Darcy Prevost works on EARTH TO NED
Darcy Prevost (class of 2005) worked on the Disney+ original series Earth to Ned which premiers today. You can read the recent article about this production here. Darcy talked about her journey after leaving Pitt and how she got involved with this and other productions.
Information about Darcy –
My name is Darcy Prevost and I'm a set designer and production designer working out in Los Angeles. After taking my first "intro to design" class with Julie Ray at Pitt back in 2003/4 she taught me that being a set designer was a real job and that I might have what it takes to become one. So, I interned for year at the Denver Center after graduation and then proceeded to get my MFA at UC Irvine (Same program as Julie) before moving up to Los Angeles to start trying to break into the industry.
How did you get involved with production?
I was working as an art department assistant back in 2013 when I got a call from Brian Henson who had been given my name from a few theater designers I had assisted in the past. He wanted me to come in for an interview to assist on a new show called "The Jim Henson Creature shop challenge". I was brought in to make models and do illustrations to assist the production designer. Over the years I kept being asked back to work on projects including my first job as a production designer on "The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell". Brian Henson and his producing partner Vince Raisa called me early last year to see if I was interested in designing a talk show set on an Alien Space Ship and I couldn't say yes fast enough.
What was the best part of being involved with Earth to Ned?
I love designing shows for puppets. It's a childhood dream come true to see these creatures brought to life on a set from my imagination. I love getting to collaborate with the other members on the team, the producers, directors, puppeteers etc.
What knowledge or experience was new and helped you grow as an artist through your collaboration on this series?
Believe it or not but this was my first time designing a set that's made up of Alien architecture. There's not exactly a great research pool to get a starting point, it's not as simple as looking up Victorian architecture for references. It felt very theatrical to design a set this way, I started with a sculpted physical model and learned a ton about having a set built that way in such a large scale.
What advice would you give to current and incoming Theatre Arts students about a career path in the arts after school?
I truly believe anyone can be successful in a career in theater or television/ film if they have a real passion for it. Anyone who works in either industry will tell you horror stories about the hours one has to work to be successful so make sure it's something you're completely in love with before perusing it as a career.
What do you wish you knew when you were in school that know now?
I wish I could look back at myself when I was first starting out and really struggling financially and trying to get my foot in the door. I'd love to show a picture of myself surrounded by puppets on a set I designed and say "look, you did it! You can stop worrying so much now, you'll get there eventually."
