Production Designer

As with many careers in the entertainment industry, this position’s days tend to look different from one another. Your work will slowly shift from Pre-Production (Planning a movie) into Production (During the filming of a movie). 

Production Designers are freelance workers, and need to find a balance between well-paying jobs and those that provide experience and larger expression. They are similar to contractors, in that they will hire their own workers for their department with the budget provided by the Production.

PRE-PRODUCTION
During this time, you will meet with the director and producers. Depending on their plan, you may have a lot of input for a movie’s artistic direction. The producer will define a budget with you for the Art Department. This will help you determine the look of the movie’s practical sets and props.

You will then help find locations that match the film’s look as well as design any sets. The Production Designer will also supervise the building of these sets, as well as making sure they are “dressed” – ready with all props. You will work with all other departments to make sure there is a cohesive look for the film:

• Director of Photography – To make sure your sets are lit properly during filming.
• Costume/Hair/Make-Up – Discuss color palettes for costumes to fit in with the sets.

The success of movies depends on the planning! This will be the most important part of your work.

PRODUCTION

• You will hire a crew and delegate jobs before production, and these professionals will follow through on the filming of the movie. During filming, the crew will split up duties between what is currently being filmed, and what is going to be filmed the next day.
• Typically, the Production Designer will personally supervise sets that are going to be filmed on, leaving an Art Director on the set being filmed. If there is an emergency, the Production Designer can return to the filmed set. Proactive, strong planning skills will make these events minimal.

Larger movies will often film in several locations, sometimes with crews in different cities filming at the same time. A Production Designer will need to be able to coordinate both sets at the same time.

Soft Skills

• Strong Communication – Oral and Written
• Coordination and Planning
• Creative Problem Solving
• Visualization – Able to picture something in your head as it moves or is rearranged.

Technical Skills

• Set Construction and Design
• Communication – Via two-way radio, text, phone, or other methods.
• Fine Arts – Painting, Graphic Design, and similar skills
• Able to use computer aided design programs for set design, as well as be able to read blueprints and models – Examples are Adobe Systems products, and AutoCAD.

• Television Production (Can be Long-Term)
• Film/Movie Production
• Theatrical Production

If film is a field you want to be a part of, you will likely need to move to Los Angeles and find a job to pay for expenses as you search for other opportunities.

Becoming a Production Designer means a film production has hired you to be a Production Designer. To get to that point, a person will likely spend many years at entry level jobs in the Film Industry, such as a Production Assistant (PA). 

A PA is expected to do any necessary job on a film set – from helping tape down cables to getting coffee for the crew. While you may not do design work, you will learn more about how a film set is run. This experience will also build your network.

Media Production involves long hours and sometimes repetitive tasks. It is an area that rewards you if you are passionate about making movies and creating. The long hours start at the PA level and continue, even if you are the director of a whole movie.

You can eventually move up to a Set Dresser, which are typically assigned to specific sets in the film shoot. This may turn into an Art Director position. Art Directors work directly for a Production Designer. This is the time you will use your connections to make the move to Production Designer.

There is no corporate structure or company who will promote you. You will need to demonstrate the know-how and attitude to become a Production Designer. You may be able to have this role on a small, independent movie or student film. However, if you want to make it on larger productions in Hollywood, you will likely need to start at the bottom.

Eventually, you will be able to join the Art Directors Guild or similar freelancer’s union. The Union can help you find jobs, as well as provide benefits while you are working.

Production Designers face a challenging industry. One area is the increase in “virtual sets” that can be filled in by VFX departments.

Another is an increased need for sustainability. At the end of a shoot, the sets are dismantled. In the past, they could often be thrown away. However, Production Designers now face the task of finding ways for these set pieces to be re-used in other productions, proper disposal of any hazardous waste used by the set construction, and general questions of sustainability.

• Painting, sculpting, or other visual arts.
• Woodworking, and other practical arts.
• Theater and media production activities