Suzuki Ingerslev

Production Designer

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In her nearly three-hour-interview, Suzuki Ingerslev talks about growing up in Los Angeles, being a physics major at Berkeley, and becoming an architect. She describes her work as an architect in Europe and details how she got her start in the entertainment industry -- working on Days of Our Lives. She then outlines her work as an assistant art director on Saved by the Bell: The New Class, California Dreams, and MADtv, and shares how she became an art director on Tracey Takes On... (the show where she earned her first Emmy nominations). She talks of her time working on Ladies Man and State of Grace, and then details her work as first an art director and then production designer on the HBO series Six Feet Under. Ingerslev recounts her work on one episode of The Sopranos, on the first seasons of Shark and In Treatment, and as production designer for the full run of True Blood. She touches on her work for Hand of God and Here and Now, and talks about her designs for the first season of The L Word: Generation Q, the pilot of the Amazon series A League of Their Own, the Amazon special Yearly Departed, the David E. Kelley series Love & Death, and season 1 of Peacock's Based on a True Story. She concludes with remarks on how the industry has changed since she first started and offers advice to aspiring production designers. B-roll includes still photos of designs from several series that she's worked on. Adrienne Faillace conducted the interview on November 21, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"What’s amazing is when you watch the actors walk into a set and they’re like, 'Oh my God, this feels real. This feels like a real place and we understand our characters now.'”

People Talking About ...

Suzuki Ingerslev

Highlights

Suzuki Ingerslev on "Sookie" and "Eric's" first time making love on True Blood -- on a bed, in the snow

01:11

Suzuki Ingerslev on "Claire Fisher's" art and other art featured on Six Feet Under

03:14

Suzuki Ingerslev on her designs for the time jumps in the Six Feet Under finale, and on Alan Ball fighting to get a helicopter for that episode

02:16

Suzuki Ingerslev on art directing for one episode of The Sopranos

02:18

Suzuki Ingerslev on how she became production designer on the HBO series In Treatment and her designs for "Dr. Paul Weston's" home and office and "Dr. Gina Toll's" office

04:42

Suzuki Ingerslev on advice to an aspiring production designer

00:52

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On her name; on her childhood in Los Angeles and her early interests; on being a physics major at Berkeley; on how she became interested in production design; on becoming an architect and working in Europe; on how she got her start in the entertainment industry - working on Days of Our Lives

On being an assistant art director on Saved by the Bell: The New Class and California Dreams; on being an assistant art director on MADtv and an art director on Tracey Takes On...; on her first Emmy nominations - for Tracey Takes On...

On assistant art directing on the CBS show Ladies Man and art directing on State of Grace; on how she became an art director on Six Feet Under and some of the early sets she worked on for Six Feet Under

On working with Six Feet Under creator Ala Ball, research and memorable designs for the show, becoming production designer in season 3, "Claire Fisher's" art, designs for the series finale, and on how Six Feet Under impacted her career

Chapter 2

On the Six Feet Under finale and items she's taken from sets after a show has wrapped; on production design for an episodes of The Sopranos, her work on season 1 of Shark and working with Spike Lee; on production design for season 1 of In Treatment

On production design for True Blood, including research for the show, night shoots, and designs for "Sookie's" house and the original version of "Bill Compton's" house

On her designs for True Blood's Vampire Authority headquarters, the many iterations of "Bill's" house, Merlotte's, Fangtasia, the MoonGoddess shop, "Russell Edginton's" mansion, "Sookie" and "Eric's" first time, and "Lafayette's" house

On attending Comic-Con for True Blood; on the True Blood series finale; on production design on the Amazon series Hand of God and for Alan Ball's series Here and Now

Chapter 3

On production design for season 1 of The L Word: Generation Q and the pilot of the Amazon series A League of Their Own; on production design for the Amazon special Yearly Departed, which shot during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic

On production design for the David E. Kelley series Love & Death -- designing "Candy's" house and "Betty's" house, the Marriage Encounter retreat, and "Don Crowder's" office and home

On production design for season 1 of Based on a True Story; on how the television industry and opportunities have changed since she first started in the business; on being a woman in production design; on her proudest career achievement and career regrets; on the value of oral histories, advice to an aspiring production designer, and how she'd like to be remembered

B-roll footage of still photos from sets she's designed from Six Feet Under, True Blood, In Treatment, Shark, Hand of God, Love & Death, A League of Their Own, and Here and Now

Shows

Based on a True Story

Suzuki Ingerslev on production design for season 1 of the Peacock series Based on a True Story

04:33

Days of Our Lives

Suzuki Ingerslev on her big break -- working on Days of Our Lives, which she considers "boot camp" for production design

02:47

Suzuki Ingerslev on the stages and sets for Days of Our Lives, learning to work a multi-cam show, becoming an assistant art director and getting into the union, and what her role as assistant art director entailed

04:23

Hand of God

Suzuki Ingerslev on production design on the Amazon series Hand of God

02:04

Suzuki Ingerslev on designs for the church on Hand of God

00:17

Here and Now

Suzuki Ingerslev on production design for Alan Ball's series Here and Now

02:38

Suzuki Ingerslev on designs for the Boatwright house on Here and Now

00:18

In Treatment

Suzuki Ingerslev on how she became production designer on the HBO series In Treatment and her designs for "Dr. Paul Weston's" home and office and "Dr. Gina Toll's" office

04:42

Suzuki Ingerslev on the shooting schedule for In Treatment and working with the cast

01:16

Suzuki Ingerslev on designs for the therapists offices on In Treatment

00:29

L Word, The: Generation Q

Suzuki Ingerslev on production design for season 1 of The L Word: Generation Q

03:12

Ladies Man

Suzuki Ingerslev on assistant art directing on the CBS show Ladies Man

03:17

League of Their Own, A

Suzuki Ingerslev on production design for the pilot of the Amazon series A League of Their Own

00:19

Suzuki Ingerslev on designs for the pilot of Amazon's A League of Their Own

00:12

Love & Death

Suzuki Ingerslev on items that set decorator Gabby Villarreal added to sets on Love & Death

00:32

Suzuki Ingerslev on production design for the David E. Kelley series Love & Death -- designing "Candy's" house and "Betty's" house, the Marriage Encounter retreat, and "Don Crowder's" office and home

12:42

Suzuki Ingerslev on designs for "Candy's" house on Love & Death

00:32

Suzuki Ingerslev on designs for the courthouse and for "Betty's" house on Love & Death

00:35

MADtv

Suzuki Ingerslev on being an assistant art director on MADtv

03:22

Saved by the Bell: The New Class

Suzuki Ingerslev on being an assistant art director on Saved by the Bell: The New Class and California Dreams

00:30

Shark

Suzuki Ingerslev on her work as a production designer for the first season of Shark

02:43

Suzuki Ingerslev on designs for the main house on Shark

00:13

Six Feet Under

Suzuki Ingerslev on how she became an art director on Six Feet Under

01:55

Suzuki Ingerslev on some of the sets she designed as an art director on Six Feet Under

01:14

Suzuki Ingerslev on working with Six Feet Under creator Alan Ball

01:07

Suzuki Ingerslev on her research for Six Feet Under and on memorable funeral setups, including one based on the opera Turandot

06:15

Suzuki Ingerslev on becoming production designer on Six Feet Under, assembling her team, and how she breaks down a script

04:53

Suzuki Ingerslev on where Six Feet Under was filmed

00:22

Suzuki Ingerslev on "Claire Fisher's" art and other art featured on Six Feet Under

03:18

Suzuki Ingerslev on decorating "Claire Fisher's" living spaces on Six Feet Under, the color palettes for different characters, designing different rooms in the Fisher home/mortuary and working with cinematographers on the show, and her work on the series finale

07:31

Suzuki Ingerslev on how Six Feet Under impacted her career

00:56

Suzuki Ingerslev on her designs for the time jumps in the Six Feet Under finale, and on Alan Ball fighting to get a helicopter for that episode

02:16

Suzuki Ingerslev on items she took from set after Six Feet Under wrapped

00:59

Suzuki Ingerslev on designs for the art gallery and pyramid on Six Feet Under

00:27

Suzuki Ingerslev on designs for the "Nobody Sleeps" episode of Six Feet Under

00:12

Sopranos, The

Suzuki Ingerslev on art directing for one episode of The Sopranos

02:18

State of Grace

Suzuki Ingerslev on art directing on State of Grace and designing for a show set in the 1960s

03:24

Tracey Takes On ...

Suzuki Ingerslev on being an art director on Tracey Takes On... -- her first time art directing

01:31

Suzuki Ingerslev on her research process for Tracey Takes On... and how travel has influenced her work

01:05

Suzuki Ingerslev on working with Tracey Ullman and Allan McKeown for Tracey Takes On..., how travel has influenced her work, on working with HBO for the first time, standing sets on the show, and her first Emmy nominations

02:47

True Blood

Suzuki Ingerslev on items she took from set after True Blood wrapped

01:10

Suzuki Ingerslev on feedback from the True Blood cast on sets for the show

00:26

Suzuki Ingerslev on how she became production designer for True Blood, and on her research for her interview for the show

01:18

Suzuki Ingerslev on where True Blood was filmed, her research for sets, and the sets she designed for the pilot, including "Sookie's" house

04:02

Suzuki Ingerslev on how night shoots impacted her work on True Blood, and on designing "Bill Compton's" house

02:18

Suzuki Ingerslev on changes to "Sookie's" house over the seasons on True Blood, designing the Vampire Authority headquarters, "Bill's" house, Merlotte's, Fangtasia, the MoonGoddess shop, "Russell Edginton's" mansion, "Sookie" and "Eric's" first time, and "Lafayette's" house

20:52

Suzuki Ingerslev on attending Comic-Con for True Blood and on the series finale

02:47

Suzuki Ingerslev on turning a hospital into an asylum on True Blood

00:40

Suzuki Ingerslev on fighting for a location on True Blood

00:51

Suzuki Ingerslev on designs for "Sookie's" house and the Fellowship of the Sun on True Blood

00:45

Suzuki Ingerslev on designs for "Lafayette's" house on True Blood

00:14

Yearly Departed

Suzuki Ingerslev on production design for the Amazon special Yearly Departed, which shot during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic

02:17

Topics

Advice

Suzuki Ingerslev on advice to an aspiring production designer

00:52

COVID-19 Pandemic

Suzuki Ingerslev on production design for the Amazon special Yearly Departed, shot during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic

02:17

Creative Influences and Inspiration

Suzuki Ingerslev on mentors throughout her career and on being a mentor to others

02:47

Emmy Awards

Suzuki Ingerslev on her first Emmy nominations -- for Tracey Takes On...

00:49

Health and Medicine

Suzuki Ingerslev on production design for the Amazon special Yearly Departed, shot during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic

02:17

Historic Events and Social Change

Suzuki Ingerslev on production design for the Amazon special Yearly Departed, shot during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic

02:17

Memorable Moments on Television

Suzuki Ingerslev on "Sookie" and "Eric's" first time making love on True Blood -- on a bed, in the snow

01:10

Suzuki Ingerslev on the True Blood finale

00:42

Suzuki Ingerslev on her designs for the time jumps in the Six Feet Under finale, and on Alan Ball fighting to get a helicopter for that episode

02:16

Pivotal Career Moments

Suzuki Ingerslev on mentors throughout her career and on being a mentor to others

02:47

Pop Culture

Suzuki Ingerslev on "Sookie" and "Eric's" first time making love on True Blood -- on a bed, in the snow

01:10

Suzuki Ingerslev on the True Blood finale

00:42

Suzuki Ingerslev on her designs for the time jumps in the Six Feet Under finale, and on Alan Ball fighting to get a helicopter for that episode

02:16

Television Industry

Suzuki Ingerslev on advice to an aspiring production designer

00:52

Professions

Art Director/Set Decorator

View Profession

Suzuki Ingerslev on becoming an assistant art director on Days of Our Lives and getting into the union, and on what her role as assistant art director entailed

02:49

Suzuki Ingerslev on how designing for film compares to designing for television

00:40

Suzuki Ingerslev on her research process

01:05

Suzuki Ingerslev on when casts typically interact with sets, and on working with other departments as the art director or production designer

01:09

Suzuki Ingerslev on how much time she typically has to plan sets and on managing the design process

01:33

Designers

View Profession

Suzuki Ingerslev on her path from physics major at Berkeley, to architect, to production designer

03:51

Suzuki Ingerslev on becoming an assistant art director on Days of Our Lives and getting into the union, and on what her role as assistant art director entailed

02:49

Suzuki Ingerslev on how designing for film compares to designing for television

00:40

Suzuki Ingerslev on how she preps for a job interview and for a script, as a production designer

02:09

Suzuki Ingerslev on her research process

01:05

Suzuki Ingerslev on when casts typically interact with sets, and on working with other departments as the art director or production designer

01:09

Suzuki Ingerslev on how much time she typically has to plan sets and on managing the design process

01:33

Suzuki Ingerslev on hidden touches on sets -- Love & Death and True Blood

01:11

Suzuki Ingerslev on what makes a good relationship between a production designer and a director

00:58

Suzuki Ingerslev on her involvement in choosing between shooting on location for shows versus building sets, as a production designer

02:28

Suzuki Ingerslev on how actors' physical appearances impact her work as a production designer, particularly with the actors and spaces on True Blood

00:50

Suzuki Ingerslev on what she enjoys most about production design

01:03

Suzuki Ingerslev on her signature style and how her architecture background impacts her work

00:58

Suzuki Ingerslev on what she does when she's blocked on a design and on the basic tools of a production designer

02:39

Suzuki Ingerslev on how special effects have impacted production design

00:58

Suzuki Ingerslev on how artificial intelligence may impact production design

00:52

Suzuki Ingerslev on working within a budget

01:48

Suzuki Ingerslev on how the television industry has changed since she first started in the business

01:10

Suzuki Ingerslev on how opportunities have changed since she first started in the business

00:53

Suzuki Ingerslev on being a woman in production design

01:26

Suzuki Ingerslev on her proudest career achievement and career regrets

01:07

Suzuki Ingerslev on advice to an aspiring production designer

00:52

Directors

View Profession

Suzuki Ingerslev on what makes a good relationship between a production designer and a director

00:58

Production Designer

View Profession

Suzuki Ingerslev on her path from physics major at Berkeley, to architect, to production designer

03:51

Suzuki Ingerslev on how she preps for a job interview and for a script, as a production designer

02:09

Suzuki Ingerslev on hidden touches on sets -- Love & Death and True Blood

01:11

Suzuki Ingerslev on what makes a good relationship between a production designer and a director

00:58

Suzuki Ingerslev on her involvement in choosing between shooting on location for shows versus building sets, as a production designer

02:28

Suzuki Ingerslev on how actors' physical appearances impact her work as a production designer, particularly with the actors and spaces on True Blood

00:50

Suzuki Ingerslev on what she enjoys most about production design

01:03

Suzuki Ingerslev on her signature style and how her architecture background impacts her work

00:58

Suzuki Ingerslev on what she does when she's blocked on a design and on the basic tools of a production designer

02:39

Suzuki Ingerslev on how special effects have impacted production design

00:58

Suzuki Ingerslev on how artificial intelligence may impact production design

00:52

Suzuki Ingerslev on working within a budget

01:48

Suzuki Ingerslev on how the television industry has changed since she first started in the business

01:10

Suzuki Ingerslev on how opportunities have changed since she first started in the business

00:53

Suzuki Ingerslev on being a woman in production design

01:26

Suzuki Ingerslev on her proudest career achievement and career regrets

01:07

Suzuki Ingerslev on advice to an aspiring production designer

00:52

Genres

Comedy Series

Suzuki Ingerslev on being an assistant art director on Saved by the Bell: The New Class and California Dreams

00:30

Suzuki Ingerslev on being an assistant art director on MADtv and an an art director on Tracey Takes On..., Ladies Man, and State of Grace

19:37

Suzuki Ingerslev on production design for the Amazon special Yearly Departed, which shot during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic

02:20

Suzuki Ingerslev on production design for season 1 of the Peacock series Based on a True Story

04:33

Daytime/Primetime Serials

Suzuki Ingerslev on becoming an assistant art director on Days of Our Lives

07:10

Drama Series

Suzuki Ingerslev on her work as art director and then as production designer on Six Feet Under

31:32

Suzuki Ingerslev on the Six Feet Under finale and items she's taken from sets after a show has wrapped; on production design for an episodes of The Sopranos, her work on season 1 of Shark and working with Spike Lee, and on production design for season 1 of In Treatment

19:30

Suzuki Ingerslev on production design for True Blood

31:20

Suzuki Ingerslev on production design on the Amazon series Hand of God and for Alan Ball's series Here and Now

04:43

Suzuki Ingerslev on production design for season 1 of The L Word: Generation Q and for the pilot of the Amazon series A League of Their Own

08:56

Suzuki Ingerslev on production design for the David E. Kelley series Love & Death -- designing "Candy's" house and "Betty's" house, the Marriage Encounter retreat, and "Don Crowder's" office and home

12:42

People

Alan Ball

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Suzuki Ingerslev on working with Six Feet Under creator Alan Ball

00:57

Suzuki Ingerslev on how Alan Ball's departure from True Blood after season 5 impacted her work

00:31

Suzuki Ingerslev on production design for Alan Ball's series Here and Now

01:39

Allan McKeown

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Suzuki Ingerslev on working with Tracey Ullman and Allan McKeown for Tracey Takes On... and how travel has influenced her work

00:31

David Chase

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Suzuki Ingerslev on shooting part of an episode of The Sopranos at David Chase's house

00:44

David E. Kelley

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Suzuki Ingerslev on production design for the David E. Kelley series Love & Death

00:19

James L. Brooks

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Suzuki Ingerslev on James L. Brooks being a fan of her sets for In Treatment

00:29

James Woods

View Person Page

Suzuki Ingerslev on being praised by James Woods for the set of his house on Shark

00:35

Lesli Linka Glatter

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Suzuki Ingerslev on production design for Love & Death and working with Lesli Linka Glatter

02:03

Spike Lee

View Person Page

Suzuki Ingerslev on working with director Spike Lee on the pilot of Shark

01:54

Tracey Ullman

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Suzuki Ingerslev on working with Tracey Ullman on Tracey Takes On...

00:06

Suzuki Ingerslev on working with Tracey Ullman and Allan McKeown for Tracey Takes On... and how travel has influenced her work

00:31