Today we’d like to introduce you to Nadja Antic.
Hi Nadja, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m a set/production designer from Belgrade, Serbia. After flirting with training to be an actor and painter for a while and preparing for Med School during the tumultuous teenage years, I found home in design for theatre and film. At that moment it felt like a perfect balance between engineering and problem-solving on one hand and fine art and exploration of human emotions on the other. So I studied scenography in undergrad, found my way to Tisch and I’m currently continuing the quest in the US.
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?
Changing my ecosystem, and the scale of it from Belgrade to New York City was terrifying, but I always try to find excitement in being scared and challenged. Being a working international creative in the US has inevitable challenges. It takes a lot of sacrifice and time to acclimate to a new environment and convince yourself that you are where you need to be (and that the incredible amount of paperwork required can’t kill you, even if it seems like it).
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m equal parts set designer and production designer. My aesthetic leaning in theater tends to be a bit abstract. I enjoy creating visceral work and having a live audience gives us the opportunity to explore tapping into the unconscious. I think the truth is important and I want my work to evoke the truth of the piece I’m working on. Additionally, I want to create an environment that allows the actors to move in it in a way that serves the play. Film often requires a more naturalistic sensibility, given that our focus is highly manipulated by the shots. Trying to create a space that we can control and mold with the camera movement never stops being exciting. I’m glad to be able to flex that muscle as well.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Hard question to answer without sounding holier-than-thou. I believe that complete honesty with yourself and what you desire allows you to move towards it in full force, and that inspires luck to meddle every once in a while. When it comes to bad luck, I never rationalize it – it just plays the role of the villain in my life (one I’m very fond of). It’s always comforting to have someone to blame other than yourself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nadjaanticdesign.com/
Image Credits
Headshot – Maria Baranova All theater production photos – Nadja Antic
