Meet Multi-Talented Production Designer Peta McKenna
Behind every great film set is a production designer with a sharp artistic eye. One such production designer is Australia’s Peta McKenna. Over the years McKenna has become known for more than just her ability to build dazzling sets from the ground up, but more importantly, for her ability to infuse those sets with layered symbolism that add to the story.
With a repertoire of work that includes designing countless theatrical productions, such as the Constans Theatre’s productions of “Pippin” and “Red Velvet,” “Dance 2020” at the Black Box Theatre, and the Actor’s Warehouse 2019 presentation of “Fuddy Meers,” as well as the soon to be released film “Hamlet” from award-winning filmmaker Bryan Ferriter (“Wuthering Heights,” “What Separates Us”), McKenna’s creative vision has been key to the success of numerous productions.
“Peta has a deep artistic sense that encompasses many things beyond a surface level design,” says director Bryan Ferriter.
“She has the ability first and foremost to understand my own personal artistic tastes and vision and is able to blend her own style and opinion very cohesively with mine. And second, she sees beyond just making a design for film, she can process the whole process and because of that, she offers an extremely detailed nuance to each design she is a part of.”
One of the things that has really set McKenna apart from others is her capacity to take on multiple jobs behind the scenes, in fact, it’s quite hard to find a skill that she’s not capable of.
Well versed in carpentry, storyboarding and painting, as well as prop, set and costume design it’s not surprising that she is often referred to as the jack-of-all-trades.
“I am very hands on and crafty. I am willing to try anything and make anything,” she says. “I also like to think symbolically or metaphorically… if I put this here what meaning is it giving? I think it’s always important to consider how something can provide greater meaning or reveal something extra about the character or the story.”
Last year McKenna was approached by Ferriter, who recently earned the Festival Award and the People’s Choice Award from the Flathead Lake International Cinemafest, to design both the sets and the costumes for his upcoming film adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic romance turned tragedy, “Hamlet.”
Considering that the iconic play has echoed across the stage and screen for centuries, Ferriter’s remake required an experienced production designer who could not only do justice to the preeminent story, but one capable of supporting his unique vision and shed new light on the tragic tale.
With an extensive background in theatre design at her disposal and a reputation for innovation, McKenna was the perfect designer for the job.
“Bryan really wanted to pay respect to the theatrical performances of ‘Hamlet’ and so, coming from a theatre background, he thought that I could really help bring his vision to life,” she says. “He really welcomes my ideas and is excited for anything new and different that can really separate us from previous adaptations.”
Drawing upon her extensive experience using architectural software programs such as AutoCAD, Sketch Up and Vectorworks to pre-visualize all of the sets before the build, McKenna’s work was largely responsible for the film’s overall style and aesthetic. Known as a hands-on leader with a humble yet diligent approach to getting the job done, she also acquired all the labor materials and fabrics herself.
The set, which took several in depth meetings with the director and over two months to design, was built on a grass stage on top of a castle in the towering peaks of the Rocky Mountains. McKenna’s extensive film knowledge and meticulous attention to script detail was essential to the overall set design, which culminated in an accurate representation of the early 1600’s Elizabethan era in which “Hamlet” was born.
“We are really going back to the roots of theatrical design and that is really interesting to me and exciting,” admits McKenna. “After creating visual renderings for Bryan and drafting, he approved for me to go ahead with the build. This took place over two weeks. I had to build a stage for the set to be built on, as the uneven grass would not have allowed for 12 foot walls to be built.”
The film was initially set for production in Montana in August of last year however, along with the vast majority of Hollywood, McKenna and her team experienced unfortunate production delays due to the Coronavirus. Understanding that persistence is key to success, she helped relocate the entire stage to Gainesville, Florida, which provided a secure location for the cast and crew to continue shooting as many scenes as possible. And the production expects to finish the remaining filming in Montana later this year.
“It’s so hard when you’re so motivated and excited to get these projects completed, when you are so passionate, but unfortunately moderations have to be made sometimes and that’s totally okay,” says McKenna. “It just allows more time for planning and creating.”
Considering that Ferriter was also the lead actor in the film, McKenna, who’s known to go above and beyond her call of duty, became his most reliable second set of eyes behind the lens.
She adds, “My role extended into watching the monitor and assisting Bryan with his movements throughout the set and ensuring everything looked good while he personally could not be behind the camera.”
Her outstanding work on set from both a design and leadership perspective were not only integral to the filming of “Hamlet,” but they also helped cement a solid foundation with the award-winning director. Ferriter, who continues to praise McKenna’s noteworthy talents, has also hired her as the production designer on several of his upcoming films.
“We got along really well and both complemented each other creatively, we were excited for what we could achieve with ‘Hamlet’ and our careers if we continued to work together… We quickly developed a strong professional relationship that has blossomed artistically ever since,” explains McKenna.
“Bryan and I have two other films that will be shot in the summer of 2022 and 2023. We intend on keeping this creative relationship going and doing bigger and better things.”
Raised in Perth on the West Coast of Australia, McKenna relocated to the states several years ago to advance her studies in production design, and graduated with a Masters degree from the University of Florida.
Over the years her keen creative eye for design coupled with the fact that she’s extremely resourceful when it comes to working within a budget has made her an invaluable force. Being a woman of many talents, she has helped numerous productions save time and money with her ability to take on tasks behind the scenes that would normally require additional workers.
“The job entails ultimately creating an environment for the story to take place, you not only have to think artistically and creatively, but you also have to think logistically,” she says. “Everything has to be taken into consideration to create a world for the film to take place.”
Last year Mckenna also assisted with the design and dressing of “Riley,” a film about a young teenage girl trying to fit in at a private school while learning to embrace her culture and identity. The film aired during black history month via the Hulu television series “Your Attention Please” hosted by award-winning actor Craig Robinson (“This is the End,” “Pineapple Express”).
Ultimately it was McKenna’s hard work, determination and diligence that caught the eye of art director Patrice Davidson (“The Book of Henry,” “Freeheld”), who hired her to work on the film, which was shot across several locations.
“We had so many sets to set up in such a little time. We really just had to focus and get as much completed as we could. With a very small department, we really had to work closely and efficiently to get set loaded in and set up in time,” she says.
“It was exciting to be working on a project knowing that it was to be released on Hulu. It was also an honor to be working under Patrice and learning from his experience.”
Despite a global pandemic continuing to linger over the film industry, McKenna has no plans to slow down anytime soon, in fact, it seems that she’s working even more.
She’s currently working on the soon to be released coming of age film “So Shot,” another feature film that she’s partnered with director Bryan Ferriter on, as well as the upcoming production of the flamboyant comedy “Dotty and Soul” directed by filmmaker Adam Saunders (“When We First Met”), which stars Golden Globe nominee Leslie Uggams (“Deadpool,” “Deadpool 2”). A busy woman to say the least, McKenna is also working behind the scenes on the new Apple TV series “Severance” directed by Primetime Emmy Award winner Ben Stiller (“Zoolander”).
