Today we’d like to introduce you to Julianne Loof.
Hi Julianne, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was a complete nerd from the beginning. And I would carry that title proudly into adulthood. It was seeing my first science fiction film in theaters that had really done me in. And even though later on I would find Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace to be—nostalgic good but terribly awful—it was the tip of the iceberg into my love of production design. I fell in love with the fact that the setting of a story could be a character on its own. After a few short films and a stint career in independent film distribution, I was introduced to the production designer of NBC’s Parenthood, Steven Jordan. I had the opportunity to work for Steven on a handful of shows including: Enlightened (HBO), Parenthood (NBC), Full Circle (DirecTV), and About A Boy (NBC). I joined the Art Directors Guild in 2014 on David Duchovny-led show Aquarius (NBC) as an assistant art director. My latest endeavor has been art directing season 2 of Mr. Mayor (NBC) starring Ted Danson.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like any job in production, there’s never a straight path to where you want to end up. If I couldn’t get art direction work, I’d turn to other work in production as either a construction assistant or a clearance coordinator. These jobs weren’t time wasted. In construction, I learned the ins-and-outs the department, become familiar with a variety of vendors and materials, and how to put together a budget. In clearance, I learned how a network thinks, what a good graphic mockup looks like and how to utilize my resources to get answers.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Most of my career art directing has been working in studio television. I’m the eyes and ears of the art department, the main interdepartmental communicator, and ultimate problem solver. I source materials, do a lot of research, and put out tiny fires all day. Since most of the job is always on the computer or phone, I found it necessary to find creative outlets outside of electronics. Luckily, I had ultra-talented Meirav Haber in my life, who just so happened to be my first roommate when I moved to Los Angeles. Following her lead, we have created two stop-motion shorts which picked up several recognitions within their film festivals circuits. A third project is currently in production.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
The most important advice I give is to always keep learning. Our industry is constantly changing and there’s always something new to learn around the corner. Each job comes with new responsibilities so keeping up with all of my skillsets has been my strongest asset. Programs I continually use include Vectorworks, Sketchup, Illustrator and Photoshop.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.julianneloof.com
