Jessica Petruccelli is a New York based set decorator working in television and film. Jessica grew up in a theatrical environment; her father, a production stage manager and her mother, a professional ballet dancer. As a child, Jessica would express her theatrical side and creativity by putting together living room productions she enjoyed performing and producing with friends–from the scenery to costumes to props.
After graduating from Emerson College with a concentration in TV and Video production, with a bit of luck and lots of ambition her career began as the art director for the web series- The ONION NEWS NETWORK. After working on short form web videos at ONN, Jessica got into local 52 where she started out as a prop assistant and set dressing shop person. Her first union shopping job was with Decorator, David Schlesinger on the project Chinese Puzzle. This experience is where she learned a lot about the craft of set decoration, and creating very detailed and layered sets.
Jessica has been decorating ever since! Most notably, she won a Primetime Emmy for her work on RUSSIAN DOLL. Other decoration credits include THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT, BROAD CITY, and THE AFFAIR.
Jessica Petruccelli's Project Showcase
Photos from Russian Doll & The Flight Attendant
Q&A with Jessica Petruccelli
Q.
What are your morning and night rituals?
A.
I used to only give myself 30 minutes in the morning to get ready which is possible but not enjoyable. Now I get up an hour before I have to leave for work- Make coffee, stare into my closet for a while to figure out what to wear, then water my plants and do the NYT mini crossword. Having the full hour makes me feel like I can exist for a moment before I get fully absorbed in work. I’ll be honest, my night ritual isn’t a ritual as much as happenstance. I get cozy on my couch, drink a beer and hang out with my husband until I start falling asleep, which is usually pretty early on work days.
Q.
What is the best compliment you’ve ever received?
A.
My husband and I have a yearly New Year’s Eve party and one year a guest said our house looked like a set from Phantom Thread.
Q.
How did you get started in this field?
A.
Towards the end of college at Emerson I worked on a few grad film projects as a production designer. I had just broken up with a classmate I was dating at the time who was an aspiring DP. That breakup helped propel me to apply for any and every art department based job I could. One of those being an art director position on the web series, The Onion News Network. I just squeaked by with the required qualifications. And miraculously I got the job and moved to New York! That was a great series and team of people to start my career with, I learned a lot.
Q.
What’s the best thing about shopping in person?
A.
Finding the unexpected! Pieces of furniture and set dressing found out in the wild often are things you would not see or take note of shopping online. I like talking with vendors and learning from their expertise as well as doing detective work in person when looking for a specific type of item. That can often take you on an unexpected journey from source to source. It’s so inspiring to be out in the world looking at pieces- they can form a whole new trajectory for a space you are decorating.
Q.
Dream country to work in? Or dream project to take on?
A.
My Dream project would be to decorate a 1970’s Ballet company film or a period movie centered around a famous dancer/choreographer like Alvin Ailey or Martha Graham.
Q.
What are three things you can’t live without?
A.
My Mom’s Opal ring, Close friends and family and a cold frosty beer at the end of a long day.
Q.
Sweet or savory?
A.
Savory! I love salt and vinegar chips.
Q.
What’s your favorite time of day?
A.
Early Morning, it reminds me of the excitement and possibility of being a kid and getting up early to help with my aunt’s yearly yard sale and my grandmother’s dance studio’s annual recital.
Q.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A.
Ballerina, detective, waitress.
Q.
What is something you’re overly competitive about?
A.
Everything, unfortunately.
