Today we’d like to introduce you to Prairie Trivuth.
Hi Prairie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I was an architect, I discovered that the bridge between practicality and my internal voice was to explore how a particular design can find its way to exist in a certain space and time to serve a purpose. By approaching a project with an additional layer of humanistic narrative, I could produce designs that exuded of their own spirit and delivered a fruitful impact for their users. With this creative rationalization process that I grew accustomed to, I realized my goal as a designer was to tell stories and evoke mutual understanding of a subject via a built environment. In my early career, I always looked back at motion pictures and storytelling and used them as inspirations for design. As time goes by, I became increasingly passionate about putting narrative in the forefront. I wanted to design and build something that shaped the context of the human condition. As a result, I solidified my resolution to pursue a higher education and career in production design and art direction for the film. I consider this change a crucial denouement of a long-term journey and a beginning of a new one that I was and am truly enthusiastic about. I am currently working a job that I love and enjoy and I am extremely grateful.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Although my architecture background did give me a head start in applying technical knowledge as well as a sense of aesthetics, to break into film was like learning a new language, especially in this context of moving across the world to pursue a dream career. I was not only trying to better my skills but also adapting to a culture that values certain aspects of myself that I did not pay much mind to when I was back home in Asia. It has been challenging but also rewarding to learn to have creative conversations and navigate the work environment in a new industry in a new country. Nevertheless, I sense a strong support from my mentors, colleagues, and the design and film community. I feel a sense of belonging and the confidence to keep outdoing myself in pursuit of a career in design for the motion picture, and I have never been more excited about my future.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I came to Los Angeles to become a production designer, scenic designer, and art director. With this opportunity and environment, I was able to learn and grow among fellow young creatives from diverse backgrounds, who all had profound stories to tell. One of my most favorite accomplishments would be to have participated in creating films that touched on important and powerful subjects, ranging from mental health to systemic oppression, in various positions from an art department assistant to the production designer. I absolutely enjoy the process of interpreting the written script and help translate it into visuals, creating a grounded logic of an imaginary world. In a way, filmmaking like we make something come to life through collaboration. It has been a privilege to work as a team on films where we deliver a message, evoke emotions, bring joy, and to improve myself through hands-on experience along the way.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
This came to me as unexpected but also unsurprising at the same time: no matter how brilliant your talent shines, the quality of your presence within the community and the team is determined by communication, organization, maturity, compassion, leadership, and empathy towards your colleagues and peers. I noticed that I have many flaws that I need to work on, but my experience as I work alongside diverse colleagues and collaborators who not only are talented but also kind has taught me so much and introduced me to several ways to be a genuinely good human being to work with. Therefore I would say people skill is one of the most important skill to learn, and the best way to learn it is from the people around you in a context where you would need this skill the most.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.prairiett.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prairiettrivuth/
- Other: https://vimeo.com/user88633576
Image Credits
Prairie T. Trivuth, Jackie Fang, Marcus Patterson, Graham Byers
