Language of Film: Art Direction
“a production designer is responsible for the physical environment in which the action and the meaning of a film takes place, interpreting the psychology and emotion of a screenplay and relaying that in visual form.” attributed to Robert Boyle
“the art director must convince viewers that the world of the film is undeniably real …”
” …it is the art director who stands between the screenplay and the director of the film, turning the printed page into a place real or fanciful, constructed or found, and who does so for a price the producer can live with.”
“….if an art director is doing his or her job well, we as spectators are not consciously admiring the ‘look’ as separate from the story unfolding and the characters involved.” (Source: Film study guide, To Kill A Mockingbird)
Timely News:
- Breaking Down the Artistic Choices Behind the Production Design of ‘Glass Onion,’ ‘Severance’ and More Art Directors Guild Nominees
- The production design of ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’
- Nightmare Alley; Squid Game and Others
- When Production Design Plays A Supporting Role
- ‘Bridgerton’, ‘The Crown’ and ‘Halston’ Production Designers Talk Set Designs
- Set Designers Behind Mank, Tenet, Father, News of the World, Ma Rainey
- A Look at Oscar Contenders for Production Design
- How MANK production designer recreated Hearst Castle
- Production Design in Hollywood, Mrs America & The Plot Against America
- 1917 Production Design
- Recreating 1930s London for Mary Poppins Returns
- Color & Meanings in “Shape of Water”
- Wonderstruck Production Design
- What Production Designers Do
- Art Directors Guild To Honor Newberry
- Wonderstruck’s Visual Design
- 12 Masterful Brian DePalma Set Pieces
- Production/Costume Designers Propel Films To Recognition
- Day In The Life of Production Designer: Jane Musky
- Color Schemes And Doorknobs: A Production Designer Shares His Process
- Production Design: Storytelling, Technology and Misconceptions About the Craft
- The unseen world of production design
- Behind The Ballot: Production Design
Recommended Resources:
- Architectural Digest: Set Design Columns
- Art Direction in “To Kill A Mockingbird”
- Art Directors Guild
- Art of Film & TV Title Design (PBS, video)
- Blade Runner Designing the Future video
- CinemaStyle (blog)
- Credit Where Credits Are Due (NYT)
- Dr. Stangelove: Production Design & More
- Filmmaker’s Guide to Production Design (pdf)
- Ins & Outs of Art Direction video
- Just What Do Production Designers Do
- Making A Scene: The Work of Dante Ferretti
Lesson Plans:
- Art Direction: The Visual Language of Film (from the AMPAS Teacher Guide Series)
- Art Direction & Production Design
- Get Set
- Must See Movies Starring Architecture & Design
- Production Art Database (from the AMPAS Teacher Guide Series)
- Production Design (Film Tutorial #4)
- Set Decor Online
- Set Directors Society of America
- VIDEO: The Art Director (Futures Channel)
- Wes Anderson’s Production Designer
- What Does A Film Art Director Do?
- What is an art director? (eHow video)
Recommended Books/Periodicals/Videos:
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