Meet Shirley Guo | Production Designer & Concept Artist

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

Hi Shirley, is there something you believe many others might not?
I don’t disagree but I misunderstood this advice for the longest time. “Follow your dreams”. I initially thought it meant having to stick through one big dream, well planned out and purposeful. It became a looming identity crisis in my early 20’s while I was still trying to figure it out – what do I want to show to the world? What does it say about me? Is it original? There was a point where it felt like an unbearable weight that I couldn’t handle – maybe I am not meant for this career/industry, I am not good enough, my dreams are unattainable. That one big dream shattered, but out came a myriad of dream shards, constantly breaking into pieces and morphing with each other. It feels liberating to be surrounded by dreams, a testament of my ever evolving self. I’ve come to embrace the seemingly unattainable dreams because just having them is a damn beautiful feeling. The longing is enough to keep me going.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I love expressing fragments of my dreams through my work, and there is nothing more affirming than sharing that dream with others. The collaborative process opens up worlds within worlds – a never-ending rabbit hole of ideas and expression that I can only describe as dreaming while you’re awake. But that’s the easy part. Turning those ideas into reality takes a calculated leap of faith, but with a good team, anything is possible.

The challenges that arise usually stem from restrictions in time and budget, which could be a blessing in disguise. Without these challenges, some ideas would have never come to be, some narratives would never have evolved, and some tricks would have never needed to be learned.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Get in your car, get on your motorcycle, we’re going on a canyon run.

Angeles Crest: begins in La Canada-Flintridge, head 2 North. I like to take the route from Upper Big Tujunga Canyon from Sunland. There’s a hidden observatory up there with a cafe with the sickest views of the Crest. Note: heavy traffic going uphill in the afternoon, make sure you’re going downhill if you’re riding during rush hour.

Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu: begins in Santa Monica heading west on the 1. Truly starts at Las Flores Canyon Road, honorable mention: Encinal Canyon Road, Neptune’s Net. You’ll always spot a car meet or motorcyclists showing off their bikes, so feel free to pull over, grab a bite and enjoy the sounds and smells of Cali car/bike culture.

Glendora Mountain Road: begins off East Sierra Madre Ave. and ride through the San Gabriel Mountains. Crazy back to back hairpin turns.

There are beautiful highways all over SoCal, let yourself take that turn you’ve been eyeing for awhile and you will be surprised where it’ll lead you.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many that have impacted my life, inspired and encouraged me on the way. In small or big ways, these people left a lasting imprint on my journey I will never forget. Foremostly, I’d like to thank the amazingly talented and sweet soul Rupali Ingle who introduced me to Shoutout LA. A driving force for women in the art department, I am incredibly lucky to have met this ambitious, free-spirited firecracker that is Ru, and will always look to her as my art department sister.

Another cherished sister in my journey is Julia Vela, a dear friend whose quick thinking, explosion of ideas, and passion for creation inspire me like no other. She is a go-getter with the precision of a sharpshooter, and has made a mark on me. Another cinemasister to look out for is the amazing Cortney Kammerer. Her passion for filmmaking is infectious and captivating, and her vision encapsulates the visceral sensories of memories, a production designer’s dream director, both on and off set.

Other talented individuals to look out for: Taylor Chen, Tigerlily, Stephannie Moreno, John Kim, Louis Schwartz.

My current homebase: AllSets Design & Construction, Hotstrike Studio. Eternal gratitude to Ian Singleton and Lauren Oh for the priceless lessons and experience in design, all the while setting an example of what “teamwork makes the dream work” truly means.

The crew of CSI: Vegas Season, Snowfall, White Men Can’t Jump, you know who you are and I am still in love with you.

Instagram: @swiggityswoogitt

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirley-guo-018294168/