Veteran Film Set Decorator, Caroline Perzan brings 30 years of experience working on Academy award winning feature films and Emmy award winning television to the residential and commercial design industry. Caroline has a rare ability to translate interior spaces into true expression of a character or individual. Her time at the school of the Art Institute of Chicago in college inspired her to infuse her great love of utilizing and curating fine arts into the big screen to reflect the particular set and or character.
Some of the best directors and producers in Hollywood have selected Caroline for her ability to intuitively translate a character’s expression of personality and mood into a visual representation of interior space.
While most designers rely on reviews and referrals, Caroline Perzan Design has the added benefit of being seen on the small and large screen
Caroline Perzan has been creating sets that enhance characters and storylines for years, and now she is looking forward to enhancing the storyline of your life!
Caroline also has an immense passion for teaching college students and young film professionals the industry knowledge and techniques that she has learned over the past 30 years.
Beauty with a Particular Purpose
Caroline Perzan Design sees your life through a unique lens
Courtesy of Chicago Magazine
Photography by Clayton Hauck
Taken on the set of "Empire" stage build
What is a Set Decorator?
A Set decorator is a key member of the Film and Television design team, working closely with the Director and Production Designer. The Set Decorator researches, resources, designs, builds and acquires the objects required to dress the sets. Typical examples of set dressing include furniture, drapery, lighting fixtures, art and decorative objects. The Set Decorator is also charged with large scale items, which could include machinery or robots, sidewalk and window dressing, street lamps or mailboxes, and even explosion aftermath rubble and debris.
The Creative Process
Over the course of preparation and shooting a Set Decorator will:
Collaborate: Consult with the Production Designer, Director, Producers, Costume Designer, Construction Coordinator, Cinematographer and other filmmakers regarding the design, decoration, lighting, and practical considerations for each set on the project.
Budget: Negotiate with the Producer for approval of estimated costs, and monitor the Set Dressing Purchases & Rentals Budget, and the Set Dressing Labor Budget.
Hire: Put together the Set Dressing Crew and supporting contractors, supervise the work, and troubleshoot all projects.
Organize: Break down the script, sets and practical locations, plan the list of objects to be acquired for each environment, and schedule acquisition and fabrication per the shooting calendar.
Research: Prepare presentations with reference, fabric swatches, and colors, with inspiration from period and style appropriate for each setting.
Imagine: With the Production Designer and Art Director the Set Decorator will imagine how characters and environments are to be portrayed and reflected within the layers of the set.
Shop: For set dressing purchases and rentals: furniture, fabrics, decorative objects, industrial items, lighting fixtures, and elements to be altered or incorporated into custom fabrications..
Design: Create dressing plans, draw or work with illustrators and draftspersons, to devise custom-made objects, and alterations of existing items. These may include drapery, floorcoverings and upholstery; furniture; decorative objects, or painting and aging of set dressing,
Fabricate: Oversee scenic artists, sculptors, prop makers, propshop, metalsmiths, drapers, furniture makers, carpenters, florists, and myriad of specialty craftspeople to achieve the finished custom set decoration elements designed for each environment.
Dress: Oversee dressing of the sets by the Set Dressing crew, to fulfill our vision and serve the overall Design team -- the Production Designer, Director and Creative Producers on the project.
Present: Open each new set with the Director, making any required adjustments.