All of filmmaking is an art form. From the screenwriters to the actors to the audio engineers, artists have their hands on every single part of the filmmaking process. So what exactly is the art department? What are their roles and responsibilities?
What is the art department in the film industry… and why is it important?
Simply put, the art department is responsible for the visual appearance of the film. They collaborate with the director to design, build, and decorate the set, as well as being responsible for props. On bigger sets, there are sub departments within the art department, all managed by the production designer.
The art department is vital to the success of a film or TV show because film is a highly visual medium. A talented and experienced art department can make the difference between a beautiful film and a visually uninteresting one. Their ultimate goal is to serve the film’s storytelling through creating appropriate visuals. This could mean finding period-appropriate props for a historical film, or creating a dark and moody set for a horror movie. Production design and the entire art department is vital to establish the mood and theme of the film.
What jobs are part of the art department?
What does the art department in the film industry do? On some smaller sets, the art department may be represented by just one or two people, but on bigger sets, there are many roles that need to be filled. The head of the art department is the production designer. They work with the director to help realize their creative vision for the production design of the film. They work with producers to make sure the art department stays within budget. They oversee and collaborate with all the other members of the art department, regardless of their role and sub departments.
The art director is responsible for logistics and administrative tasks associated with the art department. They work with artisans to create props and set pieces that serve the film. There may also be an assistant art director, who of course assists the art director accomplish their goals and tasks. Large productions may have several assistant art directors, or a standby art director, who supervises filming to keep an eye on the art department. There is also sometimes an art department coordinator who is essentially the AD of the art department; they keep everything running smoothly and on time, juggling budgets and schedules for the whole department.
Concept artists are illustrators who create drawings of visual elements, ranging from special effects to specialized sets to specific props. Set designers create mock ups or blueprints of sets, and works alongside the people responsible for bringing the set to life. Graphic designers create the graphics that are seen on screen, from fliers to billboards. The storyboard artist collaborates with the director and DP to storyboard each shot.
Next time you see a visually stunning film, think about the art department and how many people worked hard to bring the director’s creative vision to life. It wouldn’t be possible to tell a beautiful, fully realized story without the contributions of the art department!
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