Interview with Kim Gromoll
INTERVIEW WITH KIM GROMOLL
Art Director, Walt Disney World, Creative Entertainment
KimGromoll.com
Biography:
I’ve been with the Disney Company for just over a year. In that time I designed the stage for the 20th Aniversary show of the Lion King, Mr Oogie Boogie’s Freaky Funhouse Show , Midnight in the Mansion and several other projects. Before that, I was a Senior Scenic Designer for Universal Studios Orlando for over 15 years. While there I worked on Halloween Horror Nights, Mardi Gras, Grinchmas, Simpson’s RV, and many themed vehicles. I also paint Star Wars art for limited edition prints for Acme Archives for Lucasfilms.
Before moving to Florida, I was an illustrator in Pennsylvania. In over 15 years I illustrated book jackets, magazine covers, greeting cards, postage stamps for foreign countries, game box covers and more.
Education:
AAS Luzerne County Community College (Commercial art)
BFA Maryland Institute of Art (Illustration)
First job:
Doing hand drawn black and white toy illustrations for Lionel Kiddie City, a toy retailer. I would draw the toys for the Sunday paper inserts.
First job in the Attractions / Entertainment industry:
Concept illustrator for Richard Crane Productions
Essential philosophy:
Two heads are better than one. Collaborate whenever possible. Bounce ideas off of respected peers. I am not creative enough to go it on my own. Every design that I’ve ever produced has a part of me in it, but also a good dose of input from other artists. That’s not to say I won’t fight for an idea that I truly believe in.
Leave your ego at the door.
What motivates me:
Working with a team of talented people to produce something really special. Seeing that finished scenic/stage/vehicle in the park. Watching the guests enjoy it. Seeing the look on the kids’ faces.
Two most notable accomplishments:
Halloween Horror Nights as a whole, but most notably the American Werewolf in London House. We collaborated with John Landis to produce his movie as a scene by scene, walk-thru experience that rated as one of the all-time favorite Halloween houses for Universal. And the Skoolhouse. A walkthrough scare zone that featured my favorite design of all time. A one room dilapidated school house and a scare zone with over 400 jack-o-lanterns.
2nd would be my first gig at Disney. I was brand new, didn’t know my way around and didn’t know the key players and was given the task of designing the stage for the 20th Anniversary of the Lion King Show. The stage had to be designed in components that could be assembled in 90 minutes and accommodate a full orchestra, choir, guest speakers, dancers, video screens, multiple levels (My favorite) and scenic. It was a whirlwind gig with just 6 weeks to design, build rehearse and install.
Mentors:
Paul Pavis, Director of Art and Design when I arrived at Universal. I wasn’t a kid, I was 40 years old, but I was new to this world. Paul took me under his wing, showed me how things are done. He was always patient with me. He gave me insights that I use to this day.
He’d look at something that you did and you were sure you had hit a home run and he’d say “EXCELLENT…C plus” His way of saying good job but before you strain your arm patting yourself on the back, that WAS your job, wasn’t it.
When you are under the gun and something small is not right, “Don’t go back, keep on going”
“Mash the GO button” …. in other words don’t wait for everything to be perfect. It never will be. Get to work, get the job done.
And my favorite….I was having a tough day. We were both on the Mardi Gras stage where a scenic company had really screwed up my design and we were trying to figure out a solution. Just then a vehicle that I had designed the year before came around the bend. A big red bus called the Nut Bus carrying characters, with music and water squirting and bubbles trailing and dozens of kids following and laughing. And Paul looked at me and said “Gromoll…do you know what you do for a living?….. You make kids smile” Whenever it gets tough….and it DOES get tough sometimes, I think about what I do for a living. I make kids smile.
Most rewarding part of a job:
Seeing a finished product in the park after working long hours with a group of talented, dedicated people. Nothing beats it. The sense of accomplishment. The idea that the thing that you are looking at, it didn’t exist. It came from your brain and your fingers and the collaborative process that creates a stronger end product than a singular vision.
Most challenging part of a job:
Many :) As creative individuals, we want to shoot for the moon. But we work for companies that have budgets. They are businesses that have to show a profit. You need to be just as creative in designing that wonderful “Thing”, to fit the budget. It is sometimes daunting, but can be even more rewarding. Coming up with an alternative to the mega dollars design, that actually works better, gives a better show and hits that budget.
Another challenge. You will encounter people in this industry that hold sway over your designs and who have little or no knowledge of design, structure, scenery…just about everything we do. These people hold final buyoff. And with a wave of their hand they can send your project tumbling. Schedule, budget, and worst of all design. Some people need to be validated. So, what to do? Scream in the car, go home and have a beer, call a friend in the business and complain. Then go and fix the mess to the best of your ability. We work for a company that hires us to do a job AND follow direction. Again, leave your ego at the door. If you can’t, then maybe a nice job in another field is right for you.
Best advice received:
Gene Columbus worked for Disney for 38 years. He now heads up the Orlando Repertory Theatre. Gene told me to have a successful show …. “Make them laugh, make them cry, AND always make them remember”
Advice for success:
Be a team player. Be the guy or girl that people want to be around, to have on their team. You can be the most talented designer around, but if you are a jerk, no one will want to work with you. Because guess what? You are in the epicenter of talented designers. The Orlando Theme Park community has more top notch talent than anywhere else. So you CAN be replaced. Probably tomorrow. I want to be around people that make me laugh, that I respect, that I can trust….and lastly, that are good designers.
What drives me crazy:
Computers…it’s a Love Hate relationship. I am Grant from Jurassic Park. I touch a computer and it stops. I realize that we could not do our jobs without them, but DAMN they aggravate me. That’s probably why I go home and paint.
Hobbies:
I’m Grant :) I have always loved dinosaurs. So I go out and dig for fossils. I’ve been on digs with the University of Florida. And I go out on my own when I can.
Favorite movies:
Casablanca….Star Wars (The first 3) …..Jaws…..Indiana Jones (the first3)…..The Wizard of Oz
Favorite reward for myself:
Having a beer with friends, going to concerts, having Sunday breakfast with my wife and kids.
Little known fact:
I played high school football for 4 years. I was a linebacker and noseguard. I was WAY undersized but I was the meanest guy on the field.