how i got into the business
JOHN THIGPEN Art Director/Set Designer On the Scene Design
http://onthescene_jt.home.comcast.net HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE BUSINESS? I started off with a BFA in Theatre. My college degree in theatre prepared me for a variety of work. I did pursue acting and directing, the tech field and then design. But I discovered few people were designing. Big plus, I could work on more shows as a designer. I enjoy the design process and collaboration with directors and the design team. The first local TV job I had was for Super Scary Saturday on TBS. I worked on the props. I soon learned my work experience on stage and on camera made me a better designer. WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE TO GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE IN YOUR PROFESSION? Finish your education. If you want a Master’s degree, get in the best school you can. Do a few jobs as a volunteer. Become a PA (production assistant) to see if this crazy business is right for you. Settle on one job area and go for it. IF YOU HAD IT TO DO ALL OVER AGAIN . . . I would SCHMOOZE more! WHAT ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR CAREER TREK? Assisting production designer, Paul Staheli, on Viacom productions of Diagnosis Murder, The Father Dowling Mysteries and the Perry Mason TV movies. WHAT HAVE OTHER CREATIVE OUTLETS DO YOU PURSUE? Public art and sculpture. I completed two historical themed sculptures for the City of Stone Mountain in 2010 and 2012 depicting granite workers and the trolley history there. I participated in Art on the Beltline in 2011. My ceramic sculpture has been on display at the US Botanical Garden, Washington, DC and in Lark Book’s “500 Raku.” WHAT ARE YOUR 3 MOST RECENT PROJECTS? The Originals, The Vampire Diaries & Let’s Stay Together. 42 | ozmagazine.com
TERRY L. WYNNE
Owner/President The Professional Edge www.theprofessionaledgeatlanta.com (Writer) HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE BUSINESS? “Terry, would you read this story aloud to the class?” My fifth-grade teacher asked me (and only me) every week. I was honored and decided I must be good at speaking in front of others. Why else would my teacher ask me to read aloud? I have always loved speaking and writing, but was I good at writing too? Validation came from my eleventh grade English teacher. “I didn’t get my term paper back,” I told her after she returned the graded papers to all the other students. She held mine to read aloud to the other students as an example of an A+ paper! Voila! I then knew I excelled in writing, as well as in speaking. Later, when I entered the working world, I had to attend numerous training seminars – all exceedingly boring. “I can do a better job as a trainer than them,” I told myself. So I became a trainer and wrote and delivered my own material, vowing to make my training both educational and entertaining. I then told myself, “If I can speak in front of colleagues and receive excellent ratings, surely I can talk into a microphone.” So I did! I wrote and recorded my own audio-visual presentation and presented it to a professional organization. They loved it! And so did I! Thus began my work as a voiceover talent. I even began my own talk show radio program interviewing professionals on a leased time radio station. They liked my programs so much that they aired them during all of their non-leased time slots. Today, I own a sole proprietorship and offer writing services, training seminars, voiceovers, career counseling and coaching (I’m a licensed professional counselor and board certified coach) and make talk show radio and television appearances.
BEST ADVICE TO YOUNG PEOPLE IN YOUR PROFESSION? You don’t need validation to do what you love. Listen to your heart and it will guide you to your career.
MARK MISENHEIMER
Art Director Misenheimer Creative www.MisenheimerCreative.com HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE BUSINESS? I regale you with my tale of my history in the fairefeatured trade, namely Art Direction+Chinchilla Farming. Living indoors and eating are goals that I share with many constituents and constables. To university I went, in that musically-resilient 1980s, grabbing a BCA in the Olde North State. Exiting Ivory Academia, job one was a small room with a ginormous stat camera with smelly chemicals and stale crackers, sporting orangeage amber and wire equipped maylines. Alas, this osmotic revelry ended after only 2 fortnights. I was sacked and asked to ride my noble steed off into the sunset. Thus, I began my syncopated rhythms of those who would follow the ‘art guns for hire’ call. Forging on, I took a job to serve the graphic need of the Tyvola masses, which was a great stay. Four years passed and an offer came for larger booty, with a bootery, no less, to the tune of 35K pence, sticking there like hair on a billygoat’s beard. After a year, methinks I left that employ due to an upcoming move to Termius, I was brought aboard a firm to design pieces for only 30 days. Never fear, my young pigsneys, on to Art Direction in the skyline zone at internationale blvd. After joining a fine graphic design studio, as Creative Director for 4 prosperous years. The wheels grind us dusts exceedingly slow, but exceptionally fine. So, in the new millennium, I become a solo designer man, which fortunately still allows me to live indoors & eat. It is without doubt the Hand of the Sovereign has appointed all of these enchanting opportunities. From thence we proceed.
BEST ADVICE TO YOUNG PEOPLE IN YOUR PROFESSION? I would say just be yourself, don’t forget where you came from, always be cordial to the neophytes when they ask you for advice, direction, etc.