Another important step in Barbosa's career was designing Presence of
Mind, starring Harvey Keitel and Lauren Bacall. It introduced his work to
the Spanish film industry, bringing offers to work on other Spanish films.
Through his connection with Don Reo, one of the producers of Action,
he was hired as production designer for the series My Wife and Kids. He
went on to design the pilot for the series 24, which earned him a "best
production design" award from the production designer's guild.
Barbosa followed that up with work on the series Fastlane and C.S.I.:
Miami.
Professional Profile: Jeff Mann, Production Designer
"I never anticipated being involved in film--ever," states Jeff Mann,
whose mother is a successful costume designer. "My parents were
divorced. My little brother and I spent a lot of time on our own because
of my mother's choice of career. She was consumed by it, so we had a bit
of resentment." Consequently, Mann steered away from the film industry,
instead becoming a mechanic, working on automobiles and boats.
One day, a friend working
in the business telephoned
with the offer of a weekend
job paying $300 a day, cash.
Mann accepted. Slowly, calls
came in offering other video
and commercial work, until he
realized that he could make
more money working in film
than as a mechanic. Mann
decided it was time for a
career change.
From the beginning, he was
assigned to the art department.
Working on videos gave Mann
experience in assisting with
special effects, driving a truck,
gripping, set design and con-
struction, and more. "On
music videos and commercials
you do everything . . . It's
not that way in movies; it's
very compartmentalized and
unionized."
What do you like
least about your job?
"Dealing with money
and budgets is probably
what I most dislike;
trying to put a price
tag on aesthetics."
--Jeff Mann
What do you love most
about your job?
"What I love most is getting people excited
about things that they had never thought
of before and converting them to my vision.
The second greatest thing is working with
the group of people in my department.
On any project, it's a long time commitment:
18 hours a day for nine months straight,
or more. You hope and pray when you start
a show that you're going to be with people
you want to be with for a long time."
--Jeff Mann
VOICES OF
EXPERIENCE
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