Podcast – Production designer Jacinta Leong

31 March 2023 By Caris Bizzaca

Jacinta Leong on the journey from architect to 2067 production designer, and art directing on the likes of Shang-Chi, Alien: Covenant and Mad Max: Fury Road.

On the set of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Photo credit: Jasin Boland.

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Production designer Jacinta Leong first met 2067 director Seth Larney while working on Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and then Superman Returns – both shot in Sydney in the 2000s.

The pair stayed in touch and when Larney was making his sci-fi feature 2067, he reached out to Leong (who would go on to be nominated for an AACTA Award for her work on the film – now available to watch on Netflix). Leong says working with Larney as a director has been a highlight.

“I like Seth’s ideas and how he’s an absolute go-getter. He has something in his head that he has to get out and share and 2067 was a great experience, seeing how he operated,” she says.

“On Mad Max: Fury Road and most recently on Furiosa, I enjoyed working with director Dr George Miller… in the meetings, we’re talking about something and with production designer Colin Gibson he’s asking ‘what have we found out? What have we researched? Where did we get that idea from?’… that level of detail and interest, I’ve enjoyed very much.”

Over the years, Leong’s work in the art department has also included projects such as Moulin Rouge!, The Great Gatsby, art directing on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Alien: Covenant, and production designing features Buckley’s Chance as well as 2067.

Throughout the latest episode of the podcast, Leong talks about some of the roles in the art department, advice for getting into the industry, career highlights and more.

To hear more, listen to the full episode on the Screen Australia Podcast.