Meet Jake Tremblay | Production Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jake Tremblay and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jake, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I was inspired at a very young age to draw, create, and express myself through artistic outlets. My parents and family were generally supportive, except when I used crayons all along the hallway walls for one particular project. As I grew older and started reading and fantasizing about different worlds, heroes, villains, mythological beings, and ways of living, I would act out those stories with my brothers and friends. The power of storytelling to change people’s hearts and open their eyes and minds to new concepts, ideas, and ways of existing would not become clear at that young age, but looking back I can see the development that led to my decision to pursue an artistic career as I was nearing the end of my teen years and participating in civil rights groups, social justice theatre, and questioning the dogma in the performance of Catholicism that I had grown up under.

I decided to pursue Theatre for my undergraduate studies at the University of New Hampshire, and it was there that the history of storytelling as a tool for social change since the days of living in caves and swapping tales around a fire became crystal clear. Between the psychological aspects of acting and directing, the effects of lighting, costume, sound, color, and set design, and the shared experience and enlightenment of absorbing an artistic performance or installation, my toolbox as an artist and storyteller filled up and enhanced my future work. I explored many media, using my body as an art piece, as well as exterior outlets like music, digital rendering, and collaborative performance in theatre and film.

Now as an adult I can see the existential threats to our humanity more clearly – climate change and environmental destruction, hoarding of wealth and resources by a privileged few while the masses starve, and a fear of others based in ignorance and lack of education, I am more inspired than ever to reach other people’s hearts and souls, connect on a basic human level, and use the strength of our shared experiences on this floating rock to make the world a better and more beautiful place for everyone. Today I work as a Production Designer and Art Director in Hollywood, where I can maximize my impact on social dialogue, choose to uplift and promote diverse voices and ideas, and work together with other top artists and creators in service of the collective growth and empowerment of all people.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am most proud of my art when someone shares the impact it made on their own life. Encouraging other artists to pursue a creative career, inspiring people to critically question the environmental and social impacts of their words and actions, or simply bringing up emotions that culminate in a burst of laughter or tears from a release of memories, all give me the greatest feeling of gratitude for getting to contribute to another person’s journey.

What sets me apart is my attention to details that combine to create the whole, much like an impressionist painting where you get up close and see a myriad of considerations, blotches, and colorful blobs, but then you step back and it combines into one glorious, stunning story image. Things like finding environmentally friendly materials and processes, budgeting to make sure that all my fellow artists and craftspeople are being compensated fairly, hours of research into specific colors, textures, and historical or architectural details that breathe life into a piece, or recharging on a hike or in a museum are all parts of my process that add up to the work I am able to exert and share with my greater community.

It hasn’t always been easy, and I do get pushback when trying to emphasize sustainable efforts or include underrepresented and marginalized stories, devices, and voices. When I get negative reactions it can be frustrating, but underneath that I can see wheels turning in people’s minds, and as I observe folks long term and the effects of my presence and perseverance in sharing my art, I am encouraged to continue redefining and emphasizing our shared human experience. I see social and political shifts on macro levels, and in microcosms of conversations with friends and family who feel empowered to live more authentically because of the example I set in my own life and work.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love to drive up into the San Gabriel Mountains that overlook Los Angeles on my Ninja motorcycle. Getting to have that perspective of the entire city spread out below me refocuses me when I start to lose sight of my purpose, and encourages me to keep going. It’s almost like flying. The Getty Museum and Villa, the Huntington Botanical Gardens and Art Galleries, and Deep Creek Hot Springs are some of my favorite places to visit for inspiration and historical grounding, along with traditional Mexican and Indigenous spaces and ceremonies that I am grateful to be invited along to.

EcoSet, Green Set, Independent Studio Services, and Omega Cinema Props are some favorite film industry related locations that I frequent when working on projects, and I’ve also become a regular visitor to the Art Directors Guild, my union office where I recently was appointed Co-Chair of the Green Committee, working to promote environmental and circular approaches within the Art Department.

Food is a whole other story, and one of my favorite things about living here in Los Angeles. I have a variety of favorite Thai and ramen restaurants depending on where I am in the city, and some of my favorite memories with friends are exploring new restaurants that feature fresh, organic creations in all the quirky, creative, and unique places that local folks set up shop in. Nothing beats the cultural phenomena of swing night at Clifton’s Republic, a late night Reuben sandwich at Canter’s Deli, or the fresh fish tacos at Mariscos El Jato Jr! But watch out for that taco sauce, it’s so spicy that you’ll cry a little bit 🥲

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
If I were to list all the people who have had an impact on my life journey, it would fill an entire encyclopedia – so I’ll keep it short and sweet.

I would not be the person I am today without my family. My parents dedicated and sacrificed so much to enable me to pursue my artistic training, my brothers have been some of my biggest fans and co-conspirators since childhood, and my aunts and uncles, cousins, and grandparents have all shared experiences, skills, and memories that I carry with me every day.

My teachers and mentors, starting with my mother and father who homeschooled me during my formative years, my art and music instructors during childhood, and the dedicated public school teachers and university professors who continued my formal education, all left indelible marks on my ways of thinking, existing, and participating in this world. Jean Mann, Janet Ciano, Mike Lawson, Deborah Kinghorn, David Kaye, David Richman, Stephanie Patrick-Chalfant, and Diane Coller Wilson are all wonderful humans and I am forever grateful to have learned from them.

Professional mentors and industry friends and peers continue to guide me through new and unknown places, helping me to discover fresh perspectives and continue my learning and exploration of my current media. Janet Urban, my first mentor here in Los Angeles, shared some wisdom with me “You need to get comfortable being uncertain, because that is when growth and enlightenment happens. Keep a positive outlook and learning mindset, because that is the energy that draws other people to you.” Breanna Kristos, Marilyn Lopez, Katie Stenberg, Tamara Robertson, Tyler Simms-Hamilton, Maxwell Newton, Justin Ryan Brown, Dawn Snyder, Miranda Cristofani, Rachel Kamerman, Amelia Brooke, Liz Toonkel, Dean Fleischer-Camp, Raghav Reddy, Emma Sydney Menzies, Alison-Eve Hammersley, Ryan Pfluger, Reggie Chevalier, and Robert Siegelman are all amazing artists in their own rights, and I am changed for good because of their love and support.

Website: www.jaketremblay.com

Instagram: @jaketremblaydesign

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/jaketremblay

Other: imdb.me/jaketremblay

Image Credits
Primary Photo DSC_1359a – Nikhil Johns IMG_9655 – Dean Fleischer-Camp IMG_2855 – Reggie Chevalier elska…186 and …242 – Liam Campbell IMG_6993 – Marilyn Lopez