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2025 Leo Awards Jordan Ninkovich

The 2025 Leo Awards were held at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Vancouver on July 12th and 13th. Jordan Ninkovich was nominated for Best Production Design in a television movie for Signed, Sealed, and Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters and  Spread.

Here is our conversation with Jordan Ninkovich.

 

HNMAG: Where did you grow up, Jordan?

Jordan Ninkovich: I grew up in Vancouver and spent some time in LA and England.

 

HNMAG: When did you become interested in Film & TV?

Jordan Ninkovich: I grew up fascinated with everything about the industry and how things got made. Star Wars and Indiana Jones…etc, everything was magical. I spent a lot of time as a kid at Disneyland. I was blown away by all the sets and magic behind it all. I knew that was something I wanted to get into. I started to pursue that in 2004, after high school. I got into background work, I got an agent, and then booked some film and television roles. I also did some minor stunt work. I was really fascinated by the local science fiction worlds on TV. I dipped my toe in the art department. I then studied interior design. 

 

HNMAG: What school did you go to?

Jordan Ninkovich: I started at the Vancouver College of Art and Design (VCAD). Then I went to Yorkville University. 

 

HNMAG: You moved to Toronto for that?

Jordan Ninkovich: The school is Toronto-based based but luckily, I was able to do that from Vancouver, which was great. 

 

HNMAG: After that, you were able to join the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).

Jordan Ninkovich: I was working a bit before that in the art department, props, sets, through IATSE. It wasn’t a prerequisite, but I wanted to get an academic background. That way, I would be more well-rounded. It also gave me the ability to design some commercial spaces and residential homes in the Lower Mainland. Now that I’m working as a set designer, I can take in all the intimate elements I learned as an interior designer, and I’m able to integrate them into the set. I have a background in art history and the cultural functionality of furniture. When I read a script, I get excited about putting the dialogue, action, and scenes into a world that looks as I can imagine. My second and third readings of a script, I take in as an actor. 

 

HNMAG: You have that experience, so that makes sense.

Jordan Ninkovich: Yeah! I infuse that into the function of the set. How is the actor going to move? How is the director going to shoot the scene?

 

HNMAG: You have been nominated for a Leo Award for Signed, Sealed, Delivered. One of the leads on that series is Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe.

Jordan Ninkovich: I had the privilege of bringing it back. I was asked to come in and work on seasons 12 & 13. It’s been a long hiatus. I was excited about bringing it back to life. Some elements were always talked about but never seen, so I got to bring to life the restaurant Ramone’s. It was talked about in previous movies and series, but never shown. It was fascinating to design for the first time a space that had so much oral history. 

 

HNMAG: Imagine if an audience is six seasons into Seinfeld, and that is the first time you get to see Monk’s. In 2017, you were an Executive Producer (EP) on A Taste of Christmas. How did that come about?

Jordan Ninkovich: I’m dear friends with Cindy and Allan Harmon; they’re like a second family to me. They approached me with the opportunity to produce with them. We shot in Victoria and I was very excited about it. It was another chance to add to my approach as life learner. I also was able to act in that.

 

HNMAG: You didn’t also work as a set designer on A Taste of Christmas?

Jordan Ninkovich: No, that would have been a little too much.

 

HNMAG: What do you appreciate about the film and television industry?

Jordan Ninkovich: I love what I do, and the industry is beautiful worldwide, but especially here in Vancouver. Not everybody is able to love what they do. Every project is always amazing as everyone comes together after going in a million directions to get the same shoot finished. I’m very grateful for being busy and for people to appreciate my work, to inspire my coworkers, and all the audiences that watch. I’m looking forward to working in the future. I’m lucky to be adaptable to every genre. I really appreciate the recognition and acknowledgment of the Leos. 

 

HNMAG: More movies and TV shows are being set in Canada. Will that trend continue?

Jordan Ninkovich: I believe so. We need to take more advantage of that. Earlier this year, I was on a production where we changed the script to make it accommodate Canada. The lead character, instead of flying to Hawaii, flew to Vancouver. Look, we’re going to embrace it! The retreat was in the mountains near Maple Ridge. Such a great opportunity to showcase our real beauty. The movie is called Desire: A Temptation Story. 

 

HNMAG: It’s the complete opposite spectrum of the Christmas movies.

Jordan Ninkovich: Yes, the complete opposite spectrum. 

 

Jordan Ninkovich loves life. You can’t blame him. He is driven by his love and passion for film, design, and performance. He gets to work in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. His work is respected and in demand. He even works closely with people he considers family, and they do the same for him. We hope to follow up with Jordan shortly to find out what new magic he has brought to this world. 

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