Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/Becoming a set designer

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Expert: - 10/19/2010


Question

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I have a friend who's got a incredible eye for detail and is
absolutely amazing with lighting, building and setting up
scenes and props, and special effects.  He doesn't have any
formal education with any of this stuff, but you wouldn't
know unless you asked.

His current job involves manual labor but he's expressed
more than once now how amazing it would be to be able to do
this for a living (making enough to support his young
family).  Unfortunately, he doesn't know where to start or
who to contact in the San Diego area.  Would he have the
potential to make it if he moved to LA to become a set
designer or something that could utilize his abilities?  How
much can a good set designer make?

If there are no opportunities around here, is he better off
starting a business or something that would allow him to
utilize all this raw talent?

I created a little collage to showcase his work.  Thanks so
much for your answer!

Answer
Kat,

Unfortunately, the film and TV business is primarily union-controlled, so unless your friend is a member of the union, he won't have the chance to work on bigger projects and make a lot of money. There are, however, non-union projects he can work on, but he'd need to be living in LA in order to be considered for work.

The first thing he will need is a portfolio of his designs, drawings, renderings, blueprints, etc. that show his work as an artisan. Once he's got that, then he can begin taking interviews for work. He's probably looking at 5-10 years before he is actually hired to production design or art direct any films or TV shows. What he would most likely be hired to do is drafting (assuming he knows how to create blueprints) or working as a carpenter or set painter.

Hope this helps.

Phil  
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentThanks so much! Your answers are so informative. I will pass this information on to him!


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Phil Nemy

Expertise

I am a motion picture and television producer with over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry. I am also the author of the book GET A REEL JOB: Finding Your First Job In The Motion Picture Industry In Los Angeles. I can answers questions on a variety of subjects about careers in film from acting to directing to crew work, getting into the unions, successful strategies for networking, etc.

Experience

Former VP, Production for The Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group Supervised production on such films as ARMAGEDDON, THE PRINCESS DIARIES, REMEMBER THE TITANS, PEARL HARBOR, CON AIR, ENEMY OF THE STATE, THE ROCK, CRIMSON TIDE, COYOTE UGLY, A CIVIL ACTION, ROMY & MICHELE'S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION, NOTHING TO LOSE, EDDIE and others. Worked as an actor, stage manager, director on broadway and regional theater as well as L.A.' Equity-waiver scene. Former Associate Artistic Director of Los Angeles Equity-Waiver theater.

Organizations
Director's Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild, Actor's Equity Association

Education/Credentials
BFA in Acting/Directing from Carnegie Mellon University.

Past/Present Clients
I've worked with such filmmakers as Jerry Bruckheimer, Tony Scott, Steve Zaillian, Scott Rudin, Garry Marshall, Frank Marshall, Michael Bay, etc.

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