TV&V:
What exactly is the job of the Production Designer?SJ: The production designer on any film works with the director to create the look and feel of the film. With the approval of the director, the production designer chooses each element that makes up a particular scenario. For example, for the film Hip! Edgy! Quirky!, we are creating a stage for the different agents/producers/studio executives that our main characters, Ed and Barry encounter. We have made the selection to shoot this scene in the same location with a scenario that changes only slightly. Aesthetically, I must select the office elements that supplant the insignificant, almost imperceptible changes. I must also consider that our film is a comedy; so my decisions should communicate a humorous tone as well.
TV&V: What are your duties?
SJ: My duties include designing the look of each stage, subject to the director's approval, building each of them (from the floor if necessary), and demolishing it once the scene is over. In small films, I work with a team of production assistants and an assistant production designer to achieve the look I want. In large films, I have a complete Art Department that helps me build each scenario and prepare it for filming.
Any detail that is part of the scene even if not actively used by the characters is part of the set design. In addition, to develop and implement the design of a film, I have a Prop Master, who is in charge of selecting all the props and setting elements for the film, ensuring that each selected element is aesthetically adapted to the different scenarios I have designed.
TV&V: What other areas of audiovisual production are involved in production design decisions?
SJ: Every movie is different. It depends on what is needed for each scene. For example, in Hip! Edgy! Quirky!, we have a scene in the reception of an office where one of the characters speaks to another through a television screen. As part of the production design, I must work with the director and the sound department to adjust the scene so that it runs smoothly. In this standalone film, we chose to pre-record the image that appears on the video screen and play it for the scene from a videotape. In another film, we had to locate an alternate camera that will feed the image to the TV and make the scene live.
TV&V: How is the production design team composed and what tasks does each team member perform?
SJ: In general, the production team includes the following core members:
Production Designer: Plan how each scenario will look and feel; oversees the work of the Art Department, which is tasked with fulfilling the Production Designer plans for the film.
Art Director (Can be more than one person): Works with the team of builders, painters and production assistants to comply with the production plans proposed by the Designer.
Stage Decorator: Decorates the stages according to the Designer's specifications.
Prop Master/ Property Master: Provides the necessary props and ambience elements according to the specifications of the Production Designer.
In addition to the indicated positions, there is a team of builders, painters and production assistants in charge of placing the stages together. In fact, my first position in this business was as a production assistant in the art department on Al Pacino's film TWO BITS.
TV&V: Have you had any experience with Latin American teams?
SJ: My first experiences have been with American design teams. In the future, I would like to work with some design teams outside the United States. I know that experience would help me grow as a designer and I look forward to the moment when I can say that I have worked with design teams around the world.
TV&V: What is the work plan like in the United States?
SJ: If by work plan, you mean the path that people must follow to become a production designer, then I would like to say that it is loaded with places where one can get stuck along the way. One of the most exciting things about working in the entertainment business is that no one knows anything. So, you are free to create any experience you choose. Frequently, I find that people don't switch to certain positions because they're afraid to take risks. A large part of my achievements have come from the willingness to do things differently and go in the direction that others have turned away from themselves.
I have developed a master plan, if you will, for my life. The plan is flexible and frequently changes, every month and sometimes every day. Every job I take on is evaluated against your ability to advance that plan. I see this industry as an explosion of opportunity and I feel privileged to be a part of it.
TV&V: What kind of technological support do you use? (Software, equipment, etc.)
SJ: I tend to work the old-fashioned way... with your hands. But I've worked with designers who have to present their plans using elaborate software programs. I prefer the simple, to show it on design papers that can be modified with little difficulty.
TV&V: What determines priorities in production design? (Effects, action sequences, characters, budget)
SJ: The element that influences the design the most is the budget. How much money will I have to play? This determines how elaborate and how daring I can be. In general, I work from the most elaborate scenes to the simplest. Thus, I start my work, focused on the scenes that seem to be more difficult. Obviously, scenes that require special effects or a lot of action grab my attention first because they require more preparation. Scenes that happen within a space or two are easy to achieve because I don't have to create anything that moves.
TV&V: Could you describe your experience in Production Design?
SJ: My experience in Production Design has been valuable and challenging. It's one of the most exciting areas of film production and it's just as creative as directing or screenwriting, as much as I'm interested in this field. Because Production Design is intimately involved with the creation of a film and what viewers will see, those who work in the department have an understanding of what it really means to put it all together in a film.
TV&V: Do you have any advice for those starting out in this business?
SJ: I always have advice. For people who are just starting out, I say "never give up." No one determines when it's time to retire. It is you who make this decision whether or not you are going to succeed. And, if you give up, you can be sure that you will never succeed. Surround yourself with people who believe in your abilities to make the films you want to make and limit your time with people who don't believe in your dreams. Give yourselves permission to see the world differently and never be afraid to take risks.
