Art Department Co-ordinators are the conduit between the Production and the Art Department providing all logistics and liaison. Their primary responsibility is to co-ordinate information between the following departments: Set Decorating, Props, Production, Locations and Construction. Many Art Department Co-ordinators describe themselves as performing a production role within the Art Department. They are usually requested by the Production Designer or the Production Manager and are answerable to the Supervising Art Director and the Production Designer.

Art Department Co-ordinators work on a freelance basis. The Art Department is always the biggest department on any film, involving vast numbers of crew, equipment, material and most significantly, money. Art Department Co-ordinators provide the day-to-day administration and support that helps to keep the department running efficiently. They must be highly capable and organised to cope with the work load and long hours involved. They may also be required to spend long periods working away from home.

What is the job?
Art Department Co-ordinators are among the first to be employed in a film's Art Department, usually starting work with the Production Manager. They perform a crucial role in ensuring that various aspects of the Art Department budget (e.g. labour costs, set dressing, drapes, etc.) are kept under control and properly communicated to the film's Producers via the Production Manager.

Art Department Co-ordinators must perform a wide range of duties including: compiling a build, dress and strike schedule for the Art Department; organising transport for Art Department personnel to various filming locations for technical recces; shipping equipment, when working abroad, and making travel arrangements for the entire Art Department; supplying copies of all drawings and information about the Art Department; downloading and preparing all location photographs for the Production Designer; producing their own script breakdowns which include a list of all sets required so that Construction and Set Dressing budgets can be calculated and prepared. Art Department Co-ordinators collate all location notes which provide the Location Department with details of construction, dressing and vehicle requirements so that they can organise permissions from local councils, police, etc. They are also responsible for the implementation of Health and Safety procedures throughout the Art Department.

Art Department Co-ordinators oversee legal clearances for all name-brand props used as part of the set dressing. During filming, they are the point of contact for the Standby Art Director who liaises with them about any urgent requests from the Art Department. Art Department Co-ordinators usually continue to work a week after shooting wraps (is completed), ensuring that all models have been photographed and packed away and that all drawings have been filed and/or correctly archived (this is particularly important if the film is one in a series, where previously used materials will be used for reference on the next production). Art Department Co-ordinators also provide general Personal Assistant support to the Production Designer.

Typical career routes
Art Department Co-ordinators usually start their careers at junior levels as Production or Art Department Assistants or Runners. They work on a number of films, gaining the experience and valuable contacts they need to co-ordinate the biggest department on film crews. Because of the heavy demands of the job, the progression to Art Department Co-ordinator can take several years.

Essential knowledge and skills
Art Department Co-ordinators must have an excellent understanding of how Art Departments operate, and how their work impacts on the other departments involved in film production. They should also have a wide knowledge of computer budgeting software (especially Excel), and of other software programmes such as Photoshop, which is used in preparing all location references for the Production Designer.
Key Skills include:

• excellent organisational and office management skills


• good communication and people skills


• initiative and the ability to work alone and as part of a team


• methodical approach to work


• ability to see the broader picture and to co-ordinate effectively


• knowledge of the requirements of the relevant Health and Safety legislation and procedures.

Training and qualifications
There is no formal training or qualification for becoming an Art Department Co-ordinator. Experience, contacts and good people skills are acquired by working at junior levels in Production or in the Art Department where the Production Designer, Supervising Art Director or Production Manager may appreciate and promote an individual's potential and initiative.

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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Art Department Co-ordinator

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