2024 ALUMNI
DIRECTORY
Our alumni can read and create scaled floorplans and elevations, are well versed in standard production documents and team structures, and have forged their own relationships with local prop houses and fabrication vendors.
Emily Benavides
Craft Focus — Art Direction, Drafting / Set Design, Construction, Scenic Painting
A New Jersey native with Ecuadorian heritage, Emily Benavides (she/her) has studied interior design and theatre, exploring the artistic streets of Italy and South Korea along the way. Her passion for music videos and film drives her creative and technical pursuits. In her free time, Emily can be found singing her heart out with her Bluetooth microphone!
Taina Berrios
Craft Focus — Graphic Design, Props, Set Decoration and Production Design
Taina is a NYC native, with a love for all things video. Movies, TV, Gaming — you name it, and she’s (most likely) there. She’s passionate about design as a medium for storytelling, with hopes to tell her own stories, and the stories of those who typically go unnoticed through her works.
Jane Boehlert
Craft Focus — Production Design, Props, Set Decoration, Set Dressing
Jane Boehlert is a designer and visual artist based in Brooklyn. She enjoys exploring a range of mediums in her work — from miniature models to motion graphics. For inspiration, she often looks to Niki de Saint Phalle, Miranda July, and Michel Gondry. Her portfolio can be seen at: janeboehlert.com
AVA Contreras
Craft Focus — Set Decoration, Set Dressing, Props, Production Design
Ava Contreras is a San Francisco native with a background in Film and Technical Theatre. She continues to develop her skills and knowledge in all areas of the Art Department, helping to bring stories to life visually. Ava has recently transitioned to establishing roots in New York while ideally remaining bi-coastal between NY and LA. In her free time, she enjoys discovering new music, exploring flea markets, and designing and making funky jewelry.
Noah Duarte
Craft Focus — Set Decoration, Set Dressing, Props, Production Design
Noah Duarte is a Brooklyn-based filmmaker and production designer. Originally from Boston, he enjoys scenic fabrication, set decoration, and 16mm filmmaking. When he's not working on a project, you'll usually find him hunting for antiques, writing, or watching The X-Files with friends.
Gabriella Herrera
Craft Focus — Set Decoration, Set Dressing, Props, Scenic Painting
Gabriella grew up in Texas (yeehaw!) sculpting, painting, drawing, and involved in all things theatre arts. Since graduating from Pace University, where she explored experimental filmmaking and mixed media art, she has been strengthening her prop-making skills and cultivating her love of puppetry. You can find her at 2 a.m. in the East Village making paper mache creatures, listening to her CD collection, and binging the latest horror films.
Starr Jiang
Craft Focus — Set Decoration, Set Dressing, Props, Production Design
Starr is a filmmaker and production designer from Nanjing, China. Their storytelling centers the small resistances of young women within the machinations of empire. Outside of film, you can find Starr hosting dinner parties with friends and dreaming up the next hit children's cartoon.
Aranxta Jiménez
Craft Focus — Graphic design, Production Design, Set Decoration, Set Design
Arantxa studied industrial design in Mexico City (where she was also born and raised). But really soon in her career she decided her path was working for film & TV in the art department. She’s currently pursuing her dream to move to NYC and trying to gain as much experience as possible. When she’s not working on a project, you can find her in design fairs, museums, binging rom-coms or even exploring other countries.
Mary Leer
Craft Focus — Props, Set Decoration, Set Dressing
Mary Leer (she/her) was raised with a theatre background in San Diego and has been based in New York since attending Pace University’s film program. From stop-motion animation shorts to stand-up comedy, Mary loves to participate in a diverse range of artistic outlets. When she’s not working on a project, she’s likely using her AMC A-List subscription while trying to force her friends to do the same.
Nico Muñoz
Craft Focus — Set Design, Art Direction, Coordinating, 3D Modeling (physical and digital)
Nico (he/him) is an Art Coordinator and an emerging Set Designer in the Film & TV Industry. Guided by his curiosity, and a desire to build immersive worlds, he constantly seeks to learn from his colleagues and hone his craft. Nico's work is characterized by a meticulous attention to detail and a collaborative approach. In his free time, Nico enjoys swing dancing, backpacking around the world, and tinkering with electronics.
Eniola Odetunde
Craft Focus — Graphic Design, Concept Illustration, Production Design
Eniola is a New York based designer and illustrator who loves to tell a good story. She is especially interested in graphic roles in the film, tv, and commercial realms. She loves a good (or bad) action movie, pub trivia, and afternoon tea.
Abigail Marie Perez
Craft Focus — Art Direction, Art Coordination, Property & Set Dressing
Abigail (she/her) is an Art Director born and raised in the Bay Area. She is based in Los Angeles, but is gradually making her way to be bicoastal. She primarily works on narratives, but works on commercials as well. In her free time, you can find Abigail collaging, making pottery, roller skating or hiking.
Morgan Smith
Craft Focus — Set Decoration, Set Dressing, Production Design
Morgan hails from Charlotte, NC. She got her start in the art department at 6 years old when she began designing sets for stop motion videos featuring her American Girl dolls. Since then, she has gone on to receive her bachelors in Interior Design and later relocated to NYC. She aims to use her design skills to elevate women’s voices in the film industry. In her free time she can be found hopping flights, trekking up a mountain, or capturing moments on film.
Claire Vitto
Craft Focus — Production Design, Set Design, Drafting, 3D Modeling & Rendering (physical & digital)
Claire Vitto studied architecture, filmmaking and American studies before working as a real estate developer. She is excited to come home to filmmaking and would be particularly thrilled to work on projects that focus on research based worldbuilding (sci-fi, period and the like). She grew up in Palo Alto, lives in Brooklyn, and spends a lot of time wandering around the city listening to history podcasts. Also sometimes, but let's be honest, not that often, yoga.