Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/990311
1 0 P E R S P E C T I V E | J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 1 8 C O N T R I B U T O R S R O B E R T S T R O H M A I E R was born in Chicago, Illinois, and spent his wonder years in the sleepy New England town of Somerset, Massachusetts. Growing up with a love of live rock-and-roll music, he became drawn to the more theatrical performances and fell in love with theater. Robert received his BFA degree in design for the theatre from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, and then continued onto New York University master's program for theatre design. Venturing to Los Angeles, California, in 1986, his career in television began—first as an Assistant Art Director, then Art Director working on many multi- camera series such as Mad About You, Simon and Ladies Man. While working as Production Designer for the series Life with Bonnie, starring Bonnie Hunt, he was honored with two Art Directors Guild Award nominations. Segue to one-hour drama series, where Robert continues to hone his craft for design details in order to create the "Bigger Picture." He has been privileged to work with such Production Designers as Don Roberts, Dina Lipton, Victoria Paul, Bruce Miller, Keith Neely, Bradley Thordarson, Valdar Wilt, Bernard Vyzga, Ruth Ammon and Stephen Lineweaver. J O H N B . V E R T R E E S first worked in front of the camera on Hollywood television commercials at age 9. His first commercial was for Gino's Pizza, starring Dom DeLuise as a pizza genie. John was more interested in filmmaking than acting—"I kept watching the special effects team rig an explosion—they couldn't keep me in front of the camera." Around 12, he found his uncle's 8mm home movie camera and made his own movies while taking every entertainment class available. John studied at the University of Southern California after graduating from California State University Long Beach with a degree in theatrical design. John has worked as a design assistant on theatrical productions at Ford's Theatre in Washington DC, and the Shaftsbury Theatre in London, England. He assisted the Art Department on episodes of television productions: Mr. Belvedere, Home Improvement and the Seinfeld pilot. He also designed for Mattel Toys before working as an Assistant Art Director on feature films: Oliver Stone's W and Extraordinary Measures with Harrison Ford. Most recently, he was the Art Director on Mob City, directed by Frank Darabont, NBC's comedy Community and received an Emmy nomination for History Channel's Hatfields & McCoys. Currently, John is the Art Director on Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. M I C H A E L W Y L I E hails from Flint, Michigan. After a less- than-stellar attempt at higher education, he did what any self-respecting college dropout would do and joined the circus, sort of. He started his showbiz career in the music- touring business, working for such acts as Prince, Madonna, Anita Baker and Luther Vandross. Whilst shooting a music video in San Francisco, the producer said, "you're great. If you ever need a job..." Welcome to Hollywood! He worked in the Art Department and as a prop master for years. One day, he lied to a commercial producer in New York and said he was a Designer/Art Director. Welcome to Hollywood! He went on to work on a series of oddball television shows, including The Tick where he met and forged a life-altering connection with Barry Sonnenfeld. This led to designing the visual extravaganza Pushing Daisies for which Mr. Wylie was awarded an Emmy. His other credits include Marvel's Agent Carter, Masters of Sex, and most recently, two seasons of Legion.