How to Work With a Production Designer

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As a Director, working with a Production Designer can be a very rewarding experience--given that you know how to do it. The Production Designer's job is to fill the space seen onscreen--so they need to work very closely with the Director, Director of Photography and Art Department to truly create the vision of the film. The following are steps for working with a production designer.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Finalized locations
Script breakdowns

Step1

Understand what a Production Designer does. They will not talk to the actors or tell the Director how to do his job, but rather aid the Director in achieving his vision to its fullest capacity.

Step2

With a list of possible locations, scout them with the Production Designer until you both decide on the perfect place. The Director needs a location to match his vision, but the Production Designer needs to have one that will allow him to truly execute that vision.

Step3

Using the Script Breakdown sheets, go over the specific items or props that will be needed in the scene. This will inform the Production Designer what NEEDS to be there.

Step4

Discuss the color scheme of the wardrobe. There may be certain colors you or the Director of Photography want to show, and this will aid the Production Designer in figuring out the best ways to enhance and compliment these colors.

Step5

Let him do his job. Directors tend to be nosy and pry into the work of others, and even though it truly is their vision, the Production Designer specializes in this field. Do not boss him around.

Step6

Be firm on your vision. Production Designers specialize in this area, but while you should not impede their progress as that progress is taking place, you should not settle for something you dislike when they are finished initial designs.

Step7

Make sure all pertinent parties--Director, Director of Photography and Production Designer approve the end result before deeming it the end result. The director needs the actors to have space, the DP needs the layout and colors to compliment what will be there and the Production Designer needs the space to look real.