DIVERSE X U A N - A N
T H A I
2019 INTRODUCTION
Xuan-An Thai is a Production Designer based out of Manhattan, New York. "Every human heart beat is a universe of possibilities." - SHANTARAM
Film Production Furniture Art Direction
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ON SET The NYC chapter of Women in Moving Pictures has connected me to a myriad of opportunities ranging from communicating and executing visual concepts through look books to on set delegation and support. Additional experience: scheduling, budgeting, location scouting, set design, wardrobe, props, and on set carpentry.
SHORT FILM
BIR AL-ABED
Written and Directed by Hani Saqr
Production Design
NOVEMBER 2019 Hani and I worked closely to develop a scene by scene visual concept for the film. Head Production Designer responsibilities: communicating and organizing concepts into a lookbook, prop management and acquisition, production budget, set design, wardrobe, and on-set support. The original approximate budget was over $1,000, the final production cost was $433.95 under my management. I collected all props and hardware necessary to personally execute building, painting, and managing 7 main locations.
Click here to view the full Bir Al-Abed Lookbook.
SET DESIGN FOUNDATION Abed, a 9 year-old-boy has a simple wish; to get a new white shirt. His father and sister struggle to make this happen. The film is dedicated to the Bir Al-Abed martyrs of the 2017 Al Rawda Mosque attack in Egypt's North Sinai governorate. BEFORE
With a skeleton crew and cultural guidance from Hani, I transformed 3 walls in Harlem, NY into a studio apartment in Cairo, Egypt. I used layers of paint, stucco, and wood stain to recreate the texture and look of water damaged, concrete walls.
INSPIRATION
Completed filming December 2019.
FINAL
SHORT FILM
Black Coffee
NOVEMBER 2017 This was the first film I worked on with Hani Saqr. Through a grieving journey, a daughter traces the story of her dad's soul.
Assistant Art Director
My main role was offering on-set art direction and support over the course of filming. I staged interior scenes, developed the walls of the black and white scene above with ironed sheets, and managed props in all locations. Click here to view the film.
Written and Directed by Hani Saqr
POST PRODUCTION
AIRBNB PROTEST FOOTAGE
Art Direction
DECEMBER 2018 I was hired by Airbnb to offer on-set Art Department support for a series of vignettes in support of Airbnb hosting rights in New York. Main responsibilities: Interior set design, prop management, maintaining balanced framing, make-up, and photography assistance.
SHORT FILM
3 Minutes
Written and Directed by Vivi Thai
Production Design
SEPTEMBER 2017 As the Production Designer of '3 Minutes', I was in charge of set design for 4 different locations and 7 scenes. After collecting initial collaborative visual ideas with the director and crew, I created a lookbook for each scene. I kept us well under our prop and production budget, styled wardrobe, and helped secure locations for filming.
Click here to view the full 3 Minutes Lookbook.
BUILD While studying Architecture, I gained an appreciation for construction and started taking any craft; like woodworking or welding classes available. These skills developed into designing custom furniture from recycled materials. Building furniture and film set creation fulfill my creative and hands on curiosity.
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY A COURSE N O EFOR T H ALL E R LEVELS
CHAIR
digitalphotography.net
HYPATIA LAMP
ELBAT EEFFOC AVOK
SOPHIE LIGHT
Named after different female Mathematicians and Scientists that inspire me, these selected works highlight my design style, curiosity, and technical proficiency.
CLICK Over the 2018 summer, I was inspired by vintage antiques and would collect unique pieces to electrically wire into lamps. I organized this photo shoot at the Brooklyn Army Terminal to capture those creations and highlight some of my costume designs.
WATCH VIDEOS 3 Minutes: https://www.vivithai.com/videos Black Coffee: https://vimeo.com/253303943
CONTACT Xuan-An Thai xuanan.thai@gmail.com +1 646 546 0792