Building The World

Director. Producer. Actor. Writer. Director Of Photography (Cinematographer if you’re fancy). These are all some of the most coveted roles on a film set, and why wouldn’t they be? They’re all major decision makers on how a film looks, is portrayed, is told, etc etc. But today I wanted to talk about a position that is also a major player and decision maker in the overall look, story, and execution of the film.

While you’re getting lost in the characters and the story, but what you may not realize is that you’re getting lost a in a world. Whether it’s as fantastical as Harry Potter, taking you back in time with a whimsical twist like Ed Wood, or if it’s something far more modern like Hunt For Wilderpeople, this world is created by the Production Designer.  The production designer is responsible for creating the overall visual look and feel of a film, from the sets and props to the costumes and lighting. Let's take a closer look at what a production designer does on a film set.

CREDIT: Warner Bros, Touchestone & Piki Films

CREDIT: Columbia & Warner Bros

The Role of the Production Designer

The production designer is the head honcho of the Art Dept. They work closely with the director, DP, and other key crew to create a cohesive and visually stunning world that brings the story to life. One of their first jobs is to read the script and chop it up with the director to figure out the vision for the film. . They then start creating concept art to help visualize the sets, props, and costumes that will be needed to bring the story to life.

For example, one of the most important filmmakers was Stanley Kubrick. He was known for his meticulous attention to detail, and his pre-pro process was no exception. He worked closely with Production Designer Ken Adam on films like Dr. Strangelove and Barry Lyndon, spending months researching and designing every aspect of the film's sets, costumes, and props. They went over historical documents, architectural plans, and scientific diagrams to make sure everything was on point. Their preproduction process was intensive, but it ended up making some of the most mind-blowing films in cinema history.

Creating the Look of the Film

Once the discussions, ideas, and budgets are approved, the production designer gets to work on creating the physical sets and props for filming. This involves coordinating with the art department, construction crew, and set decorators to ensure everything is built to the correct specifications and stays within budget.

The production designer is also responsible for choosing the colors, textures, and overall vibe of the sets and props. For example, in Star Wars, this would be like figuring out what the inside of the Death Star looks like, what Darth Vader would wear, and what a lightsaber actually is. Most importantly, this involves researching and sourcing materials that fit the director's vision and working closely with the director of photography to ensure the lighting and camera angles enhance the overall look of the film.

CREDIT: Disney

CREDIT: Embassy International Pictures & A24

Costumes and Makeup

To achieve a cohesive look for each character, the production designer works closely with the costume designer and makeup artist, providing guidance on the color palette, texture, and materials that will be used. For example, if the film is set in a specific time period or location, the production designer ensures that the costumes and makeup accurately reflect the style of that era or place. Whether it's as bizzare as Brazil or as old fashioned as The Witch.

The production designer also considers practicalities, such as making sure the costumes and makeup are easy for the actors to move in and comfortable to wear during long filming days. The production designer may also work with the makeup artist to ensure that the makeup is long-lasting and can withstand the heat and humidity of a film set, or any other environmental factors that might affect it.

For the love of movies,

Jonathan Austin

This is just a brief glimpse into the intense and detailed work of a Production Designer, and the collaboration required to bring a film to life. Speaking of which, I wanted to take this opportunity to hype up Charthouse's upcoming short film, First Time Caller, which is set to screen on April 15th. While a more detailed blog post featuring all four producers from Charthouse will be released next week, I wanted to focus on the Production Design aspect of the film here.

I’ve worked a few times as a Production Designer, but nothing to the scope of First Time Caller. The film features several vintage radios, and I never would have imagined the work it would go into not only finding vintage radios, but finding the RIGHT vintage radio. The film also came with it’s challenges of working in the middle of the desert at an abandoned train. Originally written as an abandoned house, we decided that the house was too dangerous and then the search for the right climatic ending was on. Luckily we had a great crew, and building the world I was able to write was such a treasure.