Resources

Entry-level roles in the Art Department (and the industry more broadly) are usually as either an Art Department Assistant/PA/Runner, Set Decorating Assistant / PA/Runner, or a Graphics Assistant/PA/Runner. These positions are generally dictated by budget, and the functions and tasks can crossover between the two titles, so be sure to clarify what your responsibilities are from the beginning.

PA/Runner

Feature films and higher-budget television dramas are likely to have runners attached to every department. Runners work under the supervision of their department’s coordinator, and their primary function is to assist in the smooth running of operations and logistics. This role does not always mean you will have the opportunity to work on set, but you will gain first hand knowledge and experience of the design process and how sets are constructed. You’ll also have the opportunity to make invaluable contacts that may help you gain your next job!

Art Dept Assistant

As the junior members of most departments, assistants have slightly more responsibility than runners and are likely to have some experience behind them. Assistants operate on the first rung of the Art Department’s career ladder, and many of your senior colleagues will have worked their way up from this position. You can find assistant or trainee positions through contacts you might make as a member of the British Film Designers Guild, or through another recognised body such as ScreenSkills trainee-finder. Art Department trainees report to the Supervising Art Director and might be working with anyone in the Art Department – including the Draughtsmen, Art Department Coordinator, Set Decorator, Art Director and so on. Smaller productions may fulfil some of the Runner’s duties, while larger-scale productions might offer some practical experience. Trainees and Assistants are there to fill gaps and help out wherever they are needed in the Art Department. This makes being an Assistant a great way to get a taste of where your skills are most suited and which areas of the department you feel most drawn to.

It is also worth noting that some broadcasting companies run apprenticeships and work experience placements which can also be a wonderful way to gain experience – Screenskills regularly run work placement initiatives.

There is a typical structure to any Art Department which will change depending on the size and budget of the production.

Below is a typical structure of an Art Department and the roles found within each subsection of the department. Art Departments are constantly evolving as they embrace new technologies in film making which will over time add new roles.

Structure of the Art Department

Looking at the structure of the Art Department should give you some idea of positions within the broader team and how you might be able to work your way up through the ranks, with experience. Ultimately, the way most people join the team is as an Art Department Assistant or Runner. From there, due to the high number of different positions in the Art Department, you might see your career going in various different directions. Unplanned deviations along the way come as standard and offer you the opportunity to collect more skills and broaden your experience as you progress. Knowing which role it is you would like to aim for is certainly an advantage and can help you structure your career path’s progression, take on appropriate jobs and build relationships with the right people.

Have a read of the list of job roles in the article below or look at the Screenskills checklists for more detailed job descriptions.

Job Roles Explained

The UK system differs from the American system, in as much as the Decorator works with the Prop Master and their team of Prop Dressers and covers all areas. Whereas in the USA, the Decorator works with a Lead Man and a team of Swing Gangs decorating sets and the Prop Master deals solely with Hand Props. They still liaise when hand props are also part of the dressing, but they are two completely different departments, unlike in the UK.

How to Reach Out

If you can, a phone call always beats an email. Even better of course, is a conversation face to face. Senior members of the Art Department tend to receive a lot of email requests for work and advice, with many ending up in spam. Make yourself a memorable contact with a polite, concise and friendly phone call, which you can always follow up with an email containing your CV. A good tip is to put the word ‘CV’ in the subject line of your email so that the recipient can easily search for it if needed

If at all possible, try to visit your contact to show them your portfolio, get advice and ultimately get noticed. As a member of the BFDG, you can attend networking events and join our mentoring scheme and surgeries where you will make contacts and gain advice on how to progress in your chosen career path.

Again, it might seem obvious but here’s a quick round-up of etiquette to remember when reaching out:

• Start with a phone call – make sure it’s in office working hours
• Keep it polite and concise – can they talk? Is it convenient?
• Remember a potential time difference if they are working around the world
• Consider people’s workload and don’t contact them over the weekend or in personal time
• Ask if you can follow up with an email – and don’t forget to include CV in the subject line.

Have your Portfolio Ready

If you are asked to interview, or even have a casual chat, make sure you have an up-to-date portfolio to hand. Ambition and drive are great attributes, so show off your enthusiasm and demonstrate that you are willing to get your hands dirty and work your way up. It might seem obvious, but maintaining an open attitude and asking questions at appropriate times will help you learn what you need to know to succeed in your chosen area of the Art Department.

This article gives further advice on how to prepare your portfolio:

Art Department Portfolio Advice – How to Prepare your Portfolio

BFDG Membership Benefits to Finding Work & Making Contacts

If you are a member of the BFDG you will also benefit from finding job listings – posted internally on our closed Facebook Page (these usually come into us from production companies or from other guild members). We also circulate a quarterly Rumour Mill which contains a rundown of rumours and intelligence that we have gathered regarding projects that are in the pipeline or already beginning production.

Production guides like Kays, Production Weekly and The Knowledge all publish names, titles and contact details. You can find these books in larger public libraries, or online. Elsewhere, Screen International prints productions that are currently shooting and BECTU has a members-only ‘Early Bird’ production listing. IMDb Pro also lists projects in pre-production. Lastly, subscription-based companies like mandy.com publish production and chase list jobs and might be worth checking out.

By joining the British Film Designers Guild you’ll receive access to a full directory of over 600 Art Department members. Our Student and Newcomer Memberships provide a great opportunity to kick-start your career in a Film or TV Art Department.

Although you may be completing a degree in Film & TV Design, you don’t have to have these specific qualifications to start a career in the Art Department. Lots of people drawn to the Art Department come from an artistic or technical design background, with degrees in Architecture, Fine Art, Engineering, Illustration, Art and Design. Again, don’t be disheartened if this isn’t you, if you can display these skills a degree is by no means compulsory. There are also lots of short courses that you can take to top up and prove that you have these skills.

The BFDG runs a number of skills development training courses which you can join as a member or non-member (discounted fees for members apply), and we are also proud of our connection with a number of educational partners who offer long and short courses in Production Design, Art Direction or Set Decoration skill sets. To find out more, search our Industry Partners database.

In addition to the skills above, a familiarity with some of the software listed below could also be advantageous to you. On certain types of production the Art Department can work closely with the Visual Effects Team, so bear this in mind as you develop your skill set. Start out by using the free versions of the software, to familiarise yourself with how it works – you don’t have to be an expert.

• Rhino
• Blendr
• Adobe Illustrator CS5
• Adobe Photoshop CS5
• Google Sketchup Pro
• Vectorworks Spotlight
• Autodesk AutoCad
• Photoshop
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Adobe Acrobat
• 3D Studio Max
• Form Z
• Autodesk REVIT
• Sketchup
• Autodesk MAYA
• Adobe InDesign

We have also written a guide to the best tools required for working in the Art Department, available here: Guide to the Best Tools for the Art Department

A comprehensive list of books that should cover most subjects which most commonly crop up in an Art Dept

Art Department books – basic library