In film and television, a production
designer or P.D. is the person responsible for the overall visual look of
the production. Production designers have a key creative role in the creation
of motion pictures and television. Working directly with the director, cinematographer and producer,
they must select the settings and style to visually tell the story.
Art Director
Is the title for a variety of similar job
functions in theater, advertising, marketing, publishing, fashion, film and television,
the Internet, and video games.
It is the charge of a sole art director to supervise and
unify the vision. In particular, the art director is in charge of the overall
visual appearance and how it communicates visually, stimulates moods,
contrasts features, and psychologically appeals to a target audience. The art
director makes decisions about visual elements used, what artistic style to
use, and when to use motion.
One of the most difficult problems that art directors face
is to translate desired moods, messages, concepts, and underdeveloped ideas
into imagery. During the brainstorming process, art directors, co-workers, and
clients are engaged in imagining what the finished piece or scene might look
like. At times, an art director is ultimately responsible for solidifying the
vision of the collective imagination while resolving conflicting agenda and
inconsistencies between the various individual inputs.
Art Directors in Film
An art director, in the hierarchical structure of
a film art department, works directly below the production designer, in
collaboration with the set decorator and the set designers. A large part of
their duties include the administrative aspects of the art department.
They are responsible for assigning tasks to personnel such as the art
department coordinator, and the construction coordinator, keeping track of the
art department budget and scheduling (i.e. prep/wrap schedule) as well as
overall quality control. They are often also a liaison to other departments;
especially construction, special FX, property, transportation (graphics), and
locations departments. The art director also attends all production meetings
and tech scouts in order to provide information to the set designers in
preparation for all departments to have a visual floor plan of each location
visited.
In the past, the title of art director was used to denote
the head of the art department (hence the Academy Award for Best Art
Direction) which also included the set decorator. Now the award includes the
production designer and set decorator. On the movie Gone with the Wind,
David O. Selznick felt that William Cameron Menzies had such a significant role
in the look of the film, that the title art director was not sufficient and so
he gave Menzies the title of production designer. The title has become
more common, and now production designer is commonly used as the title for the
head of the art department, although the title actually implies control over
every visual aspect of a film, including costumes.
Art Department
Art department in movie terms means the
section of a production's crew concerned with visual artistry.
Working under the supervision of the production designer and/or art
director, the art department is responsible for arranging the overall look of
the film (i.e. modern/high-tech, rustic, Victorian, etc.) as desired by the film
director. Individual positions within this department include: production
designer, art director, assistant art director, storyboard
artist, concept artist, draftsman, art department coordinator, set
decorator, set dresser, makeup artist, painter, property master, leadman, swing
gang, production buyer, Film sculptor, and property assistant.
Edited from Wikipedia
Edited from Wikipedia