Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/747534
P E R S P E C T I V E | N OV E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 6 9 contributors HANNAH BEACHLER is a prolific Production Designer with an affinity for realistic design that emphasizes emotional drama. Citing set decorator Gene Serdena as one of her mentors and inspirations, Beachler has worked with high-profile directors, including Renny Harlin, Peter Hyams, Gabriele Muccino and cinematographers Vilmos Zsigmond, Dean Cundey, Roberto Schaeffer, Michael Goi, and Peter Menzies Jr. Born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, Beachler graduated from the University of Cincinnati's DAAP (Design, Architecture, Art, Planning) program and went on to Wright State University for film production and theory. The Art Department was always her focus. Her goal was to be a set decorator and her idol was Nancy Haigh. After a couple of years decorating and working with many different designers, she made the transition to Production Designer. While most of her family is still in Dayton, Beachler's brother and his family convinced her to relocate to New Orleans, where she currently resides. KENDAL CRONKHITE grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She currently resides in San Mateo, CA, with her husband, Dan Shaindlin, and her two kids, Atticus (18) and Quincy (14). Her parents and three brothers are still in Canada. Kendal attended the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, where she studied illustration. In addition, she attended the Emily Carr University of Art & Design and Langara College (both in Vancouver, where she also attended Prince of Wales High School). She cites punk rock, David Bowie, Tim Burton, Picasso, Emily Carr, Jane Goodall and her mother as early influences in her career. Contemporary influences include her family, the theater, David Hockney, Jean Michel Basquiat, nature, historical dramas and Africa. JESS GONCHOR's passion for the arts began in Mamaroneck High School's theater and lighting department. He studied technical theater at SUNY Brockport and began his career in off-Broadway theaters before moving into Production Design. He received Academy Award ® and ADG nominations for his work on the Coen brothers' True Grit, and also collaborated with them on No Country for Old Men (for which he received an ADG Award), A Serious Man (an ADG nomination) and Burn After Reading. His other feature films include Capote, Moneyball, The Lone Ranger, Away We Go and The Devil Wears Prada. Mr. Gonchor recently has completed work on Bennett Miller's Foxcatcher, where he also served as 2nd unit director, and the Coen Brothers' Inside Llewyn Davis for which he received the Hamilton Behind-the-Scenes Award. He is a member of the Motion Picture Academy and the DGA, and has directed numerous commercials. MARIA DJURKOVIC was born and grew up in London. Her Yugoslav-born father was an Art Director and she knew she wanted to be a Production Designer from the age of eight. She made period clothes for her Barbie dolls that lived in cardboard period-room sets. She studied fine art at the University of Oxford, where she spent most of her time designing sets for theater productions. She then did a post-graduate course in theater design and a stint in the design department of the BBC, as well as creating sets for stage, opera and ballet. Since moving into films, Ms. Djurkovic has designed Billy Elliot, The Hours, Vanity Fair, Mamma Mia! and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. She has been nominated for an Emmy ® , a BAFTA Award and three ADG Awards. "My monomania," she says, "got me to the point where I am today—where I am lucky enough to be able to work on projects that really interest me." DEREK R. HILL grew up in Texas and graduated with a BS degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. He started his career working in theater at the Dallas Summer Musicals, the Dallas Opera, and touring as a lighting designer for Debbie Reynolds for one season of Annie Get Your Gun, as well as building scenery for Dallas Stage Scenery and Peter Wolf Designs. He became involved in Local 127 and ultimately, became its Business Agent. Mr. Hill began his career in the television and motion picture Industry full time in the early 1980s, creating relationships as a set decorator and Art Director with directors like Oliver Stone, Sean Penn and Kevin Costner that continue today as a Production Designer. He earned Emmy ® nominations for his work on House and Hatfields & McCoys and ADG nominations for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Community, Hatfields & McCoys and Bonnie & Clyde. He resides near Dallas, Texas, and in Rancho Mirage, CA, with his wife, Candy.