Today we’d like to introduce you to James Bartol.
Hi James, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I am a filmmaker and production designer.
My passion for production design stems from a fascination with the ability to create our own worlds: to imagine and realize a space with its own atmosphere that has the power to house, cultivate, and enhance a narrative experience. I am continually inspired by my role as a designer to conceptualize the environment, build the surroundings, and set the scene for our stories.
I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Film and Television Production from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, with a concentration in Production Design and Art Direction, in May of 2013.
My production design credits include a variety of feature and short films that have been screened at festivals worldwide including the Malibu Film Festival, NewFest, Cinequest, Holly Shorts Festival, Cannes Film Festival, SXSW Film Festival, and Tribeca Film Festival. Television, print, and commercial projects include clients and networks such as Levi’s, Nordstrom, Estée Lauder, TruTv, Investigation Discovery, and MTV.
I am an alum of the Berlinale Talents program in Berlin, Germany, which I attended in February 2020. Other recognitions include the award for “Best Production Design” (for the film, Behind the Wall) at the Canberra International Film Festival in Australia (2015), and a nomination for “Best Production Design” (for the film Chateau Sauvignon: Terroir) at the Independent Horror Movie Awards (2015).
Most recently, I have enjoyed sharing my experience with the next generation of filmmakers as an adjunct professor teaching Production Design classes at Montclair State University.
I live in Manhattan, NYC, and work throughout the metropolitan area.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Working as a freelancer in the film/tv industry is not easy. There is a lot of hustle and work is inconsistent, but it can be so rewarding. To see a set design that you have developed from scratch, with your own unique voice, presented to audiences worldwide on television, in theaters, or on streaming services, is incredibly validating and fulfilling.
While I consider myself a generally creative person with many interests, the production of film and television projects satisfies an artistic need for me unlike anything else.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As a filmmaker, I specialize in product design. My flavor of design brings a nostalgic perspective to any narrative project I am working on. I have a deep interest in history and antiques, and the most enjoyable and personally successful film/tv projects for me are period pieces.
I believe my interest in history encourages and emphasizes my work. I have a passion for “objects” and the narratives they possess, and I believe this passion supports my work as a production designer in a unique way.
What do you think about happiness?
Happiness comes in many forms for me. It can mean a picnic in the grass in Central Park on a beautiful day, as well as time away from the city in rural Maine–embracing my roots and spending time with family.
Other things that bring me joy are baking, mixology, interior design, and teaching young people in film production.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jamesbartol.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesbartol/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/james.bartol/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-bartol-12807975/
