A Los Angeles native, and a Pepperdine University graduate at age 21, Gregory Simms has worked on over 300 film production projects, of varied scope and broadcast, over his career spanning 25 years. In the 1990’s, as a Production Assistant, Gregory worked on over 100 TV commercials for Pepsi, McDonald’s, Chrysler, AT&T, superbowl spots for Budweiser, and others. Along the way, he gained an understanding about: film composition, film scheduling, and the collaborative, departmentalized film production process.

 

Fascinated by the 35MM motion picture film camera, Gregory worked for the visual effects cinematography company Image G Inc., where he worked his way up from a Production Assistant to be a Motion Control Rigger, to a VFX Coordinator, to eventually become a Visual Effects Producer. Working directly under Image G owner Thomas Major Barron, an Oscar winner for technical achievement in cinematography, Gregory formulated budgets, and managed the camera crews and equipment logistics.

 

In Vancouver B.C., Gregory worked on complex visual effects sequences with Director Brian DePalma on “Mission to Mars” and also with Visual Effects Supervisor Richard Uricich on “Mission Impossible 2,” and he supervised the motion control unit on many other films as well. Later, Gregory worked on episodes of The ‘X’ Files, with Producer and Director Kim Manners, dozens of TV commercials for clients like Ford and Coca-Cola and music videos for Rage Against the Machine and Lauryn Hill, who won the Grammy for best album that year.

 

While at Image G, Gregory also successfully produced VFX on a spot for Coca-Cola using the world’s largest kuper systems software, motion controlled crane, a custom-modified Akela crane, which was over 100 feet long.

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      On the set with Image G Owner and Academy Award winner          Thomas Major Barron with the motion controlled 100' long Akela crane

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Determined to use his artistic vision and creative talents of set design, prop fabrication and interior design in filmmaking, Gregory continued his career working his way up in the Art Department. He worked as a Set Dresser, to become an Art Department Coordinator, to a Shopper/Set Decorator, and finally as an Production Designer/Art Director for film, and as a Prop Stylist/Art Director for print work.

 

A student of color theory and the application of it, Gregory researches and sources Art Department elements and props for the film productions he works on. He crafted the visual texture of TV commercial spots and print ads for clients: Toyota, Nikon, M&M’s, Castrol Motor Oil, Nissan, Progressive Insurance, Shiseido Cosmetics, Cisco Systems, Ford and others. He had the opportunity to production design TV promos for The Discovery Channel’s Shark Week, Showtime, Disney Channel, and music videos for Snoop Dogg, Neil Diamond, Mya, Mystikal, Master P, and others widely viewed on Mtv. Gregory also art directed episodes of “History’s Mysteries” for The History Channel, and 4 feature films.

 

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         Production Design by Gregory Simms for Disney Channel's

"3 Minute Gameshow," the concept sketch and the finished set's photograph

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Gregory was the Production Designer of a film called “The King of the Vampires.” He created a tropical swamp, indoors on stage, complete with a 20’ long pool of “human” blood, dripping mossy rock cave walls, and smoke effects. The film was directed by Nick Vallelonga.

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                                                 Gregory is the one on the left.

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Gregory went to Savannah, GA and was the Art Director of the feature film, “Breaking At The Edge” shot there and in South Carolina. A psychological thriller starring: Rebecca de Costa, Milo Ventimiglia and Logan Browning and also featuring Andie McDowell and Academy Award Winner Lou Gossett Jr., the film’s script required technically challenging sets, fire special effects, and had cold, wet, and dangerous shooting locations.

 

Gregory was also the film’s Set Decorator, and he recreated on stage the film’s main set, an apartment interior, which was a nearly identical duplicate of a real Savannah location covered early in the film’s shooting schedule. It required wild soft ceiling flats and removable set walls for multiple angle coverage of choreographed fight sequences.

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             Art Direction and Set Decoration by Gregory Simms

               for the "Breaking At The Edge" apartment set

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Filmed by veteran Director of Photography Steve Mason, the centuries old backdrop of architecturally historic Savannah proved to be a very compelling canvass, and it provided many unique opportunities for great cinematography and art direction for the film.

 

Gregory brings a sophisticated creative touch to the procurement of art department assets, and years of experience to the installation of them either on stage, or on location. He has an eye for producing elegant production values for the film productions he works on. Always resourceful, Gregory's specialty is delivering the most production value possible for the Art Department buck. He is seasoned at complex logistical coordination, is an expert shopper, and has advanced client skills. Gregory also does computer SketchUp architectural 3D modeling for pre-production previsualization, set design and set renderings.

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Upon request, Gregory provides detailed, line item Art Department budget estimates. And on the job, he provides running totals during production, and actualized budgets in his wrap package.

 

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