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Hi I'm Morgan :)
Production design is a balancing act between aesthetics, budget, and efficiency.
The imagination is infinite, but there is only so much that can be seen in a frame. Oftentimes, so much is left out of the frame or not even seen. To me, this is a waste of money and time.
As a production designer, my intention is to make the frame as efficient as possible. The things inside of it should be effective in telling the story in the quickest and easiest way, while still coming in on budget.
That's why visualization and real-world recreation are such important parts of my process. I've seen too many cases where things are over-designed or chosen for the wrong reasons, and they end up not being used in the final film.
I use 3D, LiDar, VR, photo reference, sketch, Ai image generation to achieve proper clarity and efficient execution.
It's also important to me to really understand the story that I'm trying to tell, both thematically and visually.
There's a vast difference between the visual styles of Terry Gilliam and Michael Bay, for example.
I find that speed and budget are often related to the choices that are made. If the choices are clear and easy to make, then I can be faster and come in on budget. That's why I like to start the process by discovering the essential ideas and vital choices.
If the ideas are still incubating, then I use visualization and conversations to help me determine what is absolutely essential to tell the story. Just like in a good improv scene, you want the tight, succinct lines that deliver everything in that one moment.
I see production design in the same way. It's about creating a focused, high-quality visual understanding that makes the audience instantly get what the filmmakers are presenting.
Morgan Gillio
mgdesign.io
310.710.7935
Television Commercial Art Director & Production Designer
Various Production Companies, Los Angeles, CA
2003 - PRESENT
Brand collaborations include: Lexus, Nike, PlayStation, T-Mobile, Gucci, Nickelodeon, Marvel, Toyota, NBC
Music Video Art Director & Production Designer
Various Production Companies, Los Angeles, CA
2001 - PRESENT
Notable Music Videos: Bella Poarch with Sub Urban: "Inferno" (132M+ views on YouTube), Lil Dicky: "Freaky Friday" (736M+ views on YouTube), Adele, The Strokes
Network Television Series Art Department
Cartoon Network, Los Angeles, CA
2018 - 2019
Adult Swim series Dream Corp LLC
SKILLS
- SketchUp, Revit, Blender, Photoshop, Unreal Engine, and more.
- Local 800 art directors union
- Liaison between advertising agencies and commercial production companies
- Manage budgets of $25,000 - $350,000
- Manage and direct staffs of 14 people
References and additional information available upon request