Life & Work with Emma Fairley of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Fairley.

Hi Emma, 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 graduated from UCLA with a degree in Art History and after working for a while at Detour Magazine assisting the photo editor I got offered a job as a PA on The Wachowski siblings’ first feature – a movie called Bound. I started the next day and found myself thriving in a world of make believe, set design, scenic art and props. One of my first jobs was to paint out a tiny burgundy triangle on hundreds of square feet of wallpaper because it was outside the color palette that the designer had concepted . It took me days but I loved the task and aligned myself with that kind of dedication to the finished product. I moved from Art PA to Shopper to Set Decorator and now today am a Production Designer. My first jobs were in commercials and music videos, learning the ropes. Working in music videos you learn quickly, often being given highly creative concepts to pull off with very, very little money. Once you get a handle on this, it is where your power lies in the world of production – you can do anything when you can wear all the hats and dumpster dive! Moving from music videos into commercials was like an entirely different job description where things became much more restrained but all of it was preparation for the world of feature films where I work mostly today.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Working freelance has always come with the insecurity of not knowing where your next job comes from and that can be unsettling but I have always enjoyed the freedom that comes with it. Some of the hardest parts of working in film are the time spent away from home but it is always made up for by the time off after a long project.

I haven’t had struggles in this industry that I can speak to really.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a Production Designer who works on films, music videos and commercials. I love the art form for the way that it demands a strictly visual interpretation of a script From the concept design of a film to the construction, scenic work, decorating and prop invention it is a chance to create either a highly conceptual or emotional world be it for the character or the time period. Choosing props is one of my favorite parts because they function on a deeply personal level for the character bringing the viewer into a world where nostalgia or imagination reigns.

One of the films that really made me want to work in film was The Cement Garden by Andrew Birkin. There is a scene where the brother, deeply depressed decides to butter his toast by just dragging the piece of bread across the top of the slab of butter. It says so much in one action. That was the decision of the prop person and director. To put the butter and toast on the table without a knife – forcing the character to make a decision informed by his state of mind and environment around him. As a result – the viewer really gets the chance to understand that moment in the characters life.

I love the films of Mike Leigh and Ken Loach for their accomplishment in set design and props. They hire designers who understand the characters in a visceral and emotional way.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I am hoping that with the shift in this industry we will see more independent films in the next few years. This year alone we are seeing many more examples of films without big traditional studio backing and as a result we are seeing more risk taking and artistic leaning films.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.emmafairleyproductiondesign.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmafairleyproddesign/

Image Credits
Lords of Chaos, Mrs Davis, Beyonce Haunted, Coldplay Magic, Clark