“Dr. Sleep.” “The Suicide Squad.” “Ms. Marvel.” If you’ve ever watched any of these movies or television shows, you’ve seen set designer Vincent Bates’ work.
Originally from South Carolina, Bates graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in 2013 with an MFA in architecture. He didn’t always know he wanted to work in film, but after deciding that architecture might not be the profession for him, a friend turned him on to the world of set design.
Over a decade later, Bates has built a formidable resume and recently worked on “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” making him one of the 158 SCAD students and alumni who worked on films represented at the Academy Awards this year (“Guardians” scored a nomination for Best Visual Effects).
Bates took some time out of his busy schedule to talk with Rough Draft about his path to the movies and what exactly a set designer does. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Growing up, did you always know you wanted to work in movies? When did that start to become the career path for you?
Vincent Bates:I had no idea I wanted to work in movies. I knew I always loved movies as a child, watching them all the time and enamored by them. But I never thought of it being a viable profession. Where I’m from, Columbia, South Carolina, it’s like – how are movies even made, you know? [Laughs] Just a few phone calls and boom, there’s a new Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. It became, for me, a viable career path while I was at SCAD. That’s where I was like, oh? You mean I can actually use what I’ve learned here and do this?
You got your degree in architecture, right?
Bates: Yes. I got a master’s in architecture from SCAD, and my undergrad was from South Carolina State University in mechanical engineering.
Knowing that, I assume you were thinking about going the architecture route. What was the turning point for you?
Bates:…
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