of people saying "go into nursing!" Even my inner thoughts were telling me to abandon art and just have it as a hobby. And that worked for a few years. But, after substitute teaching middle school for a year (which if you ever want to feel invincible, like you can do ANYTHING, try substitute teaching middle school and make it to the end of the day) I decided I need to enjoy my profession whatever it was.
So, I decided to work on becoming a PRODUCTION DESIGNER! Why a production designer? I'm assuming you were just about to ask. Well, I have always been obsessed with film, ever since I was ten. I was mostly fascinated and still am with the work of Alfred Hitchcock. I will probably talk in the future about the production designers that have worked with Hitchcock to create some of the memorable moments from his films. I've always been fixated on the why and how of the way a film looks. And, the fact that it's someone's job to do that!? I always secretly wanted to be a production designer, but I never dared attempt such a risky career! Until now. In defiance of doing what sensible people should do, I am following my dream where ever it takes me.
And that is what this blog is about. It is about my quest to become a production designer and the things that have happened to me working on short films and some feature films I've worked on.
Also, I started this blog because in my two years so far as a student production designer I haven't noticed many resources on the subject. Go into a book store. Go to the section of film books. Count how many books there are on the subjects of directing, cinematography, screenwriting, and editing. Now count how many books there are about production design. And, I feel that production design is a mystery to most of the students in film school and people working in the industry. Yet, it is one of the most important jobs on a film. Yes, of course I think that because it's what I do. But think about it. You can set up the camera, lights, block the action, actors can figure out their characterization. But what about the costumes? Where is the action taking place? Production design is that subtle extra element that is meant to be unnoticed. But watch a film with bad production design, and you notice it right away. And it takes away a little bit from the movie. Production design is that visible yet invisible thing that makes some films irresistible to look at, people try to emulate the look of a film in their own lives.
It's powerful stuff. So, keep reading and hopefully this blog will be informative and at the very least entertaining. It will be full of real life stories and disasters from my life, things and people that influence me, and the pre-production of the current film I am working on, Blackwater Rd.
Until then,
Keep reaching for the stars my friends.
-A
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