Linda DeScenna explained

Linda DeScenna
Birth Date:14 November 1949
Birth Place:Warren, Ohio, United States
Occupation:Set decorator and production designer
Yearsactive:1979–2008
Spouse:John Mark Robinson

Linda DeScenna (born November 14, 1949) is an American set decorator and production designer. She has been nominated for five Academy Awards in the category Best Art Direction.

Career

When hired to work on the 1979 film , one of DeScenna's tasks was to redesign the chairs seen on the bridge of the USS Enterprise.[1] She later credited Mike Huntoon with ensuring that her designs for the film were carried out.[2]

During the production of the 1982 film Blade Runner, DeScenna and her team were tasked with the creation of numerous props ranging from magazine covers, to store signs in order to flesh out the vision of director Ridley Scott.[3]

When she was recruited for the Robin Williams film Patch Adams in 1998, DeScenna was required to build one of the three main shooting locations from scratch. She oversaw the construction of a 20000square feet hospital set on Treasure Island near San Francisco.[4] She worked on Galaxy Quest, which was released the following year.[5] For 2007's Evan Almighty, she worked alongside others on the Ark.[6] She built the bottom level of the Ark from steel-reinforced wood, and the bow from styrofoam.[7]

Awards

DeScenna's set decorating work has been nominated for five Academy Awards as part of the Best Art Direction. Her first was for Star Trek: The Motion Picture alongside Harold Michelson, Joe Jennings, Leon Harris and John Vallone.[8] She was nominated alongside Lawrence G. Paull and David Snyder for their work on Blade Runner at the 55th Academy Awards.[9] [10] She was nominated once more at the 58th Academy Awards for set decorating on The Color Purple,[11] and twice more for Rain Man and Toys respectively.[12] [13]

Personal life

Around 1974, DeScenna moved to Los Angeles with her then-boyfriend, John Zabrucky.[14] [15] They ended their relationship after the move, but remained friends.

In 2017, DeScenna was married to John Mark Robinson.[16]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Reeves-Stevens. Judith. Reeves-Stevens. Garfield. The Art of Star Trek. 1995. Pocket Books. New York. 978-0-671-01776-7. 164.
  2. Book: Roddenberry. Gene. Sackett. Susan. The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture. 1980. Pocket Books. New York. 978-0-671-25181-9. 91. registration.
  3. Book: Svitil. Torene. Dunkleberger. Amy. So You Want to Work in Set Design, Costuming, Or Make-up?. 2008. Enslow Publishers. Berkeley Heights, NJ. 978-0-766-02740-4. 65.
  4. Book: Barsotti. Catherine M. Johnston. Robert K. Finding God in the Movies: 33 Films of Reel Faith. 2004. Baker Books. Grand Rapids, MI. 978-0-801-06481-4. 273.
  5. News: 'Galaxy Quest' takes off on Christmas Day. https://web.archive.org/web/20160911204559/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-625295841.html. dead. September 11, 2016. August 15, 2016. Chicago Defender. December 22, 1999.
  6. News: Critters get best laughs. https://web.archive.org/web/20160910080950/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-168030187.html. dead. September 10, 2016. August 15, 2016. The Independent on Sunday. August 25, 2007.
  7. News: Oppenheimer. Jean. 'Evan Almighty' production designer Linda DeScenna: I built the ark. August 15, 2016. Jewish Journal. June 21, 2007.
  8. Web site: The 52nd Academy Awards. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. August 15, 2016.
  9. Book: Duke. Brad. Harrison Ford: The Films. 2005. McFarlane. Jefferson, NC. 978-0-786-42016-2. 99.
  10. Web site: The 55th Academy Awards. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. August 15, 2016.
  11. Web site: The 58th Academy Awards. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. August 15, 2016.
  12. Web site: The 61st Academy Awards. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. August 15, 2016.
  13. Web site: The 66th Academy Awards. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. August 15, 2016.
  14. Web site: His props starred in hundreds of Hollywood movies and TV shows. Now he's exiting the stage after 42 years. Perman. Stacy. January 3, 2020. The Los Angeles Times. February 9, 2023.
  15. Web site: Warren native imagined the future. Gray. Andy. May 21, 2020. Tribune Chronicle. February 9, 2023.
  16. News: Linda DeScenna, Mark Robinson. New York Times. June 11, 2017.