We were lucky to catch up with Reeti Narayan recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Reeti, so great to have you on the platform. There’s so much we want to ask you, but let’s start with the topic of self-care. Do you do anything for self-care and if so, do you think it’s had a meaningful impact on your effectiveness?
When I started working in the film industry, I realized that the working hours are unusually long and people around me seemed to be completely okay with it. I’m somebody who focuses a lot on my mental and physical health and that has always been more important than any job for me. I’m not one of those artists who would give up everything in the name of art. Yes I am crazy and very passionate about my art and my work, but I do not do more than what my body can accept. If I need a break I take it. Traveling instantly resets me. Being in the nature. I do it when I feel like. Even if it’s sometimes at the cost of losing a few dollars on a job. I truly believe that work is only a small part of our lives and I don’t let it govern all of my decisions.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I work as a production designer or set designer in the film industry. I’ve mostly done TV shows for Netflix, Amazon etc. To name a few – All American, Homecoming, All Rise, The Consultant. I design new sets every episode, some on sound stages, some on locations. The most exciting part of this job is to see what I design on paper come to life. It feels pretty cool to see how filming is done. When I used to watch TV shows before getting into this industry, there are certain things I never thought could’ve been built on a sound stage. They looked extremely real. I’ve designed things like beaches and caves on stages.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I came to the US from India, with a background in Architecture. I never worked as an Architect professionally and neither did I ever work as a set designer back in India. I moved here to study production design at Grad school and then I was out of the bubble that grar school had created, and into the industry in a completely new country, in the middle of covid, where I didn’t have a network or know where to even begin.
I think the most important thing is resilience. I started cold emailing people for work, which most of my friends thought wouldn’t work, but that’s what landed me my first job.
I’ve always been a go getter. There have been jobs that have not been as smooth for me as a designer, but I didn’t let that affect me. I always aimed higher.
The other advice I would give people is to take whatever they get. I’ve seen a lot of people turn things down because they think the job is beneath them. I agree you need to estimate your own worth and not let people exploit you, but when you start out for the first few years building your connections and a trustworthy network is what matters most in this industry.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
This past year has been a bad one due to the writers and actors strike. I managed to do a few projects through it, but Union work had pretty much come to a complete stop. Things still haven’t picked up completely in the industry. I’m trying to keep my skills sharp by making designs for small events, for fabrication shops etc.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.reetinarayan.com/
