Check Out Dylan Hutchins’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dylan Hutchins

Hi Dylan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I know it kind of sounds cliche to say that I “manifested my reality,” but to tell you the truth, I totally did. I Grew up in a super small picturesque artsy town and had an epic 80.s childhood, playing with action figures, collecting comics, exploring the forest and quarry’s around our house, riding bikes, skateboarding, and at the end of the week yearning for the “Disney” Sunday movie, “Fraggle Rock,” “Dr. Who,” and whatever other inspiring escapes from small town life I could get my hands on.
My Mother being an Actress and my Dad being a Decorator and Antique collector I was kind of thrust into all things “Arts” at a super young age. Pottery, carving, painting, papier mache and dance were definitely a constant in my life in the “hands on” side of it, and then having the luxury of attending plays, musicals and pantomime with my grandparents quite regularly really propelled me visually in this grandiose, heavy textures and magical color laden World that was Production and Costume Design.
Fast forward to my teens as a rebellious skateboarder now living in a City, sure the magical childhood was still somewhere inside, but now the angst of teenage life and devotion to the beauty of all things street kind of tabled my interests for awhile.. It was now a world of graffiti, hip hop style, street lights, curbs, ledges and seeing things from a totally different perspective. My “Age of Enlightenment?” Maybe.
The next few decades was a journey in the film industry starting in Scenic Painting, and learning everything finishes from one of the best in the Business, then transitioning into Set Dressing, for many years followed by On Set Dressing which I feel every real Production Designer needs to do as it sharpens your problem solving, drives into your head the importance of “the frame” and very importantly educates you fast on each and every single department and what role they play in making magic happen. Back when I was on set we were still using film and Polaroids, so yes definitely a golden time, but also a time when you had to prove your chops fast.
I now for a solid decade have been working as a Production Designer which I think was the natural true progression tapping into every single piece of my life’s journey. From the small arts town and love of Disney and Puppeteering to the exploring of forests, and the exposure to theater and ballet, To the street culture I thrived in during my many years as a skateboarder, to the school of hard knocks learning the craft with my many years on set. I come full circle, and as that little kid in the town of 500 to where I am today, I don’t know again if it’s my manifestation of the life I wanted, or just a classic cliche Hollywood tale.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road for me. As an artist with a bit of a rebellious spirit it has taken many years and let’s call them “learning opportunities” to get where I am today. You know, you can be the best artist on Earth, but if you walk around with a bad attitude and a chip on your shoulder, you sadly may not become the success story you could be. I tell that to my PAs and young guns in the industry. Don’t get jaded, lose the attitude and don’t ever forget how gifted we are to be able to play as a career.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As a Production Designer I think my reputation as an artist is that I can create some super creative big beautiful sets, and not just big sets, but sets that exude attention to detail through harmonious colors, textures, fabrics, architectural elements, furniture, etc. I think another thing that I carry with me reputation wise is my “make it happen” attitude. I fancy myself a “yes” man and “dream maker” and if a story needs to be told I always put the “art” and “creative” to the front of the line and save the bureaucracy for later. Definitely think my range is also a big feature of what I’m known for as well, as my design style is not specific and I can supersede any expectations creatively that come my way no matter what the project is.
I am super proud that I have gotten to showcase this in many different sets and productions over the years and have worked with such an amazing range of performers and crew.
Super thankful for all the blessings that have come my way.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Major advice for somebody coming up in the industry is you don’t know it all yet. Do not attach a title to yourself and a rate until you really have gone through the trenches and absorbed everything you can, looking at the art from all angles. Learn the other departments too so that the mutual respect element becomes a no brainer. Most of my knowledge really came from that trial and error on set experience and being told many times that I didn’t know what I was doing when I thought I knew it all. Also I can’t stress enough to lose the bad attitude and be open to other’s opinions.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Theworldofdylanhutchins