Abby has worked in the entertainment industry giving life to imagination (her own and others) for over 10 years. As a designer and fabricator in film, theater, and architecture Abby has honed a diverse range of knowledge and skills that enable her to provide tailored, unique solutions (whether in the form of design, drafting, or fabrication) to each new production.

 

While Abby is based in New York City she is always eager to travel where the work takes her. Some recent credits from abroad include work on Blade Runner 2049 (senior model maker and assistant art director for Weta Workshop’s miniatures unit), Spielberg’s The BFG (senior model maker), and ITV’s Thunderbirds Are Go! (senior model maker and art department miniatures technician).

 

Abby is a member of United Scenic Artists, Local 829, and a graduate of Cornell University where she studied architecture and worked in the theater.

 

Formal Education

Bachelor of Architecture

Cornell University

 

Meisner Technique 2yr Acting Cert.

Actor’s Workshop of Ithaca

 

 

Drafting (digital & hand)

3D Modeling

Soldering/Jewelry

Scenic Painting

Web design

 

 

OSX & Windows

Basic knowledge:

   AutoCAD

   Rhino

   Maya

Skills

Model making

Carpentry

Laser Cutting

Sewing/Draping

 

Software

Adobe Suite

SketchUp

Vectorworks

Microsoft Office

HTML

 

Present/Past Titles:

Film/ Theater Technician

Project Manager/ Sr. Fabricator

Asst. Art Dir./ Sr. Model Maker

Resident Scenic Designer

Assistant Acting Instructor

Rope Access Technician

 

Freelance | Designer, Fabricator, Art Director, AD, Set Dec, Stage Manager, Prop.

Gulliver’s Gate | Designed, and managed production of miniatures for museum display.

Weta Workshop | Worked in development, fabrication, and filming of miniature sets.

Actor’s Workshop of Ithaca Theater Co. | Designed, and managed set fabrication.

Actor’s Workshop of Ithaca | Co - taught/directed Meisner technique classes.

Vertical Access LLC. | Conducted building façade inspections via rope access.

 

2009 – 2017

2016 – 2017

2013 - 2016

2010 – 2013

2010 – 2013

2009 – 2013

Selected Credits:

Assistant Art Director - TV

Happy! - Season 1

 

Assistant Art Director/Sr. Model Maker - Miniatures Unit - Film

Blade Runner 2049

The BFG

Thunderbirds Are Go

 

Production Designer - Film

To Be Forgotten

FACE

The Chanticleer

Double Word

Happy Hour

Sex, Drugs, & A Cappella

 

Set Designer - Theater

Museum

Spring Awakening

Mitzi’s Abortion

Rabbit Hole

Poona the F*ckdog...

Speech & Debate

 

Costume Designer - Theater

RENT

Far Away

Gutenberg! The Musical!!

Archaeology

 

Technical Director/Master Carpenter - Theater

Spring Awakening

Hatshepsut

Rabbit Hole

A Play on Words

 

Assistant Director – Film & Theater

The Chanticleer

Double Word

Orange Flower Water

 

 

NBC Universal, Syfy channel

 

 

Weta Workshop, Alcon Entertainment

Weta Workshop, Amblin Entertainment

Weta Workshop, ITV Studios, Pukeko Pictures

 

 

Masa Gibson, Marked Pictures

Masa Gibson, Marked Pictures

Becky Lane, Nice Girl Films

Masa Gibson, Marked Pictures

Becky Lane, Nice Girl Films

Masa Gibson, Original Series

 

 

David Kossack, Actor’s Workshop of Ithaca Theater Co.

Amina Omari, The Melodramatics Theatre Co.

C.A. Teitelbaum, Actor’s Workshop of Ithaca Theater Co.

Jeremy Webb, Actor’s Workshop of Ithaca Theater Co.

David Kossack, Actor’s Workshop of Ithaca Theater Co.

Sam Buggeln, Kitchen Theatre Co.

 

 

Tim Dyster, The Melodramatics Theatre Co.

Amina Omari, Actor’s Workshop of Ithaca Theater Co.

Rachel Lampert, Kitchen Theatre Co.

Margarett Perry, Kitchen Theatre Co.

 

 

Amina Omari, The Melodramatics Theatre Co.

Eliza VanCort, Actor’s Workshop of Ithaca Theater Co.

Jeremy Webb, Actor’s Workshop of Ithaca Theater Co.

Margarett Perry, Kitchen Theatre Co.

 

 

Becky Lane, Nice Girl Films

Masa Gibson, Marked Pictures

Amina Omari, Actor’s Workshop of Ithaca Theater Co.

 

 

New York, NY

 

 

Wellington, NZ

Wellington, NZ

Wellington, NZ

 

 

New York, NY

New York, NY

New York & Ithaca, NY

Ithaca, NY

New York & Ithaca, NY

Ithaca, NY

 

 

Ithaca, NY

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY

Ithaca, NY

Ithaca, NY

Ithaca NY

 

 

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY

Ithaca NY

Ithaca NY

 

 

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY

Ithaca, NY

New York, NY

 

 

New York & Ithaca, NY

Ithaca, NY

Ithaca, NY

 

 

2017

 

 

2017

2015

2013 – 2015

 

 

2017

2016

2014

2013

2012

2011

 

 

2014

2013

2013

2012

2011

2010

 

 

2012

2011

2010

2009

 

 

2013

2013

2012

2009

 

 

2013

2013

2010

bby

j Smith