These days, looking for a job can feel like an odyssey. However, for Albert Nozaki, getting his dream job must have felt like a walk in the park.

According to Cinefantastique Magazine, Nozaki, who had majored in architecture during college, literally walked into the job of a professional artist when he visited his friend, who owned a fruit and vegetable market. One customer frequented the stand to get carrots for his horse, stationed at the Paramount film lot. One day, this customer invited Nozaki and his friend for a tour of the studio.

“He took us through the lot,” said Nozaki. “In those days, there was a lot of activity in the studios, and I saw all of this construction. And I said to myself, there must be some work available in drawing.”

Nozaki spoke to the set dresser, who referred him to the head of the art department, Hans Drieir. After writing a letter to Drieir, Nozaki was invited in for an interview. “I brought all of my school projects, and son-of-a-gun if he didn’t give me a job,” said Nozaki. “He said to come in next Monday.”

So began Nozaki’s film career. He would later work as an art director on films like The War of the Worlds (1953).

“When you draw illustrations in a book, or when you use the printed word, you can make the Martians do anything,” said Nozaki. “And in our early production drawings, you saw the machines walking over rough terrain, or rushing through buildings...If you tried to do things realistically, in miniature as we planned, you were going to run into definite problems. It was impossible to be smooth while crashing across gullies and wrecked streets.”