Ms. Patil: Charting New Horizons – An Interview with India’s Acclaimed Production Designer

Ms Shantishree Patil has quickly emerged as one of Indiarsquos most celebrated production designers working internationally Her work is known for its emotional depth cultural authenticity and bold visual storytellingShe was the Production Designer for Machine Engineer Love which premiered at the LA Shorts International Film Festival and won Best Romantic Short at the Independent Shorts Awards Her haunting and intimate design work in Peeling Off contributed to its selection at the Chicago Horror and Garden State Film Festival The film has also won Best Production Design at a few festivals and is set to premiere at the upcoming LA Shorts International Film FestivalAs Art Director for You Can Never Go Home she helped shape a powerful visual language that earned the film Best LGBTQ Short at the Independent Shorts Awards and selections at Indie Short Fest Oxford Film Festival and the Asian Film Festival Los AngelesIn La Cumbia Soma her construction coordination helped bring a vibrant Mexicoset story to life on stage leading to its official selection at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival LALIFF a key platform for Latinx cinemaMs Patil continues to bring a fresh perspective to global cinema merging researchdriven design with creative vision to craft spaces that truly elevate storytellingInterviewQ Your film ldquoMachine Engineer Loverdquo premiered at the LA Shorts International Film Festival and won Best Romantic Short at the Independent Shorts Awardshow did these milestones shape your approach to production designldquoMachine Engineer Loverdquo was a turning point for me Designing a story that mixed scifi with romance pushed me I had to balance cold machinelike environments and the warmth of human emotion Every detail from the textures to the lighting was carefully chosen to reflect that tension When the film premiered at LA Shorts and won Best Romantic Short at the Independent Short Awards it felt like all those subtle design choices were truly seen and appreciatedReaching those milestones has been deeply encouraging It reminded me why I started To tell these layered stories through a space The recognition gave me the confidence to trust my instincts more to take creative risks and to keep evolving It showed me that good design isnrsquot just for the visual or the aesthetics itrsquos emotional and has the power to connect with audiences both in India and worldwiderdquoQ ldquoPeeling Offrdquo was selected for both the Chicago Horror Film Festival and the Garden State Film Festival When working on genre films like horror how do you find the balance between creative vision and the expectations of genre fansPeeling Off was selected for the Chicago Horror Film Festival and the Garden State Film Festival which was a massive moment for me When it comes to working in horror Ive realized its all about honoring the genres coresuspense atmosphere and tension while still making space for my voice as a designer I try to respect what horror fans love but also find ways to subvert expectations through subtle unexpected details in the set and mood For me its not just about creating fear its about creating feelings through design styles materials and textures If the space can carry some of the characters emotions it becomes more than just a set it becomes part of the storys tensionQ As Art Director for ldquoYou Can Never Go Homerdquo you helped the film win Best LGBTQ Short at the Independent Shorts Awards and saw it selected at Indie Short Fest Oxford Film Festival and Asian Film Festival Los Angeles How do you approach projects that deal with important social themesWorking on You Can Never Go Home was incredibly significant When a film explores themes as personal and layered as identity and belonging I feel a deep responsibility as a visual storyteller As the Art Director collaborating closely with the Production Designer we focused on authenticity ensuring every design choice was honest to the characters and their world Together we worked to create spaces that didnt just look right but felt livedin and authentic It was important that the design quietly amplified the storys message without overpowering it supporting the emotional truth at the films heartQ Your construction coordination for ldquoLa CumbiaSomardquo contributed to its selection at multiple festivals How do you ensure your sets not only look great but also function smoothly during productionItrsquos about meticulous planning thoughtful collaboration and ensuring that every element of the set supports the story and the production process We recreated a vibrant world set in Mexico for La Cumbia Soma which was proudly screened at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival LALIFF and other celebrated festivals While the story is deeply rooted in that specific cultural setting building the set onstage was the most practical solution for usThis process was enjoyable and creatively fulfilling The production designer researched regional textures local colors and architectural styles to capture the authenticity of the environment My role was to ensure we could execute that vision as accurately and effectively as possible From construction logistics to material sourcing we focused on translating the design into a fully realized functional set that felt real on screen and worked seamlessly for the crew behind the scenes When artistic detail and practical coordination come together the result is a set that looks beautiful and truly elevates the storytellingQ With such a diverse range of achievements what advice would you give to aspiring production designers who hope to make an impact on the global stageI advise aspiring production designers to stay endlessly curious and open to learning every project regardless of scale as an opportunity to grow Take bold creative risks because thatrsquos often where the most powerful and memorable work emerges At the same time stay grounded in your vision and values while embracing the power of collaboration Production design is never done in isolation it thrives on communication trust and collective problemsolvingThis is a passionate creative and deeply subjective field Everyone from directors to viewers will bring their perspectives we must respect that as artists Being open to interpretation while staying confident in your voice is a delicate but vital balance Most importantly know that determination patience and hard work are the keys to success and happiness in this journey Keep showing up for your craft Thatrsquos where the impact is madeQ Looking ahead what are your goals for the future and how do you plan to keep pushing the boundaries of production designMy goal is to keep expanding the boundaries of visual storytelling by exploring new genres formats and cultural narratives I aim to collaborate with bold imaginative filmmakers worldwide eager to challenge convention and push creative limits In the creative journey beauty thrives in the process and fearless innovation Art embraces vulnerability where characters navigate emotional breezes and stories find their soulAs a production designer I extract the screenwriterrsquos imagination and translate it into a dynamic emotionally resonant space I strive to design environments that donrsquot just serve the narrative but elevate it justifying every moment of the tale and allowing it to reach its full crescendo Through this I hope to bring fresh meaningful perspectives to global cinema and inspire others to approach design with courage intention and authenticity

Ms. Patil: Charting New Horizons – An Interview with India’s Acclaimed Production Designer

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Ms. Patil: Charting New Horizons – An Interview with India’s Acclaimed Production Designer

Other Articles

Mid-Day Fast