Art Department for Movie Production

location for six or seven months. I didn't want to do that. But one of the

directors I worked with doing commercials wanted to switch to features

and asked me to work on a job with him." The director was Farhad Mann

and the film was science fiction flick Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond

Cyberspace.

Approached to design for television movies, Roth turned the work

down after discovering how low the budgets were. "If I can't do some-

thing that is really a quality product, I'm not interested." Although his

résumé includes a few pilots, the independent film Anacardium, and the

live-action sequences at the beginning of The Tigger Movie, Roth's empha-

sis remains in commercials. His clients have included: American Airlines,

Betty Crocker, Energizer, Head & Shoulders, McDonald's, Nissan, Radio

Shack, and Toyota.

Job Overview

"I facilitate the designer's vision," says art director David Lazan.

"I'm in charge of managing the art department, [including] budgets and

crew--when it comes to set designers, graphic designers, illustrators;

communicating with the construction coordinator; going over budgets,

schedules, what we need to do both in sets and location; and meet with

the different departments: effects, props, and onward . . . to talk about

logistics. It's both a design and management position."

Special Skills

Art directors must possess strong managerial skills, be organized, com-

municate well, and have the ability to administer a budget. A background

in design, architecture, art, drafting, and illustration is also an asset.

Advice for Someone Seeking This Job

If you want to be an art director, Lazan suggests studying theatrical

design, architecture or industrial design, as well as lighting and filmmak-

ing. Once you have some basic skills, volunteer to work on student,

music video, commercial, or nonunion productions. Contact set design-

ers, art directors, or production designers, and offer to apprentice or serve

as a production assistant for the art department. Get into a position to

observe and make contacts for future work.

JOB TITLE: ART DIRECTOR

Art Department for Movie Production - Page 9