Art Director (Film, Television or Stage)
Kaitohu Toi (Kiriata, Pouaka Whakaata, Whakaari rānei)
Alternative titles for this job
Art directors plan, organise and control artistic aspects of film, television or stage productions.
Pay
Pay rates for art directors vary depending on the size, length and budget of the production.
Job opportunities
Vocational PathwaysPay
Pay rates for art directors vary depending on the size and length of the production, the size of the team, and the budget.
(This information is a guide only. Find out more about the sources of our pay information)
What you will do
Art directors may do some or all of the following:
- go over the script with the director to plan what sets need to be built
- prepare a budget for the set design and build
- design the set
- hire an art department team
- build or co-ordinate the building of sets to ensure it happens on time and within budget
- work with wardrobe and make-up departments
- work with special effects companies or teams to design special effects
- hire equipment such as specialised props
- prepare a daily breakdown of the script before shooting to confirm all sets and props are complete and in working order.
Skills and knowledge
Art directors need to have:
- an understanding of the film, television, theatre and/or commercial production process
- knowledge of the different roles within an art department and how the department operates
- artistic and drawing skills
- creative building skills such as carpentry, painting, sculpting or mould-making.
Working conditions
Art directors:
- work varying hours depending on the size, location and filming schedule of the production. It is common for art directors to work long hours that may include early mornings and weekends
- work indoors in studios, and outdoors on location
- may need to travel nationally and internationally to different filming locations.
What's the job really like?
Joe Bleakley
Production Designer/Art Director
"When you're working on a film that you really like, really believe in, and really think should be made, then that's the most wonderful thing," says Joe Bleakley, who has been working in the film and television industry for around 30 years.
Creating the director's vision
"In the purest sense, the director will have a vision based around the script, and it's the job of the art director to create everything that the camera sees in line with what the director wants the film to look like."
King Kong and Lord of the Rings
Over the years Joe has worked in various roles on numerous films, including The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Perfect Strangers and the remake of King Kong. "I was an off-set art director on The Lord of the Rings and also on King Kong, so my work was focused on getting the sets ready before filming."
Getting into the industry
Joe's advice for anyone wanting to get into the art department of a film crew is to look at films and see what interests them. "There's a starting point for almost anyone, but you need to be able to define the area that you think you've got the most skills in and go for it."
Entry requirements
To become an art director you usually need to have progressed through other roles within an art department to gain the necessary skills, knowledge and experience.
A driver's licence is usually required.
A degree in film, television or theatre production may be useful – for example, a Bachelor of Design (Stage and Screen). A diploma or degree in any type of art, craft, or textiles subject may also be useful.
Secondary education
Useful secondary subjects include te reo Māori, design and visual communications, media studies, history and classical studies, processing technologies, music, dance and drama.
Personal requirements
Art directors need to be:
- imaginative, creative, artistic and passionate
- good communicators
- good at research
- able to lead, manage and motivate people
- able to work well under pressure
- well organised, with good planning and time management skills
- adaptable, and able to multitask
- good at budgeting and financial planning
- patient.
Useful experience
Useful experience for art directors includes:
- film, television or theatre production
- any type of construction work
- creative pursuits such as painting or sculpting.
Find out more about training
- Screen Production and Development Association of NZ (SPADA)
- (04) 939 6934 - info@spada.co.nz - www.spada.co.nz
What are the chances of getting a job?
Few opportunities for art directors
It is difficult to get work as an art director in New Zealand because the entertainment industry is small.
Your chances of getting a job are best if you network regularly with industry contacts.
Most film industry professionals build a portfolio of previous work to showcase their professional skills.
According to the Census, 153 art directors worked in New Zealand in 2018.
Effects of COVID-19 pandemic
Restrictions to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic have affected work opportunities for around 5,000 creative industry jobs, including art director jobs.
The Government announced $179 million of emergency funding for the creative industries in 2020, with a second round available until 30 June 2022. There has also been other government support such as funding for film studio sound stages.
These initiatives may improve employment opportunities for art directors.
Types of employers varied
Art directors may work independently, for production companies, or for advertising agencies.
They may work on:
- music videos
- television productions
- commercials
- web-based video clips
- short or feature films
- documentaries
- corporate videos
- theatre productions, including ballet and opera
- festivals
- concerts
- exhibitions (such as Armageddon)
- still shoots.
Sources
- Chaiang, J, 'Cutting Covid Losses in the Film Industry', 9 September, 2021, (www.rnz.co.nz).
- Chumko, A, 'LOTR has Departed. Covid-19 is Back. What Does That Mean for our Screen Sector?', 21 August, 2021, (www.rnz.co.nz).
- Creative New Zealand, 'Arts Council lays framework for Phase 2 of Creative New Zealand’s COVID-19 response' (media release), 01 May 2020.
- Ministry for Culture and Heritage, 'Support for Arts and Music Sector Recovery' (media release), 29 May 2020.
- New Zealand Film Commission, 'COVID-19 Response', accessed 17 January 2022, (www.nzfilm.co.nz).
- Radio New Zealand, 'The Impact of COVID-19 on the NZ Film Industry’' 19 March 2020, (www.rnz.co.nz)
- Riera, N, production designer, careers.govt.nz interview, October 2017.
- Sepuloni, Hon. C, Nash, Hon. S, 'Government Support Screen Industry with Funding for Sound Stages in West Auckland', 3 August, 2021, (www.beehive.govt.nz).
- Stats NZ, '2018 Census Data', 2019.
(This information is a guide only. Find out more about the sources of our job opportunities information)
Progression and specialisations
Art directors usually specialise in film, short videos, or stage productions.
Art director Joe Bleakley stands on a set he designed for the film Perfect Strangers
Last updated 18 January 2022