Hraefn worked from 2010 through 2020 as a creative lead at McGrew Studios, Salt Lake area’s premiere custom costume and production design studio.
An interesting, challenging decade, a legendary organization, and some of the finest, most talented people that have ever worked together.
Colleagues Jennifer, Robert, Hraefn, Crit, Carolyn, Alex, Liam, DeeDee, David, Melissa, Mel, Machelle, more than 70 college and high school interns, and so many others- all busted their asses making art… much of it for other people’s projects.
A common arc in the life of most artists.
More hindsight on this decade may prompt additional commentary.
Some assorted press items from this period are these below:
Talk’aran’rhiod: The Wheel of Time Showcast
Joe Perry, Jen Isgro and Tom Cocozza, prolific podcasters and Wheel of Time fans, host Flight From Shadow‘s producers Hraefn Wulfson and Jennifer McGrew who share memories, insights and behind-the-scenes anecdotes about their making of the 2013 film.
https://www.talkaranrhiod.com/550459/8402542-86-interview-from-shadow
April 26, 2021
SALT LAKE CITY ARTS COUNCIL
2020-2021
Artist Career Empowerment Grant
Congratulations Jennifer McGrew
March 18, 2021
WSU WILDCAT
Alumni Magazine
Tells us what Jennifer McGrew has been up to this year.
She is a proud alumna and graduated in the 1990s.
March 2021
The career development specialists at owlguru.com ask Jennifer McGrew to describe typical days on set and during preproduction.
She describes the details, duties plus some pros and cons of producing plus designing costumes and productions.
February 25, 2021
BIG FESTIVAL WINS in 2020-2021 for feature film ON THE DAY THAT I DIED, written and directed by Chuck Waagen.
“ON THE DAY THAT I DIED is a surrealist urban fantasy film that follows one man’s journey into himself as he comes to terms with his own life and death choices”
We are super psyched! We will let everyone know when it becomes viewable stateside in theaters here and on streaming platforms.
From McGrew Studios:
Producers: Jennifer McGrew, Hraefn Wulfson.
VFX: Robert Hirschi.
Film poster design: Carolyn Richardson.
See more behind-the-scenes pix, info and trailers at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1354186514638058
“Stay Out Of The F**king Attic” Wins Best Feature at the Atlanta Horror Film Festival.
October 20, 2020
Congratulations to our amazing cast and crew of Top Dead Center Films. Exec producers Julie and Gary Auerbach, directed by Jerren Lauder. Jennifer McGrew designed costumes and Hraefn Wulfson designed custom props.
The New Utah Podcast, Episode 213: “Containing the Hag.”
June 24, 2020
In this episode, the New Utah Podcast crew visits with Hraefn Wulfson and Jennifer McGrew, long time friends of the show. Misty Sherwood joins as well to talk paranormal. We have a good deal of discussion about politics, the election and covid-19. We spend a good deal of time discussing the impact it has had on McGrew Studios and the changes they are making. We find out Hraefn has lifetimes’ worth of bad luck following him, plus we discuss the haunting of the studio and the Ghost Adventures episode it was featured in. Follow us on Twitter @tnupodcast. TheNewUtah.com
Dan and Roni of the Haunted Realms Podcast discuss spirits with McGrew Studios’ co-manager Hraefn Wulfson.
June 25, 2020
Plus the Shop’s recent close encounter with Ghost Adventures as they filmed their recent episode, Industrial District of the Damned.
Ghost Adventures: Industrial District of the Damned
Ghost Adventures’ “Industrial District of the Damned” episode filmed at McGrew Studios airs on Travel Channel.
February 26, 2020
Prepare to meet some of our shop’s lesser known but still very active residents in this episode. We didn’t always speak of them publicly, but many of our local paranormal investigator groups resounded their experiences, and then the word spread around the world. Zak Bagans, Aaron Goodwin, Billy Tolley and Jay Wasley of Ghost Adventures host and investigate in this episode on the Travel Channel.
BYU TV
BYU TV’s Story Trek episode “Cosplay and the Hero Within” is up.
February 26, 2020
Hraefn Wulfson and Jennifer McGrew, the McGrew Studios managers, are featured in this episode celebrating cosplay and the human spirit in all its forms.
“Traveling While Black” at Salt Lake Film Society 2019
Oct 7, 2019
“Traveling While Black” is BACK in Utah. Through December 31 at the Salt Lake Film Society, the 20 minute VR film viewing (that debuted at Sundance last year) is free to visitors as you sit in our custom set of “Ben’s Chili Bowl” that we built for Felix and Paul, the film’s producers.
Salt Lake Tribune article
October 7, 2019 – December 31, 2019
20 minute Virtual Reality Experience Open During Operational Hours
Hours Are Subject To Change
On-demand when you arrive.
Connect Broadcast
May 27, 2019
Our latest podcast “The Crazy in Art,”a great discussion with painters Michael Fahl and Hraefn Wulfson
https://www.patreon.com/user/creators?u=16589710
Connect Broadcast
May 12, 2019
Hosts Mark Putscher and Michael Christensen join Alexander Buie and guest host Hraefn Wulfson for an amazing discussion: “From Hobbit to Entrepreneur”.
https://www.patreon.com/user/creators?u=16589710
Landmark Artists Gallery
May 17, 2019
Layton Hills Mall
Live Entertainment from 7 to 9pm
Be sure to join us as Hraefn Wulfson, community leader and Director of Creative, Marketing and Production Design at McGrew Studios speaks to us on “The Moving Canvas: Art and Cinema”.
Connect Broadcast
April 15, 2019
Join us for an amazing conversation about “How Adversity Affects Creativity” with artists Isaac Doubek and Hraefn Wulfson
https://www.patreon.com/user/creators?u=16589710
https://www.landmarkartist.com/connectbroadcast?fbclid=IwAR1bie8jUkqQLKbFXwcEasPWT3nOq5uKd_QzRFCxNopkpikXAdUnMmignFs
Connect Broadcast
February 6, 2019
We invite you to listen to Connect Broadcast with special guest Hraefn Wulfson. Podcast interview with McGrew Studios’ creative director and production designer Hraefn Wulfson. Interviewers Mark Putscher, Michael Christensen, Lisa Draper and Alayna Putscher get into some very off-script discussions with Hraefn about production design for film, the paranormal, painting, runes and other weird arts topics.
https://www.patreon.com/user/creators?u=16589710
Wizarding Dayz‘ Valerie Cameron Walker visits the shop, documenting Hraefn Wulfson’s new magic stone circle.
2/10/2017
for the Feb 24th and 25th Wizarding Dayz convention.
Click here to see picture gallery of “Hraefnhenge” in progress.
Follow Wizarding Dayz on their website or on their facebook page for news, daily updates, guests, vendors and more.
Project Catwalk Panel
4/26/2016
Spokesdesigners Hraefn Wulfson and Jennifer McGrew discuss the realities of working in creative careers at a panel presentation hosted by Salt Lake Community College’s Fashion Institute http://www.globeslcc.com/2016/04/26/project-catwalk-fashion-show-panel/
Higher Rents Forcing Out Pierpont Artisans (Everything awesome gets gentrified eventually…)
January 5, 2016
There goes the old neighborhood. McGrew Studios is among the many tenants forced to move from Pierpont. Salt Lake Tribune article by Tony Semerad.
Salty Block Cinematic Series
10/30/2015
Salty Block Pictures’Cinematic Artists Series. This is a beautiful profile of production designer and fine artist, Hraefn Wulfson of McGrew Studios.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
10/19/2015
Machine Gun Kelly, donating the jacket worn in “Punk’s Dead: SLC 2” along with the handwritten lyrics to “D3MONS” and “Invincible” to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, before performing live in celebration of his latest album, “General Admission.”
We loved being the costume and art department for “Punk’s Dead: SLC 2” by James Merindino, shot here in Utah.
A SLC Punk II Shoutout
3/8/2015
Super thoughtful shout out from SLC Punk II, thanking McGrews for the costumes, props and producing work we did for the film, shot here in 2014.
SLC Punk II: Punk’s Dead premiered in May 2015 at the Cannes Film Festival.
“Salt Lake City’s Pierpont Artisans Fear New Owners May Boot Them Out.”
By Tony Semerad, The Salt Lake Tribune
2/27/2015
Flight From Shadow, our Wheel of Time inspired fan film wins four “Filmed in Utah” Awards.
“Best Set Photography” Abbie Warnock, “Best Score for a Short Film or Series” Nathaniel Drew, “Best Production Design” Hraefn Wulfson, “Best Art Direction” David Powell.
3/29/2014
“And the Wheel Turns” – The Journey Behind Flight from Shadow”.
Behind-the-scenes documentary about our Wheel of Time inspired film is up on youtube.
2/3/2014
Learn About the Making of Wheel of Time Fan Film: “Flight From Shadow.”
Tor Books.
2/3/2014
Flight from Shadow nominated for eight “Filmed in Utah” awards today.
“Best Screenplay for a Short Film or Series” Blake Casselman
“Best Visual Effects” Robert Hirschi
“Best Photography” Abbie Warnock
“Best Score for a Short Film or Series” Nathaniel Drew
“Best Production Design” Hraefn Wulfson
“Best Art Direction” David Powell
“Best Costume Design” Jennifer McGrew
“Best Cinematography for a Short Film or Series” R. Jason Ball
2/1/2014
The world’s largest Wheel of Time enthusiasts’ site, Dragonmount.com,
interviews the producers at Wheel of 9 about our making of Flight From Shadow.
10/9/2013
Gnashing wins Best Short Film at the Salt Lake City Film Festival 2013.
This is the most clever, awesome film! Written/directed by Eric Fisher and Robbie Bourland. Hraefn Wulfson: Production Designer, Producer- Hraefn Wulfson. Costume Design- Jennifer McGrew.
10/1/2013
Utah Book Scene interview
with Hraefn Wulfson and Jennifer McGrew about adapting Robert Jordan’s text from The Eye of the World into the cinematic world of the film, Flight from Shadow.
Interviewer: Susan Phelan. Recorded at Life, the Universe and Everything literary symposium, Feb 2013.
9/25/2013
KTLK Radio Interview:
Ktalk – KTKK’s Cate Allen talks to principles from the Flight from Shadow team: Jason Ball – director of photography, Hraefn Wulfson – executive producer and production designer, Nathaniel Drew – soundtrack composer, Dave Skousen – director, Blake Casselman – screenwriter and Jennifer McGrew- costume designer.
9/23/2013
Our Wheel of Time – inspired film, Flight From Shadow wins Best Original Score.
Awarded to composer Nathan Drew) at the 2013 Salt Lake Comic Con Film Festival.
9/10/2013
Filmed in Utah interviews members of our Flight from Shadow team during the film festival at Salt Lake Comic Con.
9/6/2013
Krypton Radio interviews Hraefn Wulfson about the making of Flight from Shadow and more.
on “The Event Horizon.”
Podcast download, April 2014, Episode 4.
Salt Lake Magazine: “Faces: The Mayor of Pierpont.”
Interview with Hraefn Wulfson by Jaime Winston.
6/18/2011
KUTV2 CBS Morning Broadcast.
7/14/2011
The McGrews’ crew appears as “mad scientists” from various eras and genres to promote “July-o-Ween”.
“Urban Legends: Local Artists Will Rock the First Annual Urban Arts Festival”
5/19/2011
By Daisy Blake. Interviews with Pierpont residents including Jen McGrew, Hraefn Wulfson,Tamara Fox, Derek Dyer and Brandan Coleman. In Utah This Week, print edition pp 19-20.
“A New Fashioned Pierpont”
5/11/2011
By Austen Diamond, Salt Lake City Weekly – Art Scene: Interviews with Jennifer McGrew, Hraefn Wulfson, Sean Patrick McPeak and other Pierpont residents about the coming renaissance. p. 23.
A GIGANTIC check and a trophy from Downtown Alliance / University of Utah’s “Paint the Town Red” Competition
11/12/2011
We designed and installed massive University of Utah displays plus a custom U of U corset to demonstrate our hometown pride, and we won! We were awarded a GIGANTIC check and a trophy on the field during halftime at the U of U vs. UCLA football game!
KUTV2 CBS Morning Broadcast, “Under Where”?
2/11/2011
The McGrews’ crew appears on the KUTV@ CBS Morning Broadcast and presents “Underwear Throughout the Ages” February 11, 2011, to celebrate Valentine’s Day and promote our unusual, educational gallery stroll event.
Interview by Daisy Blake. In Utah This Week. Print version p. 9, 14 October 14, 2010.
Park City TV appearance on “Mountain Views”.
10/4/2012
With Park City TV host Terry Burden. We discussed the Salt Lake City Mini Maker Fair, the whole subject of ‘making’ in America and showed off the metal crafsmanship of famous tinker Nile Fahmy. With Hraefn Wulfson, Jennifer McGrew, Darrah Rogers of the SLC Public Library and Jenn Blum, Mini Maker Fair founder.
KTALK Radio’s Cate Allen interview.
12/3/2012
Discussion with Jennifer McGrew and Hraefn Wulfson about the process of adapting literature to film and their “Worlds of Fantasy” exhibit at the Salt Lake City Public Library locations, featuring sets, props, costumes and other physical assets from their Wheel Of Time-inspired film, Flight From Shadow.