The Role of a Production Designer and the Process for making movies
“The process seems to follow roughly the same pattern for every picture.” explains Stephen.
“I’m usually the first or second person hired, after the ‘above the line’ people, that is the producers etc. On motion pictures usually the director is hired before me, and on TV shows, I’m first and the director is second.
“My first order of business is to read the script and discuss it with the director and producers. This is usually about money as well as the look and feel that we hope to achieve. In these meetings, there is a certain amount of ‘cutting our suit to fit our cloth’ as the saying goes.
“Then we start to design any sets that will be built and at the same time we get into a van and go scouting for locations and a stage to shoot in. In Los Angeles or other big cities there are a number of stage options, but in smaller towns we usually have to settle for an industrial warehouse of some kind.
“At some point here the director of photography will join us and we will all try to find locations and stage space that fall in with our various needs. We also look for office space, parking and construction, paint and storage space as well.”
“I am responsible for the overall look and feel of the production. But I do spend a lot of time talking with the director and the DP about the colours and the feel we are all going for. This determines where I put windows, doors, lighting etc. all of which help (or hinder) the camera to get the scenes shot the way we want.
“Of course, colours and the kind of furniture, even the drapes the characters own will help to tell the story and set the tone and mood. I hire the ‘keys’ of each of the departments I am responsible for. Set Design, Graphics, Paint (plaster, moulding), Construction, Props, Special Effects, and Decoration are the main departments, but I also have a say on costuming and even hair if is relevant to the story.“