It seems that you want to become a real production designer. The first step is, obviously, to learn about what they do. Watch the video, read the information, answer the questions on your Production Designer File and share the information with your group!
Production designers are responsible for the look of a film, television programme or commercial while it is being filmed. The following video was made by an art school and shows the works of its students. Don't worry if you don't understand what they say. The important thing is that you pay attention to the images shown, so you can see what production designers do.
Filming a scene
1. Pre-production phase
As you can see, the job of production designers starts before the scene is filmed. Normally, they are in charge of a group of people which includes:
-The Set Designer: Responsible for designing and supervising the construction of sets.
-The Hair and Makeup crew: Responsible for the hairstyles and make-up of the actors/actresses.
-The Special Effects crew: Responsible for the effects of the film.
-The Costume Designer: Responsible for creating or selecting the clothing to be worn by the actors/actresses.
-The Special Effects crew: Responsible for the effects of the film.
-The Costume Designer: Responsible for creating or selecting the clothing to be worn by the actors/actresses.
Unfortunately, your film budget is so low (zero budget, in fact), that you will be in charge of those four tasks: designing and building the set, hairdressing and making up the actors/actresses, selecting or creating the costumes and creating the special effects. Tell the actors/actresses they will have to help you during this phase.
 |
| Costume Design sketches for Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland |
You must keep a written record with the things you will need to build and decorate the set, and you can also include drawings or photos of the clothes you have selected. Remember!!! This is a zero budget film, so you can't spend anything. You have to use things you already have or create new things from old ones.
2. Production phase
The day of the shoot, the actors/actresses walk onto the sound stage (or location) prepared to begin filming. The set has been constructed before by a group of people known as the "swing gang." (I'm afraid in this case you and the actors/actresses are the swing gang). The cameras are placed on their trypods or on their dollies (a moving trypod, in case you have to move it around the set).
The director tells the actors/actresses exactly where to stand and where to move. Every time they stop you place a piece of tape on the floor, so when they repeat the scene they will be in the exact same place. The camera follows their movements slowly, and the actors/actresses rehearse the scene with the director. When he or she considers it is prepared, says, "Let's go for a take. Quiet on the set!"
"Roll it," says the director. And the cameraman says, "Rolling."
"Thirty-five, take one", you say, holding a slate in front of the actors' faces and snapping it shut. This "clacker" will later help the film editor in synchronizing the picture to the sound.
"Action!" commands the director. The actors/actresses begin with their parts.
Seconds later, the director calls out, "Cut. Do it again." The process is repeated until the director yells, "Cut. Print it." Now you move into the scene and adjusts the actors' makeup. The director now wants a close-up shot and several takes are filmed until the director is satisfied with each one.
Finally, he calls out, "That's a wrap." It means that the scene can be edited, and your work has finished. However, the Director or the Director of Photography may need your help during the post-production phase.
Now you are prepared to share your information with your group and start filming!
