Apotheosis: A Production Design Podcast
Apotheosis is a production design podcast from the Production Designers Collective, hosted by Alexander Whittenberg. It features in-depth conversations with visual storytellers who craft cinematic worlds, exploring the art and soul of production design. The show is hosted and produced by Alexander Whittenberg, with additional production by Gavin Mosier and original music by Nathan Avakian.
Episodes
Episode 24: Karen Murphy on Designing The Bride!, A Star is Born and More
Listen in as PDC member Karen Murphy (Elvis, A Star is Born, The Bride!) chats about breaking the rules, unexpected sources of inspiration, and standing up for what you believe. Hosted & Produced by Alexander WhittenbergProduced by Gavin MosierOriginal Score by Nathan Avakian
Episode 23 | Anne Seibel on Designing Midnight in Paris, Emily in Paris and More
Listen in as PDC member Anne Seibel (Midnight in Paris, The New Look, Emily in Paris) chats about her work bringing the world of Paris to life through several different perspectives over time, the discoveries made by sketching, and the value of escaping reality, if only for a moment.Hosted & Produced by Alexander WhittenbergProduced by Gavin MosierOriginal Score by Nathan Avakian
Episode 22 | Akin McKenzie on Ways of Seeing
Listen in as PDC member Akin McKenzie (The Woman King, Native Son, Wildlife) unpacks why travel, language, and cultural differences can transform a designer’s eye - and why the best work often comes from noticing the vibrations of a place rather than forcing your own assumptions onto it.Hosted & Produced by Alexander WhittenbergProduced by Gavin MosierOriginal Score by Nathan Avakian
Episode 21 | Gideon Ponte on Fashion Design and The Art of Being Pessimistically Hopeful
Listen in as PDC member Gideon Ponte (American Psycho, Buffalo 66) chats about his work designing for major fashion brands, the beauty of discarded imagery, and leaving room for the unexpected.Hosted & Produced by Alexander WhittenbergProduced by Gavin MosierOriginal Score by Nathan Avakian
Episode 20 | Notes from the Field: Jade Healy on Designing The Invite
Listen in as PDC member Jade Healy (Marriage Story, The Green Knight, I,Tonya) chats about her work designing Olivia Wilde’s new film, The Invite.Hosted & Produced by Alexander Whittenberg Produced by Gavin Mosier Original Score by Nathan Avakian
Episode 19 | Sara K White and Susanna Fogel on Creating the Worlds of Ponies and More
Listen in as PDC member Sara K White and writer-director Susanna Fogel chat about their work together across many projects, including Ponies, The Wilds and The Flight Attendant.Hosted & Produced by Alexander WhittenbergProduced by Gavin MosierOriginal Score by Nathan Avakian
Episode 18 | François Audouy on Designing Euphoria, A Complete Unknown and more
Listen in as PDC member François Audouy chats about his work on Euphoria Season 3, A Complete Unknown, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and more.Hosted & Produced by Alexander WhittenbergProduced by Gavin MosierOriginal Score by Nathan Avakian
Episode 17 | Jamie Morgan Lapsley on Finding the Story Beneath the Design
Listen in as PDC member Jamie Morgan Lapsley (Grow, Bodyguard, Dinosaur) chats with host Alexander Whittenberg about designing prehistory, diving deep into research and weaving a tapestry of cinematic inspirations over time.Hosted & Produced by Alexander WhittenbergProduced by Gavin MosierOriginal Score by Nathan Avakian
Episode 16 | Eugenio Caballero on Designing Roma, Pan’s Labyrinth and more
Listen in as PDC member Eugenio Caballero (Roma, Pan’s Labyrinth) chats with host Alexander Whittenberg about recreating nature, the architecture of catastrophe and the power of memory.Hosted & Produced by Alexander WhittenbergProduced by Gavin MosierOriginal Score by Nathan Avakian
Episode 15 | Sarah Greenwood & Katie Spencer on Creating the Worlds of Barbie, Darkest Hour and More
In the first episode of Apotheosis: On Collaboration, PDC Member Sarah Greenwood and her longtime Set Decorator Katie Spencer reflect on their years of collaboration across many acclaimed films including Barbie, Anna Karenina, Beauty and the Beast and Darkest Hour. Check out the episode on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Don't forget to rate and subscribe!Hosted & Produced by Alexander Whittenberg
Episode 14 | Grace Yun talks Beef, Past Lives and Hereditary
In Episode 14 of Apotheosis, PDC member Grace Yun (Beef, Hereditary) chats about the sets of Beef, designing for horror in a non-traditional manner and the power of negative space.Hosted & Produced by Alexander WhittenbergProduced by Gavin MosierOriginal Score by Nathan Avakian
Episode 13 | Andrea Purcigliotti on Designing for the Saturday Night Live Film Unit
In the latest episode of Apotheosis: Notes From the Field, PDC member Andrea Purcigliotti (SNL, Real Housewives of NYC) chats about her work in reality television and the fast-paced world of designing for the iconic film unit of Saturday Night Live.Hosted & Produced by Alexander WhittenbergProduced by Gavin MosierOriginal Score by Nathan Avakian
Episode 12 | Susie Cullen on Designing Blue Moon, Abigail, and More
In Episode 12 of Apotheosis, PDC member Susie Cullen (Blue Moon, Abigail, Drop) chats with host Alexander Whittenberg about recreating the iconic NYC institution that is Sardi's and how the tone of the script is a character in itself.Hosted & Produced by Alexander WhittenbergProduced by Gavin MosierOriginal Score by Nathan Avakian
Episode 11 | From the Archives: Ralph Eggleston on Designing Finding Nemo, WALL•E, and Inside Out
The late Ralph Eggleston (Finding Nemo, WALL•E) chats with host Alexander Whittenberg about serving as the visual architect for countless imaginative worlds featured in the films of Pixar Animation Studios.Hosted & Produced by Alexander WhittenbergProduced by Gavin MosierOriginal Score by Nathan Avakian
Episode 10 | K. K. Barrett on Lost in Translation and Character Driven Design
In Episode 10 of Apotheosis, PDC member KK Barrett (Lost in Translation, Her, Being John Malkovich) chats with host Alexander Whittenberg about the importance of scale, the value of quietness, and the joys of failure.Hosted & Produced by Alexander WhittenbergProduced by Gavin MosierOriginal Score by Nathan Avakian
Episode 9 | Jean-Vincent Puzos on Designing Amour and the Future of Filmmaking
Listen in as PDC Member Jean-Vincent Puzos (Amour, Jungle Cruise, Beast) reflects on the importance of travel, the importance of authenticity in Amour and the future of filmmaking. Hosted & Produced by Alexander Whittenberg Produced by Gavin Mosier Original Score by Nathan Avakian
Episode 8 | Notes From the Field: Chris Trujillo on Designing Stranger Things
Join us for the latest episode in an ongoing sub-series of the podcast, Apotheosis: Notes From the Field. Listen in as PDC Member Chris Trujillo (Echo, Glass, Boogie) reflects on his experience of designing the many worlds of Stranger Things across five seasons.Hosted & Produced by Alexander Whittenberg Produced by Gavin Mosier Original Score by Nathan Avakian
Episode 7 | Patrice Vermette on Designing the Ancient Future of Dune and The Art of Subtraction
In this episode, listen in as PDC Member Patrice Vermette (Dune, Dune: Part Two, Prisoners) speaks about the influence of music on his artistic life, building the ancient future for the Dune films, and embracing creative intuition. Don’t forget to rate, share, and subscribe.Hosted & Produced by Alexander Whittenberg Produced by Gavin Mosier Original Score by Nathan Avakian
Episode 6 | Notes From the Field: Alexandra Schaller on Designing Train Dreams
Join us for the latest episode in an ongoing sub-series of the podcast, Apotheosis: Notes From the Field. Listen in as PDC Member Alexandra Schaller (After Yang, The Get Down) reflects on the experience of leaning into nature and designing the transcendent world of Train Dreams.Hosted & Produced by Alexander WhittenbergProduced by Gavin MosierOriginal Score by Nathan Avakian
Episode 5 | Beth Mickle on The Fortress of Solitude to the Future of Film Design
Listen in as PDC Member Beth Mickle (Superman, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3, Drive) visits the virtual studio to reflect on making Super 8 films as a child, re-imagining the Fortress of Solitude and promoting a future of equity, diversity and work-life balance in the film industry.Hosted & Produced by Alexander WhittenbergProduced by Gavin MosierOriginal Score by Nathan Avakian
Episode 4 | Nathan Crowley on Designing the World of Wicked, Interstellar, and More
In this episode, we’re joined by Nathan Crowley (Wicked, Interstellar, The Prestige) to talk about his unexpected path to Hollywood, planting 9 million tulips for Munchkinland and the pleasures of practical filmmaking.Hosted & Produced by Alexander WhittenbergProduced by Gavin MosierOriginal Score by Nathan Avakian
Episode 3 | Notes From The Field: Jeannine Oppewall on Designing Maria's Lovers
Join us for the first episode in an ongoing sub-series of the podcast called Apotheosis: Notes From the Field. Listen in as Jeannine Oppewall (Catch Me If You Can, Pleasantville, Seabiscuit) shares her essay My Movie with Andre, about her time working on the film Maria’s Lovers.Hosted & Produced by Alexander WhittenbergProduced by Gavin MosierOriginal Score by Nathan Avakian
Episode 2 | Rick Carter and His Philosophical Journey into Building Cinematic Worlds
In this episode, we’ll turn on, tune in, and trip out with fellow PDC Board member Rick Carter (Avatar, Jurassic Park, Forrest Gump).Hosted & Produced by Alexander WhittenbergProduced by Gavin MosierOriginal Score by Nathan Avakian
Episode 1 | Inbal Weinberg and Kalina Ivanov discuss the Production Designers Collective
In our inaugural episode, we’ll explore the creation and evolution of the Production Designers Collective with co-founders Inbal Weinberg (The Room Next Door) and Kalina Ivanov (The Penguin).Hosted & Produced by Alexander WhittenbergProduced by Gavin MosierOriginal Score by Nathan Avakian
Welcome to Apotheosis: A Production Design Podcast
Welcome to Apotheosis, an ongoing odyssey into the world of film design.Hosted & Produced by Alexander WhittenbergProduced by Gavin MosierOriginal Score by Nathan Avakian
