Drapesmaster
Drapesmasters* are responsible for the production and installation of all soft furnishings on film sets, which can involve anything from a velvet cushion to a hot air balloon. The audience should be unaware that the plush leather seat of the state-of-the-art sports car and the hero's natty silk handkerchief are not genuine articles, but clever reproductions. These items - known as soft furnishings - are painstakingly designed and made by a team of highly skilled Drapesmen* whose work is organised and overseen by the Drapesmaster. Drapesmasters are requested by the Production Designer or Set Decorator and usually work out of a Drape Shop situated within a film studio complex. They work on a freelance basis.
What is the job?
Drapesmasters oversee the production and installation of all curtains, carpets, blinds and upholstered furniture used to dress sets, as well as any livery interiors of vehicles and boats that feature in films. Drapery, such a floor cloths (on which all set flooring is laid), or scenic backing (on which Scenic Artists paint backgrounds), is used to provide the "skeleton" of each set.
Drapesmasters are usually employed after the Set Decorator has started work, and begin by breaking down the script and listing the soft furnishings required. Based on this list, they prepare a budget which must include all fabric and labour costs. Technical drawings are supplied to Drapesmasters who must calculate any allowances for the weight and fold of specific fabrics. On complicated jobs, technical drawing software is used to calculate complex measurements and elevations.
On big budget films, Drapesmasters may supervise six or seven Drapesmen working to produce a vast range of soft furnishings. When shooting begins, Drapesmasters oversee the dressing of each set with the Set Decorator, and continue to work on films until the last set is dressed.
Typical career routes Drapesmasters must be expert in working with fabrics and upholstery, and have therefore usually served an apprenticeship outside the film industry before gaining work in a film studio Drapes Shop. Drapesmasters usually work as Drapesmen for some time before gaining sufficient knowledge and skills to head up their own Drapes Shop.
Essential knowledge and skills Drapesmasters must have expert knowledge of fabrics and soft furnishings and excellent contacts in the related areas of specialised production and manufacturing.
Key Skills include:
Training and qualifications
A number of training courses are available for upholstery, including those leading to City and Guilds, NVQ/SVQ, and BTEC qualifications. Work experience placements are also offered by some studio Drapes Shops.
Individual course accreditation in certain subject areas is currently being piloted. As part of Skillset's and the UK Film Council's Film Skills Strategy, A Bigger Future, a network of Screen Academies and a Film Business Academy have been approved as centres of excellence in education and training for film.
Where to go for more information
Skillset is the Sector Skills Council for the Audio Visual Industries. The first sources of information for all jobs in the industry are the National Occupational Standards. Browse Skillset's website for links to our network of training partners, information about training and access to the comprehensive Skillset/BFI course database. Finally, Skillset Careers is UK's only specialist media careers advice service; for detailed media careers information and advice, visit www.skillset.org/careers.
Websites
- British Film Designers Guild
- American Cinematographer has regular features on film design and digital production techniques.
Publications
- Ken Adam: The Art of Production Design (Faber and Faber) by Christopher Frayling
- Production Design and Art Direction (Focal Press) by Peter Ettedgui
- By Design: Interviews with Film Production Designers (Greenwood Press) by Vincent LoBrutto
- Film Architecture: From Metropolis to Blade Runner (Prestel Publishing Ltd). Edited by D. Neumann 2001
- Filming the Future (Aurum Press Ltd) by Piers Bizony
- The Invisible Art: The Legends of Movie Matt Painting (Chronicle Books) by M. Cotta Vaz and C. Barron
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Drapesmaster* The terms Drapesmaster or Drapesmasters, and Drapesman or Drapesmen are used generically and refer to both men and women practitioners.
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