The Role Of An Art Director On A Movie Set.

January 22, 2025
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The Role Of An Art Director On A Movie Set.

Basically, there are visual elements that must come together to create the world of a movie, stunning props, set designs, or even the overall view of all the scenes are part of those elements.In order to achieve all this there is one crew member that must shoulder this responsibility and he is known as the art director.

Therefore, knowing who is an art director and what he does on a movie set is very important for anyone who is aspiring to be a filmmaker.

And that is exactly what we are going to teach in this article, so if you are ready to learn while we teach, let’s get started with it.
But first let’s look at the definition of an art director.

Who is an art director.

An art director is creative figure who oversees every visual aesthetics of a movie during all the stages of film production.

You may think of them as the one who designs the movies physical world, i.e. they create and maintain the overall look and feel of the movie according to the director’s vision.
Even though the title art director sounds singular, this movie crew involves a team of talented individuals who must bear the responsibility of set design, making props and other decorations.And all these are geared towards ensuring that every visual element on the screen compliments the storyline, theme and characters.

However, the art director must report to the production designer, whose duty is to lift the overarching visual style of the movie.

What does an art director do on a film set?

The role of an art director are: script interpretation, set and spaces design, construction, set dressing, on-set adjustments and coordinating with other crew members.

1. Script interpretation.

The role of an art director is to analyze the script and gather the clue about the settings, period and mood that will foresee the visual aspect of the movie.

He must ensure to do this even before the location is scouted and set built.

For example, the requirements for a war film and romantic comedy will vary respectively.

2. Set and spaces design.

After discovering the director’s vision, the art director must work hand in hand with the production designer to create a detailed plan about the set, be it physical constructions or digital creations.

This  process will involve making sketches for the layouts of key locations, selecting color palettes, textures and materials according to the historical or cultural back piece of the story.
For example, if the movie is a Nollywood Epic, the art director must ensure all the materials used reflect the culture of the physical location of the story during the allotted time.

3. Construction.

Once the designs are ready, the art director must work with the carpenters, painters and all other set builders to ensure the script is brought to life exactly.

He must ensure to manage budgets, timelines, and resources that will make everything ready and in place before shooting commences.

4. Set dressing.

Set dressing involves arranging the furniture, placing the props exactly where they need to be, adding decorative details that will make the scene look like real life.

Doing this can be as simple as choosing the right curtains that matches a living room.

5. On-se adjustments.

During film production, there are certain changes that are bound to occur, and it is the duty of the art director to ensure these changes are being made exactly and when needed.

6. Coordinating with other crew members

Art directors must work closely with the costumier, light and sound, and cinematography teams to ensure there is viaul harmony in the movie.
For example, the color of a character’s outfit must complement the room’s décor without clashing.
The art director, as such, plays a very important role on a movie set.
Filmmaking