Any stage of film set designers?

Question

I am currently in school studying scenic design and hoping to pursue a career in Film Set Design. Anyone know of any good places to start my career? Where are some good places to intern? I'm thinking of going to Disney College next summer and interning at Disney World, would this be a good place to start?

Answer 1

Disney might be a little too dramatic... my friend worked for them, and she got paid very little and didn't get as much experience as she would elsewhere, since working for Disney has the benefit of being able to say "I work for Disney"

Internships are best when it's for a small place and you're given a lot of responsibility. It might not be as exciting designing sets for a company that does local commercials, but you will be doing more of the design, and will be able to include much more of the design as your own in your portfolio, whereas Disney might only let you do small parts of a design that someone else does the majority of the work.

I'm not a set designer, but I am a designer, and I know how important a portfolio is to big employers.

So that's my recommendation - start smaller and build up a portfolio of work that you can claim as your own, at least for a few years. Then, if your ultimate goal is to work for Disney, you will be able to start higher up on the design chain, making real decisions rather than having to go with the flow as a n00b.

Answer 2

I am not in the business but you have picked the right direction.
People don't realize how much film and video is shot in Central Florida.
Beside the Disney studios, Universal, Nickleodeon and UCF is where the guys from Blair Witch Project got their degrees in film. We are home to Backstreet Boys, INSYNC, Limp Biskit, John Anderson, Sawyer Brown, Tom Petty and more...all shot home video, professional videos and film here in the Orlando area.