WHAT IS THE ART DEPARTMENT? (In the Entertainment industry.)

Art Department / Photo Credit: National Association of Production Accountants

WHAT IS THE ART DEPARTMENT? (In the Entertainment industry.)

 

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WHAT IS THE ART DEPARTMENT?

Art department in filmmaking terms means the section of a production's crew concerned with visual artistry.

The production designer and their Art Department are responsible for creating the fictional world the film's characters inhabit, through design, construction and set decoration they build magical worlds and accurately recreate historical settings, often down to the minutest detail on the curtain runners. Members of the Art Department can be found working on features of all budgets, commercials, corporate videos, promos, TV dramas, digital content, fashion, short films and student films. On a large budget, the Art Department can be counted in the hundreds, while working on smaller budget TV shows or features the Art Department can comprise of 5 - 10 people.

People who work as part of an art department for a movie typically have a background in art, design, architecture, engineering, and various other aspects of other fields. They then bring this knowledge and background to bear in a film production in order to work together and create a movie.

Ideally, production designers begin work early on in the process; some designers can be involved months before the official pre-production period has even started! During this time they collaborate with the director to sketch out their vision, then prepare to turn that world into a physical reality after working through the script; breaking down the locations and sets as they go. The production designer and director decide whether to create that world in the studio or to build the sets into real locations or both. 

The Art Department is made up of many sub-departments. Those working directly with the production designer such as the art directors, draftsmen and assistants. Set decoration which includes the set decorators, props and prop making, and the construction crew; which includes plasterers, carpenters, painters and scenic artists. All these elements come together to create detailed sets found in the studio or built into existing locations. Creating a set can be advantageous as the production can retain absolute control of the lighting and space. Any props, painting and furnishing, can be added or taken away to facilitate specific requirements of filming the action within the design/construction. Walls can be taken away to facilitate the track and dolly, or seeming priceless furniture can be struck to make way for a light. When the production designer is conceptualizing their designs they often need to achieve a balance between the visual and the practical; they also need to be aware of the safety of the crew.  The Art Department work in close collaboration with Camera, Lighting, Locations, VFX and Costume Departments to achieve the overall atmosphere and look of the film.

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, How Stuff Works, WGA, BBC, Daily Variety, The Film Agency, Best Sample Resume, How Stuff Works, Bright Hub, 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, Liberty Me, Careers Hub, Sokanu, Raindance, Film Connection, My Job Search, Prospects,

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Art Department / Photo Credit: National Association of Production Accountants