Hollywood Art Director Peg McClellan provided advice to students providing a career in any art field at Tuesday's lecture titled, "Filmmaking: the Art Director's Role."

"When you're starting out, you have to have a can-do attitude," she said. "You have to have that [mobile] personality to deal with free-lance work. Concentrate on what you can do instead of what you can't do."

McClellan told the audience members not to limit themselves and to follow their passions.

"Ms. McClellan's speech reassured me, as a possible art major, that there are plenty of job opportunities available in today's market for an individual willing to apply themselves. I enjoyed her enthusiasm and appreciated her expertise," Adrienne Brockhaus said.

While she always desired to have a career in the arts, she never thought she would be active on the sets of Hollywood.

McClellan is currently working on Universal Pictures' "Seabiscuit," which stars Tobey Maguire, and finds it to be a rewarding experience. Also she works with photography classes to offer her experience and knowledge.

"I really love what I do. [In each film], I adapt an approach to each director's style. I help to form the director's vision," said McClellan.

McClellan worked on "Melrose Place," "Quantum Leap" and "Columbo." She also worked on six Disney films, including "Escape to Witch Mountain" and "The Love Bug." McClellan contributed to "Dick Tracy," Streets of Fire" and "Brokedown Palace."

McClellan recently completed a 60-second trailer commercial for Nintendo.

The theme of the ad focused on "Lord of the Rings," and McClellan's artistic ideas had to be translated into computer images. This task showed that one project contains "so many layers, and so many job opportunities."

McClellan graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor of fine arts degree. She took classes at the Associates of Art Center, University of Florida-Gainesville and UCLA. She has been involved with the Hollywood scene for over 20 years, and received an Emmy for her work on "Cinderella."

McClellan's first employment opportunity came from Universal Studios. As art director for "Coalminer's Daughter," she provided illustrations for the storyboards and worked beside producers, directors, writers and designers.

McClellan will lecture again tonight at 7:00 p.m., where she will present storyboards and discuss the changes in movie design.

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