Join us for an insightful roundtable discussion with acclaimed TV production designers as they share their experiences and creative breakthroughs in the industry.
TV Production Designers Roundtable Highlights
In our Meet the Experts: TV Production Designers roundtable, Gold Derby gathered five acclaimed production designers to discuss highlights of their work this season and throughout their careers. Joining us were Bridgerton production designer Alison Gartshore, Mid-Century Modern production designer Greg Grande, 1923 production designers Lisa Ward and Cary White, and Only Murders in the Building production designer Patrick Howe.
Creative Solutions Under Pressure
During their conversation, the production designers shared their most surprising “happy accident” that occurred under a tight deadline, which ultimately improved a set or scene beyond its original vision.
“My motto is it’s better to be lucky than smart,” veteran designer White declares, reflecting on the many instances where planning is thrown out the window due to unforeseen circumstances. Co-designer Ward concurs, explaining that “there are days you just have to pivot and make decisions quickly. We lost locations that everyone loved, including the director. It’s painful when you can’t find anything that measures up.”
Finding Inspiration Amid Challenges
“There’s never enough time or money, and last-minute script and location changes are common. You have to go with the flow,” Gartshore adds about sparking creativity under pressure. “Sometimes, when you lack time and budget, that’s when the magic happens. You work on intuition and pull something out of the bag that surprises everyone.”
Happy Accidents in Design
“There have to be hundreds of those happy accidents,” Howe agrees, recalling the frenetic pace of designing for Only Murders. “I felt bad for our DP because the spaces were small, but the intimacy forced upon the shooting created a unique character dynamic. It was a happy accident that revealed the essence of each character in their modest apartments.”
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Last-Minute Changes and Teamwork
“It happens almost weekly with us,” Grande reveals. He recalls a particular incident where a hotel room set had to be converted into a lobby bar on short notice. “When you’re pushed against the wall, it’s amazing what everyone pulls through. The midnight construction crew deserves all the credit for making it happen.”
This article and video are presented by Hulu, Netflix, and Paramount+.
