We had the good fortune of connecting with Prairie T. Trivuth and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Prairie T., how do you think about risk?
To follow your passion in art and design is to take a risk, but that is the only thing that I had on my mind when I decided to switch my design career from architecture to film and to move from Thailand to California three years ago. After spending eight years in architecture, I decided to move from a profession that relies on a programmatic process to a narrative-focused world. I did not have a single idea how it was going to play out, and I had a rocky start with several rejections and the inevitably increasing self doubt. The transition has been challenging, with a steep learning curve to climb in a short time. However, I also dare to say it has been the most exciting and rewarding decision in my life so far. I used to question my choice to move across the Earth and starting over in a new industry, and I would ask myself ‘what if I didn’t?’ and the thought of not having the experience I have right now would scare me so much that I would snap back and only look at what’s ahead. Now I think of it less as a career change, and more of an act of branching out in terms of design, and building more skill sets on top of a solid background I already possess, doing something I am passionate about, that can connect to people in a different way. I find that I do not have to have everything figured out and can just embrace my curiosity for the future.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The most exciting thing about designing for film is the opportunity to get imaginative but also grounded within sensibility and reality, especially as it is a different reality every time a new project starts. There is a whole another part of the story you are tasked to tell beyond what the script specifies, and that is where creativity, knowledge, and experience come into play. I enjoy exploring the possibilities of visuals and seeing the director’s vision materializes. My favorite part of work is when I collaborate as a production designer with independent filmmakers who have important stories to tell- it is a reward in itself to be part of the voices that deliver the message. My goal in design is not always only to replicate real life but also to create a space that can house these stories, emotions, and concepts, no matter how big or small.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Similar to many people in LA I am a transplant not a local, so from my perspective I’m certain some impression of LA in my mind might be subject to change over time but this answer is as honest as can be for now :

My favorite place in LA as corny as it sound is actually the UCLA campus. It’s walkable and lively and full of historical buildings and green areas. It is hilly so sometimes it’s somewhat a hike, but I never felt bored travelling on foot there even if it takes 30 minutes to get somewhere. I came from a denser city (Bangkok, Thailand) and the fact that LA is terminally reliant on cars had severely impacted my emotional health, so to have one community where I can walk everywhere.. I’m just really grateful for it.

As for food: Tacos 1986, Phorage Overland, Father’s Office if you are looking for fancy burgers, and Yabu if you are craving some cold soba.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My journey would not have existed without the support from my family, who are all in Thailand right now. Because I don’t get to see them for a long time, I came to reevaluate the connections I have with people back home and I feel more gratefulness and appreciation. Moreover, thanks to my architecture training both in school and work, I am lucky and privileged to be able to pursue higher education in the US at a proper time in my life, ready to learn new things, with enough knowledge and skill sets under my belt, and the maturity and ethics that I acquired overtime. The supportive educational environment that UCLA School of Theater Film and Television offered me has allowed me to grow artistically and professionally, with a clear goal in mind. Filmmaking is a collaborative effort and would be impossible without a strong team, and I would like to give a special shoutout to fellow student collaborators, advising faculties, and theater and film staff during my time at UCLA. Maybe it is because of the move and the feeling of starting over, I have grown to be extremely conscious of relationships with people around me and I do my best to conduct my life in gratitude. One of my biggest hope is to be in a position to show up for someone like they did for me.

Website: https://www.prairiett.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prairiettrivuth/

Other: email: prairiettrivuth@gmail.com

Image Credits
Prairie T. Trivuth Jackie Fang Marcus Patterson Graham Byers

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