WHAT DOES A SET DECORATOR DO? (In the Entertainment industry. What does a Set Decorator Do?)

Hotel American Horror Story / Photo Credit: Travel Leisure - American Horror Story

WHAT DOES A SET DECORATOR DO? (In the Entertainment industry. What does a Set Decorator Do?)             

Bruce Bisbey…please follow me at: https://dumbdogproductionsllc.blogspot.com or https://www.facebook.com/DumbDogProductionsLLC/ thank you.

What does a Set Decorator do?       

Set Decorator

The set decorator is the head of the set decoration department in the film and television industry, responsible for selecting, designing, fabricating, and sourcing the "set dressing" elements of each set in a Feature Film, Television, or New Media episode or commercial, in support the story and characters of the script. The set decorator is responsible for each décor element inside the sets, from practical lighting, technology, art, furniture, drapery, floor coverings, books, collectables, to exterior furnishings such as satellite dishes, Old West water troughs, streetlamps, traffic lights, garden furniture and sculptures.

While the Set Decorator provides all of these elements, the Prop master provides elements that are handled by the actor. For example: a library is decorated with set dressing such as the furniture, books, desk lamp, blotter, framed photos, personal effects, letter trays, letter opener, papers, paper files. The Prop master provides the props – the letter the actor is opening and reading, the pen he writes with, and the ink into which he dips his pen.

The set decorator is responsible for converting the blank canvas of the set into a space that feels authentic, lived-in, and believable. This artist deals in the details, the small touches that reveal to the audience something about the person or people who occupy the locations of films and television shows.

Detailed description of the role of the set decorator

Set Decorators are a Key Department Heads, hired by the Producer for their creative talent to implement the visual interpretation of the script and its characters; and for technical skills and expertise in project management including budgeting, scheduling and organizing the Set Decoration Department staff.

Working in partnership with the Production Designer, the Director, and the Producer, the Set Decorator researches, budgets, designs and presents set decorating concepts for each set in the script.

Creatively, set dressing elements convey mood, style, time period, location, genre, character, and backstory, and shape the visual imagery of the project. Working with concepts from the Production Designer, approved by the Director/ Producer and Studio, along with drawings and illustrations from the Art Department, the Set Decorator budgets, designs, develops floor plans, sources, builds, schedules and eventually supervises the installation of the set dressing in each set, including industrial equipment, lighting fixtures, graphics, furniture, artwork, drapery, decorative accents, florals, floor coverings, and exterior décor to support the story.

Whether on Feature Films, Television shows, Commercials, Webisodes, or emerging media formats, this work of developing, selecting, and providing the dressing elements of the set is under the direct supervision of the Set Decorator.

The script breakdown

The Set Decorator begins each project by breaking down the script. This entails analyzing all scenes of the project, dividing them into sets, and detailing requirements. Each set has a creative concept behind it, partially described in the script and further developed by the Set Decorator in consultation with the Producer, Director and Production Designer.

Each set breakdown evolves into a series of lists of set dressing elements, all of which are budgeted, designed built and sourced. The production schedule and production budget delineate how these lists are achieved.

Duties

Working in collaboration with the production designer, the set decorator is responsible for furnishing interior and exterior sets for film and television. All of the large or small items that fill a room or outdoor area but are not handled by the cast (props) are selected by the set decorator to enhance the visual realism of the scene; these objects include furniture, drapery, knickknacks on a shelf, and even trash cans or street cones outdoors. The process begins with pre-production meetings with the director, production designer, director of photography, and other design department heads; there the creative team discusses the visual style of the production, including lighting, costumes, and other design elements, which are pivotal to establishing the overall aesthetic as envisioned by the director. With this information in mind, the set decorator works closely with the line producer to prepare a department budget that outlines estimated expenditures for purchase or rental of set dressings and necessary labor; it will be the task of the set decorator to monitor this budget on a daily basis and keep records of receipts.

In planning the set dressing design scheme, the decorator researches the time period, genre, and setting of the story and prepares a script breakdown that will detail each object required to dress the scene; before shooting begins, this person will present drawings, inspirational material, and color swatches to the director and production designer for approval. When given the green light to proceed, he or she will then work with the set buyer to track down and acquire items, then carefully catalog each object by scene and shooting date. When specialty items are not available for rental or purchase, the set decorator will design and order the fabrication of specialty pieces; he or she will routinely work with sculptors, illustrators, graphic designers, and other artists to create original items. During principal photography, the decorator is on set to supervise the work of the on-set dressers and swing gang, and is available to the director to make alterations for the design as needed.

Skills & Education

An education in theatrical design is beneficial even to artists working in television and film, as it teaches you the fundamentals of stagecraft, prop making, story analysis, and the techniques of bringing an artificial environment to life. A college degree in film and television production is also helpful. Courses in art history and interior design are invaluable to a set decorator, but you should also consider studying world history, engineering, landscaping, visual merchandising, psychology, and urban planning, as elements all of these come into play when visualizing the details of a character’s life. Most of all, you should be someone who not only wonders what Lincoln’s toothbrush looked like or whether we will use silverware in the year 3010, but enjoys coming up with a good answer.

What to Expect

Experience in interior design is excellent preparation for a career in set decoration, but prior work in entertainment production is required. Those who have advanced to this senior-level role have previously served as props technicians, prop masters, scenic carpenters, or in other production crafts. Within the set decoration department, entry-level positions exist on the swing gang, the crew of set dressers who transport and place furniture and accessories (“set dressing”) on a set before the shot and hustle it off afterward. With a few years of productions under your belt, you will have made the professional connections necessary to move up the chain of command to gang boss, leadman, set buyer, or assistant set decorator. Membership in the Set Decorators Society of America offers opportunities for networking and further education in the craft through industry seminars and research resources. Professionals in this field are eligible for membership in the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, the union that represents artists and technicians in theater, film, and television.

Sources, References & Credits: Google, Wikipedia, Wikihow, WikiBooks, Pinterest, IMDB, Linked In, Indie Wire, Film Making Stuff, Hiive, Film Daily, New York Film Academy, The Balance, Careers Hub, The Numbers, Film Maker, TV Guide Magazine, Blurb, Media Match, Quora, Creative Skill Set, Chron, Investopedia, Variety, No Film School, WGA, BBC, Daily Variety, The Film Agency, Best Sample Resume, How Stuff Works, Career Trend, Producer's Code of Credits, Truity, Production Hub, Producers Guild of America, Film Connection, Variety, Wolf Crow, Get In Media, Production Beast, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros, UCAS, Frankenbite, Realty 101, Careers Hub, Raindance, Screen Play Scripts, Script Doctor,

THIS ARTICLE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THE INFORMATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND BRUCE BISBEY MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF PERFORMANCE, MERCHANTABILITY, AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, REGARDING THIS INFORMATION. BRUCE BISBEY DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE COMPLETENESS, ACCURACY OR TIMELINESS OF THIS INFORMATION. YOUR USE OF THIS INFORMATION IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. YOU ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY AND RISK OF LOSS RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THIS INFORMATION. BRUCE BISBEY WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES OR ANY OTHER DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, WHETHER IN AN ACTION BASED UPON A STATUTE, CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE, RELATING TO THE USE OF THIS INFORMATION.

Hotel American Horror Story / Photo Credit: Travel Leisure - American Horror Story