James
Nilsen-Misra
Set Dec Standby/Art Department
A 20-year Cape Town Art Department veteran specialising in Set Dec Standby and on-set execution — translating the Production Designer's vision to camera while managing hero props, strict continuity, and rapid turnarounds.
I thrive on the floor — reading the setup before it's called.
Whether navigating a heavy-duty Netflix build or a fast-paced TVC, I bring a calm, resourceful, "yes, and" mentality to the set. I translate the Production Designer's vision to camera while managing hero props, strict continuity, and rapid turnarounds under pressure.
I know how to read the floor, work seamlessly alongside other departments, implement leave-no-trace thinking on sensitive locations, and keep the art department one step ahead of the shooting schedule to make the day.
The floor, the props, the build
The Floor & Continuity
Set Dec Standby, resetting hero and action props, maintaining strict camera continuity, and executing rapid dressing and striking.
Location Protection
Leave-no-trace thinking, managing the unit footprint, and protecting sensitive live locations and heritage sites during heavy setups.
Props & Sourcing
Managing the prop truck, running high-volume hires, condition tracking, and executing on-the-fly dressing adjustments when the brief changes.
Rigging & Build Logic
Practical knowledge of materials, finishes, and safe load conditions — knowing exactly what can be flown, rigged, or safely altered on the day without compromising the location.
Focus: Set Decoration & Standby
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Year2024
RoleStandby Set Dec / Set Dresser
ProductionFatal Seduction (Seasons II & III)
Director / PDDir: J. Barbuzano, C. Freimond
PD: Sally White NetworkNetflix -
Year2022–2023
RoleSet Decorator
ProductionHeart Of The Hunter
Director / PDDir: Mandla Dube
PD: Bathoni Robinson NetworkNetflix -
Year2017–2018
RoleStandby Set Dec / Snr Set Dresser
ProductionDr Who: "The Ghost Monument" & "Rosa Parks"
Director / PDDir: Mark Tonderai
PD: Arwel Jones NetworkBBC / Out of Africa -
Year2018
RoleSet Decorator / Art Dept Standby
ProductionHomebound
Director / PDDir: Marika Harjusaari
PD: Heidi Jokinen NetworkAalto Elo (FI) -
Year2018
RoleSet Decorator / Art Dept Standby
ProductionTerra X – Mapping The World
Director / PDDir: Tilman Remme
PD: Rob Slinger NetworkZDF / Spiegel (DE) -
Year2017
RoleStandby Set Dec / Props Master
ProductionKleiner Junge, Großer Freund
Director / PDDir: Michael Karen
PD: Tom Gubb NetworkZDF (DE) -
Year2016
RoleStandby Set Dec / Set Decorator
ProductionA Cinderella Story: If The Shoe Fits
Director / PDDir: Michelle Johnston
PD: Karel Flint NetworkWarner Brothers -
Year2016
RoleSenior Set Dresser
Production24 Hours To Live
Director / PDDir: Brian Smrz
PD: Colin Gibson NetworkThunder Road (US/CN) -
Year2016
RoleSet Dresser
ProductionOrigins: The Journey Of Humankind
Director / PDDir: Simon George et al.
PD: Chris Richmond NetworkNational Geographic -
Year2008
RoleStandby Set Dresser / Assistant
ProductionSiyanqoba "Beat-It"
Director / PDDir: Jack Lewis
HOD: John Trafford NetworkSABC
Focus: Set Dec Standby & Props Master
- Year2026 RoleArt Dept Research & Standby Brand / CampaignChicken Licken "General Raj" FormatTVC Director / PDDir: Greg Gray / PD: Chris Bass
- Year2025 RoleArt Dept Standby Brand / CampaignUndisclosed Campaign FormatTVC Director / PDDir: Greg Gray / PD: William Boyes
- Year2024 RoleSet Dec Standby / Props Master Brand / CampaignDeanston "Glen" FormatTVC Director / PDDir: David Barker / PD: Thomas Reynecke
- Year2022 RoleArt Dept Standby Brand / CampaignEvergreen Garden Care FormatTVC Director / PDDir: Aidan Gibbons / PD: Sabrina Linder
- Year2021 RoleSet Dec Standby / Props Master Brand / CampaignBosch: High Tech #Likeabosch FormatTVC/Stills Director / PDDir: Bart Timmer / PD: Naobie Noisette
- Year2021 RoleArt Dept Standby / Props Master Brand / CampaignAtopia (William Grant & Sons) FormatTVC Director / PDDir: Dule Anicic / PD: M. Mc William Smith
- Year2021 RoleArt Dept Standby / Props Master Brand / CampaignShoprite FormatTVC Director / PDDir: Ian Chuter / PD: Naobie Noisette
- Year2020 RoleStandby Set Dec / Props Master Brand / CampaignMundipharma "Betadine" FormatTVC Director / PDDir: Helen Raine / PD: Laurence Bishop
- Year2020 RoleProps Master Brand / CampaignE. Leclerc: "Responsible Consumer" FormatTVC Director / PDDir: Ivan Grbovic / PD: Clyde Rainsburry
- Year2019 RoleStandby Set Dec / Props Master Brand / CampaignGoogle "Google Station" FormatTVC Director / PDDir: Kyla Philander / PD: Conor Ralphs
- Year2019 RoleStandby Set Dec / Props Master Brand / CampaignStimorol FormatTVC Director / PDDir: Karien Cherry / PD: Sally White
- Year2019 RoleSet Dec Standby / Props Master Brand / CampaignSamsung "Twin Cooling Plus" FormatTVC/Stills Director / PDDir: L. Dalessandri / PD: Tracey Collis
- Year2018 RoleSet Dec Standby / Props Master Brand / CampaignKFC (Multiple Campaigns) FormatTVC Director / PDDir: Ian Chuter / PD: Gavin Scates
- Year2018 RoleSet Dec Standby Brand / CampaignV.I.P. Happy Holidays FormatTVC/Stills Director / PDDir: Ravi Udyawar / PD: E. Christie-Goodall
- Year2018 RoleArt Dept Standby Brand / CampaignSuperbalist & Takealot FormatStills Director / PDPD: Charl Edwards / Jason Basson
- Year2017 RoleOn-Set Set Dec / Props Assist Brand / CampaignNintendo "Nintendo Switch" FormatTVC Director / PDDir: Julien Roussiaux / PD: Jenifer Blatt
- Year2016 RoleSet Dec Standby Brand / CampaignTD Ameritrade FormatStills Director / PDDir: Gavin Goodman / PD: Leon Morland
- Year2015 RoleSet Dec Standby / Props Brand / CampaignNivea: "Your Moment" FormatTVC Director / PDDir: Niko Caro / PD: Glyndwr Kaplen
"James is an extremely committed, meticulous and efficient working partner, with a strong ability to anticipate issues early and work through them until they are resolved. He is one of the finest people who has ever worked for me."— Basil J. R. Jones, Co-founder / Executive Director, Handspring Puppet Company
Design, Art Direction & Fabrication
My on-set decisions are backed by a deep, hands-on background in art direction, construction, and fabrication — ensuring I know exactly how a set is built before I have to adjust it on the floor.