On April 20, 2021 Production Designer Marian Wihak will share with the Sisler CREATE program about how growing up in Regina Saskatchewan, fuelled by her love of drawing, handcraft and all things visual, led to a long and successful career in theatre, film and television. Marian has had the opportunity to work on an incredible variety of projects, from working for the National Ballet of Canada, to being an assistant on the original Fraggle Rock TV series and live-to-air award shows, to designing a wide selection of large and small narrative films for both TV and Theatrical release. She will explain the wide array of opportunities that exist in the “Art Department” for skilled, enthusiastic and hard-working talents, including set design, drafting, traditional and motion graphics, animation, set construction and scenic painting, set dressing and properties. She will also suggest ways for students to access these opportunities.
Marian was most recently in Winnipeg as the Production Designer on STAND!, a dramatic musical feature film set during the events of the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919, and she will share a few stories about the challenges faced while designing the production, which went on to receive a 2020 Canadian Screen Award Nomination for Best Production Design.