Creatively, the set decorator works very closely with the production designer. The set decorator is head of the decorating team and is responsible for making design choices within the brief outlined by the production designer. All subsequent designers are now recognised and referred to as production designers. In the past, art director was the name given to the designer on television productions, particularly long running productions where the set up production designer had moved on. However, the title did not represent the role and responsibilities that were required of this person and as such is no longer used. The art director also liaises with the assistant directors about props, set dressing times and art department requirements during the preparation of their schedules and daily call sheets. They work closely with the art department coordinator and should be consulted on who fills that role. Their role varies depending on the specific needs of the designer, but generally they control the art department budget, manage workflows, and have responsibility for design documentation and construction supervision. As a sole art director, they would cover all of the areas listed in the role of the supervising art director listed above. On small to medium productions, the single art director will be the practical department head, directly beneath the production designer. They will manage the people working in their area to ensure both artistic and timely practical outcomes. They may be in charge of a geographic location for a foreign build, a section of the department like the drawing office, or an aspect of the production like location builds or studio sets. On a large production, where there are several art directors, each will be responsible for a particular area of the art department. The production designer should also be consulted on any post-production VFX work and titles sequences. Where visual effects are required, the production designer will work with the VFX department regarding the look of these elements and to ensure they are effectively combined with the physical designs. They oversee the drafting/ documentation process and monitor the aesthetic aspects of manufacture and implementation of their designs through pre-production and production to the completion of shooting. The production designer will confer with the other design departments to ensure a cohesive design approach across all fields. Sufficient time to work with the script and develop the design direction is the best way to solve creative problems within the budget. At an early stage, in conjunction with the art director, they will decide on the priorities for allocation of expenditure within the department based on their ideas for the design. The designer will prepare preliminary designs and or reference materials either independently or with the help of illustrators, concept drafters and design assistants for discussions about the design of the production. In the early stages of pre-production the designer needs to be involved in the selection of shooting locations and studio spaces. The designer requires a period to analyse the scripts and begin research. The designer should have a voice in the structure of the art department they will lead, particularly when they feel it needs to vary from the staffing template presented in the initial production budget. He or she will then select their preferred senior department members based on their assessment of the needs of the production. The production designer is often the first person selected in the design department and will be one of the first to start.
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