Noted movie production designer, CSUEB alumnus returning to campus April 24-26

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Scott Chambliss '85 (Photo: Max Gerber)

  • March 3, 2014
  • By Barry Zepel

Scott Chambliss, 1985 Cal State East Bay alumnus and production designer for some of the biggest motion pictures and television shows of recent years, will be returning to his alma mater’s Hayward campus for three days – April 24-26 – to talk about his career and the entertainment industry with current students, fellow alumni and the public.

Chambliss, recipient of an Emmy Award for outstanding art direction and an Art Guild of America award for excellence in production design, has been responsible for the overall look for such films as Mission Impossible III as well as the Star Trek films released in 2009 and 2013.

He will make a brief presentation for students followed by a question and answer session at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 24 in the university’s Studio Theatre. Admission is free to students, staff and faculty.

On Friday, April 25, Chambliss will be interviewed about his journey as a production designer from stage to  television and motion pictures. The interviewer will be Melissa Hillman ’90, a frequent CSUEB Theatre and Dance Department lecturer and guest director as well as the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre faculty member. Following the interview, there will be a screening of Star Trek Into Darkness, the 2013 motion picture Chambliss worked on with famed action and science fiction director-producer J.J. Abrams.

That session will take place starting at 7:30 p.m. in the University Theatre. General admission is $20 per person, $5 for students with an ID, and can be purchased online at . All proceeds will go to improve opportunities for future Cal State East Bay Technology and Design students.

Chambliss’ visit will conclude his CSUEB visit on Saturday, April 26, with a noon time potluck picnic with alumni of the departments now making up the School of Arts and Media within CSUEB’s College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS). That will take place in Robinson Hall Park, adjacent to the University Theatre on the north side of campus. Admission to the picnic is free. Alumni are asked to RSVP by e-mail to theatre@csueastbay.edu.

Other film and television productions enhanced by Chambliss’ design work include Cowboys and Aliens and Salt.