Assistant Art Directors translate ideas into practical realities - initial sketches become worked-up drawings from which a variety of craftsmen build sets or adapt locations. There is a strong hierarchical structure within the Art Department, and this chain of command must function smoothly in order to meet the artistic demands of the Director, and the financial and logistical demands of the production; the Assistant Art Director's role is vital within this structure. Assistant Art Directors are requested by the Supervising Art Director or the Art Director, work on a freelance basis, and usually specialise in either film or television production. The hours are long and the job can involve long periods working away from home.

What is the job?
Assistant Art Directors' responsibilities vary according to the size of the production. On smaller films, they help the Art Director with a wide range of tasks including Art Department research, accessing props, surveying locations, model making and helping to produce all sets. Big budget studio-based films involve designing and building many complicated sets, and a number of Art Directors are employed, all working on their own sets throughout pre-production and into shooting; on these productions, Assistant Art Directors take responsibility for a number of the smaller sets. They sketch up a variety of ideas based on the Production Designer's specifications using a computer sketching programme such as Sketch-Up or Vectorworks.

After showing these ideas to the Production Designer, they refine the drawings and begin work on 3D models. If locations are to be used, they carry out technical recces, providing the Supervising Art Director with any relevant information for communication to the Production Designer. During the construction of the set, Assistant Art Directors monitor the construction process, and work on each subsequent set up until the first few weeks of shooting when their work usually ends. During filming, some more experienced Assistant Art Directors may work on the studio floor as Standby Art Directors.

Typical career routes
Most Assistant Art Directors start their careers as Art Department Assistants. After gaining experience on a small number of films, they are usually given the opportunity to join the drawing studio as a Draughtsman*. After gaining more on-the-job experience, if they impress the Art Director or Production Designer, they may be offered work as an Assistant Art Director on lower budget films, eventually progressing to the same role on bigger films. Most Assistant Art Directors aim to become Art Directors, Supervising Art Directors, and eventually Production Designers.

Essential knowledge and skills
Assistant Art Directors must have a good all round knowledge of interior design and architecture as well as a practical understanding of building and construction. They should have a good working knowledge of computer drawing software packages, such as Sketch-Up, Vectorworks, etc. A full clean driving license is also required.
Key Skills include:

Assistant Art Director

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