Decorating Pages: TV and Film Design

Latest Episodes:

Craig Zisk: Director/Producer - Pt.2 - "Smash" "Cop Rocks", "The Larry Sanders Show" "American Rust" "The Looming Tower" Dec 31, 2021

Show notes

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 Show”, “Brave New World” and “The Looming Tower”. He has been directing for 30 years, and is still excited about every project …I hope I get to work with him again soon.

Craig Zisk: Director/Producer -"The Office", "Parks and Rec", "Brooklyn Nine-Nine", "Fear the Walking Dead", "This is Us", "Wu-Tang:An American Saga", "American Rust" Dec 16, 2021

Show notes

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 being a PA on "Family Ties". An incredible story of how passion and hard work prevail in this industry.

Sarah McMillan - Set Decorator - It's a Portrait of a Town - "Mare of Easttown" Sep 02, 2021

Show notes

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 on “The Royal Tenenbaums”! Sarah and I talk about the home town vibes she created in absolute perfect detail in capturing the look of Easttown, a fictional town outside of Philadelphia.

Ryan Garton - Set Designer - Rating The Homes of the Real Housewives! Jul 15, 2021

Show notes

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 constantly coming at you, a Set Designers job has become more demanding. Ryan and I also have a deep love for the Real Housewives franchises. We talk some gossip and rate the homes and decor of some of the Real Housewives.

Michael Uppendahl - Director/Producer - Image vs. Shot- "Fargo", "Ratched", "Hollywood" Jun 25, 2021

Show notes

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 working with Michael on "American Crime Story: Impeachment". I was just delighted when I learned he had directed an episode in this past season of "Fargo" that was shot in black and white. It's a beautiful hour of television. With Emmy voting going on till June 30th please consider Michael’s work on "Fargo", "Ratched" and "Hollywood".

Kalina Ivanov - Production Designer - "Lovecraft Country" - "The Tender Bar" Jun 03, 2021

Show notes

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 "Smash", dramas such as "Rabbit Hole", "The Conspirator", the series "Kings", and Netflix's "Seven Seconds". Kalina's Production Design also won an Emmy award for HBO's "Grey Gardens".

How to Stage your Home with Tips from a Set Decorator - Real Estate tips May 06, 2021

Show notes

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 considered for the series and hope that it was helpful. If you would like to watch the slide show for this episode you can find it on the Jefferson University YouTube channel and soon on the Decorating Pages YouTube channel.

Shaun Page - Art Director - "Wheel of Fortune" - ADG Awards Apr 08, 2021

Show notes

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 flips houses on the side, how he does that and work full time on this iconic show I have no idea.

Jim Bissell - Production Designer - We Create Dreamscapes Pt.2 - "The Midnight Sky" Mar 04, 2021

Show notes

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 Impossible: Rouge Nation" and how he basically invented computer PreVis on "The Boy Who Could Fly". He also gives us some great insight into his recent film that he is nominated for an ADG award “The Midnight Sky”

Jim Bissell - Production Designer - We Create Dreamscapes - "The Midnight Sky" - "ET" Feb 25, 2021

Show notes

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 of his first films E.T. We talk about comparing his spaceship design from E.T. to The Midnight Sky. He reveals some Easter eggs from ET and The Rocketeer. The magic of trashing the house in Harry and the Hendersons. He won an Emmy Award in 1980 for his work on Palmerstown, U.S.A. followed by a BAFTA nomination for production design on Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. He has a Oscar nomination for Good Night and Good Luck. Three ADG nominations, and the ADG Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015, which.. He’s going strong, he might need another one.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Decorating Pages: TV and Film Design

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected