What Do Art Directors Who Are First Starting Get Paid
Career Overview
Fine art Directors oversee the building of sets and the creation of all show signage in line with the vision of the Production Designer.
Alternate Titles
Production Designer (On lower budget projects, these roles may be combined)
How To Become an Art Director
Yana Rusanova, experienced freelance Art Director and Production Designer, explains that an Art Director's role is extremely varied and her focus shifts depending on the budget of the project.
She explains, "On the big-upkeep boob tube shows and features, the Art Manager is responsible for all construction and signage, executing the Production Designer'due south vision. This includes edifice sets for the shoot and creating any visual signage that is needed."
Where budgets permit, the teams are extensive: "Fine art Directors work in tight collaboration with the Product Designer, any Graphic Designers, Set Designers and Structure Coordinators. Nosotros even have Assistants and an Art PA to assist with routine tasks such as enquiry, location scouting and distributing materials to the crew."
Rusanova sets out the differences between big-budget and lower upkeep projects: "With less money available, nearly often the Fine art Manager and Production Designer positions are merged — we have fewer people in the Art Department and then ane person takes on multiple roles." She clarifies that on ultra-low budget and commercial/music video shoots, departments go fifty-fifty less differentiated: "The Art Manager essentially becomes the fine art and ready ornamentation departments."
The boilerplate almanac salary for an Art Director is approximately $74,300. The salary range for Art Directors runs from $50,000 to $112,000.
Art Directors and Production Designers, like most filmmakers, are freelancers. Rusanova clarifies that, at the non-union end of your career, you negotiate your rate. "If you lot are interviewed for an Art Manager position, and the offered charge per unit is too depression, y'all can e'er negotiate with production by adding computer fees, gas mileage or asking for a higher rate."
Given the per product nature of pay, rates vary widely depending on budget and experience. Rusanova lays information technology out: "If you're starting out on a educatee motion-picture show, you can look around $200 per day. Music videos pay effectually $300-400 per day, whereas commercials pay entry-level positions $350 per 24-hour interval."
In terms of features and boob tube shows, again, rates fluctuate: "Frequently productions will inquire you for your rate and so it is important for you to constitute what your baseline is before negotiating. A respected daily charge per unit for an Fine art Director on a depression-budget characteristic is around $550. Productions volition so build team members' pay using the department head's charge per unit every bit the highest reference."
Wedlock jobs accept fairly fixed rates according to the rates cards established by local unions. On a matrimony telly show, Art Directors can expect to earn betwixt $2,500 and $iii,500 per calendar week.
Unbending love for the pic industry is the only style to make this career work, says Rusanova. "When you start out every bit an Art PA, a Set Decorator PA or On-Set Dresser, be prepared to work 12-xiv hour days, work overnights/weekends and work outside for long stretches."
She explains that one time you are art directing on bigger-budget productions, it becomes easier to manage your ain schedule, merely the path there involves physically demanding work: "Shoots involve long days of standing very quietly on set or doing laundry or running errands. Above all, intense concentration is the greatest demand, ensuring yous're always on top of on-prepare challenges. That never changes."
Rusanova emphasizes the need to enjoy the piece of work: "If you similar the piece of work, it's fun. Simple as that." She admits it is a claiming keeping upwardly with friends and family unit, and explains, "For periods of time, your coworkers become your friends and family, especially on distant locations."
She recommends taking remainder when possible, adding that, "Freelancing is tough — there'southward e'er the fear of unemployment until you build up your network. Don't worry, you volition get at that place. You must allow yourself to residual equally it volition give you perspective and attend new ideas."
For anyone eyeing Fine art Department work, Rusanova has a number of practical suggestions: "I spent my commencement year building my experience as an Art PA on pupil films. On these ultra-depression budget shoots, you take on responsibilities and jobs well above your pay form — it'due south a rich sandbox for learning."
Rusanova then moved on to independent features, commercials, and music videos, soon understanding that union membership was her next, crucial step: "Low budget union shows are more than inclined to rent non-union people, so find an entry-level position in the Fine art Section that will allow you to build up plenty hours to bring together your Local 44 union. I started as a Ready Dresser, others were starting as Shoppers, and we moved up the Art Section ladder."
Rusanova lays out a articulate path to become an Art Director or Production Designer: "You can start as a Graphic Designer or Art PA, then await to become an Assistant Art Director. Another route is to kickoff with gear up dressing or shopping, then move along to set decorating before stepping into the leadership roles of Art Director or Production Designer."
Rusanova is as well quick to remind that, "On the way up, you might discover you honey your current position and decide non to move on!"
There are certain majors that tin can be helpful for transitioning into an Fine art Manager role, advises Rusanova. Interior Design, Architecture and Graphic Design majors all contain applicable skill sets. But what well-nigh finding those all-important start gigs?
"Two interesting places are the Facebook Art Section community and the Gigs section on Craigslist — people oftentimes mail service jobs on these online forums. I got my first AFI student films on mandy.com, but I do retrieve it was costless to join dorsum then!" In a higher place all, any experience in the Art Department will serve yous well once you graduate to an Art Director function.
Says Rusanova, "That way, once you lot head the department, you will have an authentic agreement of everyone'south office."
- Set your goal early on. If you know where yous desire to end up, yous can piece of work towards it in a more focused way.
- Piece of work hard. The amusement industry roots out anyone "phoning it in." If you work hard, people volition want you dorsum.
- The most golden dominion: be squeamish.
Rusanova reiterates that at that place are endless online resources for any Art Department passion. "You lot tin can learn to sketch, which is vital to any aspiring Art Director, or you can build your cognition of interior design, architecture and even color theory — really, all aesthetic pursuits are of import for building your ain gustatory modality and contour."
In terms of the everyday work, Rusanova is clear about how to succeed and forge your way to an Fine art Director role: "Information technology is of import to be low-key and positive – nobody likes to work with grumpy people!"
In a higher place all, she emphasizes that piece of work ethic is key: "Don't talk instead of working. Don't stand in the eye of a set looking lost. Ask questions, smile, and look to help out once you've finished your ain tasks. That kind of attitude will ensure people want to piece of work with you lot again and again."
Art Directors and Production Designers are leadership roles, and Rusanova says that her attitude sets the tone for her team members. "You lot demand to learn to negotiate and keep everyone content. This means staying open up-minded and non being 'married' to any of your ideas – production is collaborative and fast-moving and any idea can exist changed rapidly during prep," she explains.
She also stresses the need to be realistic: "There are times when Art Directors and Production Designers end up overpromising in their want to please Producers. Particularly on lower budget productions, labor resources, time and materials are already scarce and then big promises can lead to poor-quality, dangerous piece of work."
Rusanova has a rule; she calls it "the triangle rule." "In that location is cheap, there is fast, and in that location is skillful. Simply you can just achieve two at a time. You want cheap and fast? It won't be good. You desire good and cheap? It won't be fast. And and then on."
Rusanova's mental attitude is one of applied realism: "It is best to be clear, sometimes even tough, to make sure everyone knows where they stand and what the expectations are. Fine art Directors must learn to be confident and transparent in their approach."
"It is very common to find experienced people in the Fine art Section who never went to film school," explains Rusanova, who herself is entirely self-taught. "I have a Diploma in International Relations from my school in Russian federation, so I taught myself everything."
Rusanova has plenty of practical wisdom for aspiring Fine art Directors: "I recommend learning how to use basic design software, including SketchUp, Photoshop, and Illustrator. Some productions also utilize Celtx or Synconset for inter-departmental coordination so information technology pays to exist familiar with those, likewise."
She notes that whatever Art Section role requires personal inspiration: "Research, explore, follow your taste — I love learning about camera lenses, shot composition and lighting. Storyboarding has likewise helped me considerably with my artistic vision. At that place are a lot of resources freely bachelor online."
Nonetheless, Rusanova highlights some more formal options for consideration. Those eager for training just not looking to pay "crazy money" for motion-picture show school should cheque out The Hollywood CPR Program, a non-turn a profit grooming programme for entertainment artists, craftspeople and technicians.
"You can choose which section you train for and, other than existent dedication to your craft (no missing classes!), there are no formal requirements for entry. After finishing the plan, you tin also apply to the union with having to earn days on marriage shows — that's a huge plus."
"For those with more than resources on hand, Rusanova suggests the Production Pattern Program at the AFI Conservatory: "I have worked often with their students and graduates and the training is height-notch."
For Art Directors (and Product Designers), in that location are 2 guilds specific to the crafts, the Local 800 and the Art Directors Guild of America. Eventual membership in either is essential; specific requirements and how to become a fellow member can be institute on their website.
Rusanova also has advice for entry-level roles: "Hither, we have Local 44 for positions such as Set Decorators, Fix Dressers, Property Masters, Shoppers and Drapers. Condign a member ways medical insurance, guaranteed overtime/double-fourth dimension payment, sick day and disability payments, likewise as pensions and life insurance."
What is the single biggest suggestion you would give to someone wanting to become into this career?
"Never piece of work for gratuitous, fifty-fifty at the very beginning. If you are helping out a friend, enquire them to comprehend your gas or requite y'all a little coin as an equipment fee. You lot are giving your energy and fourth dimension — make sure you are compensated for it."
What's the #1 mistake people brand when trying to get into this career?
"Talking, instead of working. Many people talk about what they are going to do, instead of getting on and doing it."
What is the question people should ask about this career but rarely do?
"They rarely inquire about making the switch from 'real world' to the working 'moving-picture show globe.' There's so piffling fourth dimension to do anything exterior piece of work then maintaining friends and relationships is a perpetual struggle. And forget almost parties!"
If you could describe in one discussion what makes you successful, what would information technology be?
Yana Rusanova
Yana Rusanova was built-in and raised in Siberia, Russia. She moved to LA in 2010 and, after storyboarding for an independent blitheness series, she became the Graphic Designer for an AFI student film. This stoked her interest in more hands-on flick work and she took an Art PA job, graduating quickly to Set Dresser, so Belongings Master, so finally to Art Manager and Production Designer.
Her wide experience includes independent, low budget features such as Drone Wars and Savage Dog, pilots including Parole, executive produced past Academy Accolade-nominee Marianne Jean-Baptiste, and matrimony television shows such as Drug Lords on Netflix.
Outside of piece of work, she loves to travel and read Russian classics. Improv and drums are her stress relief.
Photo credit: Fine art Photography by Rumbleskout3.
- 1Multiple. "Fine art Managing director Salaries". Glassdoor. published: Dec thirteen, 2019. retrieved on: Dec xiv, 2019
Source: https://www.careersinfilm.com/art-director/
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