British Film Designers Guild - Art Department Positions

Art Department Positions

The hierarchy in the United Kingdom does have some title variants with job descriptions. Here is a guide to the main positions within each area, as there are many alternatives dependent on the film requirements and to which country the film is based in. Some titles vary like for example Draughtsman UK, to Set Designer or Draftsman USA . The Production Designer is the head of various departments, Art, Construction, Decorating, Property & Prop Making. Here is a guide to the main positions within each area.

• Production designer (Feature film), Supervising art director - controls staff, work & schedule req., Art director (or Production designer for Commercials) usually several positions - controls several sets, draughts, organizes & liaises with trades, Stand-by art director (shooting crew), Assistant art director - draughts & liaises with trades, Art department co-ordinator, Senior draughtsperson (lead set designer U.S.) experienced draughtspeople who choose to stay drawing board based, draughtsperson (Set designer or Draftsperson U.S.), Junior draughtsperson, Art department assistant or Runner (Production runner U.S.).
• Set decorator (a.k.a. dresser U.K.) - selects all props and set dressing. (Set decorator U.S. is in charge of background dressing and stand-by), Production buyer, Assistant set decorator, Assistant buyer.
• Property master - controls prop collecting, storing, dressing, manufacture and stand-by.(Property master U.S., is in charge of action props - acquiring, manufacturing and stand-by. Assistant property master, Supervising props dresser Lead man U.S., Props storeman, Props co-ordinator, Stand-by props (also On-set U.S.), Props dresser Set dresser U.S. or Swing gang U.S. (Swing gang can also refer to set construction in the U.S.), Prop dresser (Note Set decoration and Property are different departments in U.S.)
• Construction manager, Assistant construction manager, Construction buyer, H.o.D. (Head of Department) Carpenter (a.k.a. Chippie), H.o.D. Painter, H.o.D. Plasterer, H.o.D. Rigger & H.o.D. Stagehand (a.k.a. Stag). Within each department is Supervising, Chargehand positions to Labourers & Apprentices.
• H.o.D. Prop maker - works in conjunction with Props, Senior prop makers, Prop maker, Sculptors & Apprentices.

Other titles include Visual Effects art director, Vehicles art director, Locations art director, Concept artist (Illustrator U.S.), Storyboard artist, Graphic designer, Sign writer or Lettering artist, Model maker, Armourer, Greensman (Greenskeeper U.S.), Drapes master and Scenic artist.

Refer also to Film crew & Art Department Guide U.S..