What do set dressers do

Take a look at the breakdown below:. So now that we've combed through a scene and identified the more obvious elements, it's time to dig deeper. It makes sense that we would look for set dressing descriptions in the script.

But you can also find rich details about the space by considering the characters. What was the first thing you saw when you walked in? Was it what you had expected? Did they have pictures of family or friends around? Did they have matching furniture? What was the thing they had in their home that surprised you? Maybe your friend was given that chair or that TV when they moved in. Maybe one of their nieces made that weird little sculpture, and maybe your friend helped their grandfather build that table.

We do this by looking for clues about who they are in the text of the script. That way, we have a separate element report we can refer to that helps us think about who these people are. The things the Kim family say about themselves or about their apartment provide valuable insights into their characters. This comment from Chung-Sook Jang Hye-jin , for instance, lets us know from the outset that the Kims are dead broke. When Ki-Taek Song Kang-ho mentions a cricket infestation, we learn more about the state of their apartment.

Because the one thing the script makes clear about the Kims is this:. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. References are essential for relaying ideas between crew members and departments.

In the entertainment industry, departments compile references into a lookbook bible or mood board. Mood boards are slightly different in that they are a collection of images with a cohesive theme.

So, we could add high quality, natural materials to our Park mood board as well, such as granite, redwood, or bamboo. We might also include images of cluttered spaces and cheap furniture. Where do we get these images? Of course, Google is your friend. But we can also take inspiration from shots in other films, advertising in magazines, or even a real-world home or other building. After the director and director of photography have checked it, the set decorators move on to the next scene.

Once a scene has been shot, they are responsible for striking taking apart each set. In larger productions, set decorators will have a team made up of assistant set decorators, buyers , set dressers, set decoration coordinators, drapers, cabinet makers, sculptors and so on.

They report to the production designer and work closely with the art director and props master. There is no standard career path to be a set decorator.

Often, they will have experience working as a production buyer or an assistant set decorator. They have usually worked in the art department for several years or in set design in the theatre. This will help you make the contacts and build up the industry knowledge to get work in the art department of a film or TV drama. At school or college: If you want to go to university, A-levels or Highers in art and design, architecture, photography, theatre, graphic design or graphic communication are useful.

Or you might want to take the following Level 3 vocational qualifications:. If you want to go straight into a job or apprenticeship, the following Level 3 vocational qualifications will equip you:. However, it can be challenging to find jobs as an apprentice within production companies. Found a great vintage coffee pot that came out in , but your movie takes place in ?

Dump it—or face the online wrath of eagle-eyed movie-goers everywhere. Before any props are purchased, the set dresser will first often do research on the period and location in which the movie takes place. He or she will also confer with the director and others in the art department to understand the visual style and look of the film.

In an interview with New England Film. Rasmussen never attended film school, but instead got a graphic design degree from the Maine College of Art. We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe. If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.

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