Building the "New Girl" Part Two: Continuing the Series

An interview with production designer Michael Whetstone.

Production designer Jeff Sage established the primary set used on “New Girl.” Once the series was picked up, production designer Michael Whetstone stepped in to take over where Sage left off, and continue defining the look of the series as the episodes and characters evolved. Continuing our discussions of production design for “New Girl” that 411 Publishing started in November (http://www.resource411.com/411Update/Issue/Articles/Story.cfm?StoryID=1213 ) 411 recently spoke with Whetstone to learn what it takes to pick up the reigns.

411: What was it like jumping onto the show after the pilot already shot and the apartment was already in place?

Michael Whetstone: When I watched the pilot, what I felt was missing was the sense of who these people really were apart. The first thing we did in going to series was realize each character was going to need their own space. On the pilot we saw Jess’s bedroom, but you didn’t see where the guys lived.