CONTENTS
PART I THE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PRODUCTION DESIGNER
WHAT IS A PRODUCTION DESIGNER?
The Production Designer’s Place • Design Beginnings • What Does a Production Designer Do? • Pictures Begin to Move • Work in the Movies? Never! • Television Changes the Film Business • The Visual Future
WHAT DOES AN ART DIRECTOR NEED TO KNOW?
An Art Director Should Be Visually Aware • Drafting: That Dreaded Word • Materials • Lighting • Helpful Personal Qualities • Wish You’d Stayed on the Farm?
Lines and Dots • Different Perceptions • How Does the Video Picture Get from Here to There? • Bold Is Best • The Production Stage • The All-seeing Eye (Almost)
Types of Flats and Materials • Platforms • Materially Speaking • Backings
PRODUCTION DESIGNERS USE SPECIAL EFFECTS
In-camera Effects • Miniatures • Through the Looking Glass • Matte Painting • Laboratory Effects • Rear Projection • Modern Effects • The Digital Present and Future
Two Types of Lighting Instruments • Light Controls
TECHNIQUES FOR EFFECTIVE LIGHTING
Film and Video • Lights for the Actors • Different Lighting Methods • Location Lighting
MEET THE PRODUCER AND THE DIRECTOR
The Producer • The Director • The Production Designer Asks Some Questions
Analyze the Script • Research the Characters and Settings
Designing from Materials • Nonspecific Research
Materials • Patty’s Living Room • Get Cost Estimates • The Tour Bus Is Leaving
TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS
Your Drawing Board • Drafting Paper • Pencils • Erasers • Your T-square • Architect’s Scale • Triangles • Your Work Area • Computer-aided Drafting
Types of Construction Drawings • The Next Step
FINISHING THE CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS
Transfer the Drawings • Look at the Details • Off to the Blueprinter
Different Types of Models • Our White Set • Making the Model • Showing the Model
SUPERVISING CONSTRUCTION AND SETUP
Getting Bids • Construction and Setup Supervision • Set Decoration • The Prop Master • Keeping Records • The Critique
PART III TYPICAL SETS AND OPPORTUNITIES
A PRODUCTION DESIGNER ON LOCATION
Patty’s Town Moves • Off to Location • Back to the City Again
The Production Meeting • The Great Chair Search and the Proper Height • Different Approaches • Be Imaginative!
Background on the News • The Art Director’s Role • Make It Look Like a Newsroom! • Harold Gets Busy • What’s the Decision?
Storyboards • Commercial Production Personnel and Procedures • Here’s the Script • The Basic Set • Designing Other Environments
HOW TO GET STARTED AND WHERE TO LOOK
Get Your Foot in the Door • Getting Your Act Together • Where to Look • How to Look