In this TVmaze exclusive, Emmy-winning production designer, James Pearse Connelly, talks about creating the sets and environments for today's most popular reality competition shows. He has meticulously enlivened compelling atmospheres for the likes of The Voice, Top Chef, The Biggest Loser, and the highly anticipated Law and Order: You the Jury, Sing! China, and Window Warriors. As the aficionado of competitive reality design – James gives in-depth insight into the field of production design, how he got there, and where he’s headed next!
1/ How did you know production design was for you?
It was the culmination of my upbringing that brought me to that magical moment my first day at Rutgers University. Being taught by my mother, a trained artist, and my father, a principal architect, as well as working backstage at my high school’s drama department, brought me to apply to conservatory arts programs. At the beginning of day one in Intro to Design, I specifically remember thinking, “So, all I have to do is read a play and build a diorama about where I think this play takes place? Well, that sounds like a lot of fun, this is so me.” Even though there are some other real world complications that exist in production design, like the politics and budgets, I still think this is so fun and so me.
2/ How did you get your foot in the door of production design for competitive reality TV?
The door sort of found me in a way. I started working in this industry after moving to Los Angeles in 2003 with the intention of just being a part of the world-building industry of production design. I shopped, painted, decorated and illustrated anything I could. Luckily it was at the height of experimenting with reality TV and its popularity, compounded with a massive writer’s strike, that there was a lot of demand for ambitious talent. I always take on what I can and promise to make it better than expected. I love this medium because there is so much creative freedom you have in design, no matter what size the budget.
3/ What are your inspirations for your reality show styles and sets?
Inspiration is not that predictable. However, I’ve found some luck on Pinterest, in new sexy restaurants, new fabulous hotels, resorts in Vegas, big art books at specialty bookstores, experimental young graphic designs, exhibits at trade shows, random flea markets and high end visual merchandising displays in Beverly Hills and NYC, illustrations of architectural projects/pavilions and travelling to Paris, NYC, China, Mexico, etc.
4/ What has been your favorite set or piece to create so far?
Just recently, I have appreciated one or two projects that have challenged me to develop some new techniques. Law & Order: You The Jury, a live legal courtroom show premiering in September on NBC, was an incredible experience in designing a space that was harmonious with the brand of Law & Order, as well as combining both stylish and exact realism of a courtroom for primetime television. Oh yeah, and it had to be shot LIVE. You have to watch, it’s actually very cool.
5/ What has been the most challenging set or piece you have created?
It has to be just recently back in China where we’ve been contracted to re-concept their very popular singing competition show, Sing! China. Over 60 million viewers! Imagine working in a place where not only language and translation is a challenge but some of the everyday tools we are used to are not available - like tape or ladders. I’m writing a blog post on what those challenges were like for my website if you want to know the specifics. That experience really pushed the potential of my team and made us stronger than ever. The Chinese culture is incredibly different than ours and the workmanship is remarkable - we really learned a lot from working together with them.
6/ What current projects are you working on/have just finished?
Currently doing production design on visual merchandising, in other words, window display art - a medium I find incredibly inspiring. Soon to be on GSN in November, Window Warriors is a competition of eight window artists designing live within their window. Not only have we built the entire landscape of competition that this art exists within, but each window is huge and in itself its own type of little theater with its own lighting, its own story and a massive piece of glass in front of it. Super cool, you have to watch it.
7/ Where do you see yourself going next within production design?
I love what I do and the organic journey it takes me on. What’s exciting is when it takes me to design pieces and spaces that once inspired me. I can’t tell you yet about the project I’m currently working on, however it is a large installation that the general public interacts with in a very popular hotel. Working on physical spaces of design-centric installation that audiences can walk through and experience that express my vision is really exciting. I won’t spoil the excitement however, think Big Vegas hotel lobby.
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Make sure to keep up with what James has in store next!
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Written by rand01 on Jul 7, 2016
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