Short Film Production Designer

We have all seen Gone With the Wind and been stunned by the production and its visual style… and many more films after that of course. William Cameron Menzies who was the production designer for Gone With the Wind may have had little idea that he was one of the first to carry the proud title of ‘Production Designer’ – a title that many creative and talented hopefuls in features and short film want to try out today.

Being a production designer on a short film (or feature) means taking on senior creative responsibility to enhance and perfect the visual style of the film. While you may first and foremost consider set design as the key area of responsibility, a production designer must also collaborate with the director, DOP and producer, the locations manager, wardrobe crew, decorators, lightning director and technicians, and of course the art directors and designers and their construction staff.

How to get started? Persevere – and remember that you need to start someplace which will not the as a production designer, but rather as an art director or other design or set crew. Look up good film and TV design courses and go from there. Reach out to filmmakers who are shooting short films, and try to get as much experience you can from different productions – even if it means you need to start by shadowing or assisting someone else. 

And, remember, like all creative jobs in film – the days are long and the hours intense, and for the production designer this is maybe more true than other senior creative forces in filmmaking. So, be prepared to give it everything you got.

Good Luck!