Art Department survival Kit

Being on set is often a whirl wind of activity, and you never really know what kind of challenges are going to await you once you get going. To really succeed in the the art department you should have a well stocked bag of tricks to help you get through the day. Here are the items I want to have with me while working a set.

As you are about to notice I tend to over-pack. Being usually one of perhaps three art department members I feel it is part of my job to come prepared to handle anything that gets thrown my way. so I will divide the list into sections

Essentials:

1. My ipad/iphone and charger which covers the following necessities:
1. A digital camera for continuity pictures
2. A copy of the script
3. A copy of the shot list
4. A copy of the shooting schedule
5. access to email during the day
2. A leatherman or other multitool
3. level
4. metal ruler
5. LED flashlight or key-chain light
6. Head lamp
7. work gloves
8. broom
9. dust pan
10. vacuum or dust buster
11. duster
12. oxi clean
13. bucket
14. sponge
15. windex
16. bleach spray
17. Paper towels
18. cough drops - for those moments during filming when you just can't keep the cough away through will power
19. sharpies, markers, pens, pencils (2B+)
20. power bars - to help get through the 6 hours or more between breaks
21. large umbrella
22. lint roller
23. seam ripper
24. hand sanitizer
25. first-aid kit
1. band-aids
2. gauze rolls
3. gauze pads
4. alcohol pads
5. nitrile gloves
6. medical tape
7. benadryl
8. aspirin
9. neosporin
10. tweezers
11. poison ivy wipes
26. a small sewing kit
1. black safety pins
2. various colored threads
3. scissors
4. needles
5. Velcro - sticky backed
27. Tape
1. black and white gaff
2. masking
3. multiple rolls of different colored electrical tape
4. crystal clear packing tape
5. double stick tape
6. mounting tape
7. black painters tape
8. generic painters tape
9. duct tape
28. Glue
1. super glue
2. Elmer's glue
3. spray 77
4. glue stick

Items for your own comfort:

1. rain coat
2. spare coat
3. extra pair of shoes and socks
4. sunglasses
5. camping sized adjustable folding table
6. folding chair or stool
7. insect repellent
8. sun screen

Items to keep nearby - in the art van etc.

1. A basic paint kit 
1. black spray paint
2. acrylic paints: black, white, red, yellow, blue
3. variously sized paint brushes
4. water bottle just for paint water
5. rubber and dirty down spray
6. dulling spray
2. trash bags
3. command picture hanging hooks and strips
4. extra batteries - for when that darn prop decides it's done
5. small fire extinguisher
6. lighters and box of kitchen matches
7. W-D 40
8. measuring tape
9. laptop and printer
10. paper to print on
11. spare ink
12. extension cords
13. work light - preferably battery powered
14. clamps
15. bungee cords
16. rope
17. cutting mat

Tools you will be grateful to have if you need them:

1. safety glasses
2. particle masks / respirator
3. moving blankets
4. furniture dolly
5. tarps
6. screw drivers - Phillips and flat head
7. hack saw
8. wire cutters
9. allen wrench multitool 
10. container of nails and screws
11. cordless drill and charger
12. drill bits
13. circular saw
14. dremmel with bits
15. hair dryer
16. sandpaper
17. sculpty clay
18. putty knife
19. spackle
20. exat-o blades and handle
21. box cutter
22. scissors
23. fuller's earth
24. steel wool
25. wire
26. tea bags - for aging
27. ziplocks
28. post-it lables

And even with all of this - I still feel like I'm missing things. Any suggestions?

Script breakdown

Pretend you are a production designer; feels good right ;-)

Anyway, you now have a brand-new script in front of you. What do you do now?

Step one, just read it through. no thinking, no note taking, just read it to experience it.

Good job. Now, go back to page one with either a bunch of highlighters or using Adobe reader's highlighter function and get ready to make your breakdown. Now I said production designer, but this a time honored process for any decision-maker on set. (PD, AD, Artistic Director, Props master, Wardrobe Supervisor, you get the picture.)

Breakdowns are the skeleton you will need to get started on the project ahead of you. I like to pick a different color for each of the following categories as I delve into the script.

1. Scene description- where, time of day, general descriptive notes in the script "INT. Grandma's house, Morning"
2. Weather because sometimes, they want it to rain or be foggy, and you get to rig it up- "rain trickles past the window"
3. Set dressing- highlight any specific set dressing notes "the ancient couch groaned beneath his weight as he sat."
4. Props  (including vehicles) - "He sipped shakily from the chipped blue tea cup"
5. Characters- "JAMES walked into the room"
6. Wardrobe (aka costumes) often have distressing (mud, blood, damage) and I always note that in red, because the continuity of these things is always important to keep track of- "his shirt was soaked with rain and covered in blood, mud coated the cuffs of his jeans"
7. SFX (special effects like monster make-up or wounds)- "He winces as he pours rubbing alcohol over the gash on his shoulder."

Once you've made it through the script it's time to open up a spreadsheet. I tend to use Googledocs- because it's free and accessible anywhere (just make sure to make it offline accessible. there's nothing worse than relying on the cloud for your information and then having no signal). Excel or Evernote works also.

Next make a three sheets in your new workbook. They should be "Wardrobe" [which will have all the wardrobe, character, and SFX/make-up notes], "Props", and "Set Dressing" [which will also be home to any weather notes]. 

Each sheet should be set up as follows: the first column should be scene number, followed by location, followed by the category in question.

Check out the example below:

Ta-da! You just made a breakdown. From here you can make up your budgets, checklists, and track your purchases.

The power of Pintrest

Using Pintrest for something other than web surfing? Is this possible?!

Why yes. Now that there is an option to have secret boards I have been using Pintrest to share research, props shopping, pricing comparison, location photos, and renderings with the production and art teams. There's no file limit to things you can upload (unlike drop box) and everyone can have instant access to everything in an easy to digest format.

Here's a few examples from a past project that is not secret anymore:
http://pinterest.com/jeanettedesigns/smell/
http://pinterest.com/jeanettedesigns/feel/

I put together these boards so that the director, DP, and SFX all knew where I was going with the color palette and design. And rather than spending time to put all of the research together into a pdf to email to everyone it was all right there. Another bonus- all the comments stay connected to the pins. No more "I like the second one down from the top of the left column."

The best thing about the boards is that you can collaborate on them. So the DP can post his research on angles and lighting, right next to all of my research on wardrobe and set renderings.

It's also super helpful when I'm trying to track down the best prices for props. You pin the image and then you can link right back to the page you found it on. Tons of time saved! No more copy-pasting the heck out of the internet to find what you need. To keep the shared boards less cluttered, I tend to make a separate board when I am hunting for a specific piece. For sample, my research on perfume bottles:

http://pinterest.com/jeanettedesigns/perfume-bottles/

So there you go, Pintrest- beyond pinning pictures of food and crazy nail polish.

Set Etiquette

Film Set Etiquette is so incredibly important.

And a lack of it is the tell-tale sign of someone new to set.

As usual I quote from howtofilmschool.com with a few additions of my own. 
Check out The original posting which focuses more on the G&E perspective: http://howtofilmschool.com/how-to-film-schools-guide-to-film-set-etiquette/ or keep reading below:

• Drug and alcohol use is frowned upon on set. Films sets are fun to work on, but they are also super fast paced and you need to be able to keep up. A head fogged up by anything slows down the process, and no one is fond of that.

• Keep you mouth shut and your ears open. Only speak when you need to. If you're gabbin' away in the corner your undoubtedly missing the AD and Director deciding that they're going to "flip the world" shortly. ("flipping the world" means turning the camera around to see the other half of the room.) Or- eeep! you missed the "Rolling!" and have now been caught talking during a take.

• Respect the chain of command. 

• Be polite, say please and thank you.

• Learn people’s names. You'll be working together for a while and it is always easier to work with people you are on a first name basis with.

• Be watchful and respectful of your co-workers. 

• Try to show up a little early. Do some networking, learn where the equipment is, read the call sheet, have a coffee. Do whatever it takes to prepare yourself for the day.
• If you discover you will be late for any reason- call you boss immediately! Film crews work as a team and anyone missing can potentially cripple the process. The sooner your boss knows the sooner they can work around it.

• Arrive on set prepared with the tools you need to do your job. (For the art department- I will have to post again later about what I tend to bring with me to set.)

• At top of day report to your department head, introduce yourself and be respectful. They always need to know once everyone has arrived.

• When given instructions in person or over the walkie be sure to acknowledge by saying “copy” or “copy that”. Do not copy if you do not fully understand the instructions. Feel free to repeat back, ask questions or do whatever it takes to fully understand what you are being instructed to do. More walkie talkie etiquette on http://jeanette-art.blogspot.com/2013/02/film-set-walkie-talkie.html

• When in need of a washroom break be sure to tell your boss! You are fine as long as your boss knows and someone is around to cover you. As a Cinematographer, Director, or Production designer the AD must be told.

• Watch your boss and be aware of what is going on in your department and around you.

• Work hard, but don’t over do it. Pace yourself, the days are long and there will be plenty of work.

• Allow others to do their jobs, don’t be a hero. Don’t chirp in about things that have nothing to do with you or your department.

• If you want to help another department ask them if they need it first. A simple “may I?” before moving a camera case or stand can save you a lot of grief later. The bigger the set the less likely you will be allowed to touch anything that doesn’t belong to your department.

• Take a call sheet at the top of the day or print one the night before. In most cases many of your questions can be answered by looking at the call sheet

• If on a longer job don’t be afraid to ask for a one liner, It can help you to be ready for future days.

• Do not just plug items into any available outlet. Never unplug anything. ALWAYS ask an Electric.

If you're in charge:

• Be patient with the less experienced and try to teach as you go. 

• Don’t be afraid to assign tasks or delegate responsibility, even if someone is working for a lower rate or for free that doesn’t mean baby them. In most cases people working for free are there for the experience and would be willing to do almost anything within reason.

• Appreciate their hard work and thank them graciously. It’s a simple as saying “great morning guys, thanks for the hard work” or “awesome work today, thanks” at the end of the day. Even covering one pitcher sometime and saying “thanks” goes a hell of a long way.

• Look out for your people! Don’t let them get taken advantage of, make sure they are being paid fairly, being well fed and getting their full lunch hours. Why? Because they deserve it, the better paid, well rested and fed they are the better they will make you look and the better you will make your boss look.

• Be assertive when you need to be. Don’t be too nice because you will be walked all over. 

Dealing with Production:

• If you have a question or concern make sure you are bringing it to the right production team member, don’t hassle the director about something the PM (production manager) should be dealing with and don’t ask the PM something that the AD’s should be dealing with.

• Know the roles of the production staff, it will get your issues dealt with more efficiently.

• When you are asked to reply to an email or phone call try to do it as soon as possible. It makes for a very stressful day if you can’t get in touch with the crew the day before a shoot starts.

• If anything strikes you as odd or concerning on the call sheet let the distributor know as soon as you receive it, don’t wait until you are on set and it might be too late.

• Keep a copy of the call sheet on you at all times, production doesn’t need to be bothered with questions that can be answered if you just read the call sheet.

• Don’t ignore the call sheet, some people think that all they need to know is what time they show up and then act surprised when there is a location move. Production doesn’t spend hours working on them for you not to read them.

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions or raise concerns, there is a lot going on in a production office and it is possible that things get overlooked.

Sensitive Locations:

• Respect the home owners wishes. If the home owner is around or you’ve been given instructions to not unplug something or avoid going in a certain room follow those instructions to a T. Otherwise you could get the whole production kicked out. 
• Careful when removing tape from painted walls or hardwood floors. Although you should be using 2 inch black paper tape (painter tape essentially) it can still cause some damage, so be gentle. 
• Never use gaff tape on painted surfaces. It will always take it along of the ride when you remove it.
• Avoid using nails and push-pins on walls- unless given specific permission to do so. Use command picture hanging strips or poster puddy, every time. The reason is mostly due to respect for the location but it also avoids tiny holes all over the place every time you have to move a picture to compensate for the tighter shots.
• Use moving blankets when sliding around heavy furniture. It saves you back and the floors.
• Do your best to return the location to the condition it was in when you arrived. If you damage or break something tell Production ASAP. Even if it’s something tiny they can easily be doing damage control or figuring out how to repair or replace it.

Based on that information here’s how to deal with the Electrics:

• Tell them that you need a line for a certain item, don’t just ask for cable. You could go as far as telling them the wattage, but just saying “Hey, I’d love a line for my smoke machine” is enough. That sentence alone tells them that it will probably be 10-15amps and from there they know exactly what they can do.

• When they say they will get to it, they will get to it. Don’t pester. Things are prioritized and in many cases there are 5 things that need to happen before they can get you power.

• When and if you’re done with the line tell someone, don’t just leave it laying there. You could also wrap it yourself, but be sure you know the proper way of wrapping cable.

3:30am

Whoa! Wait a minute! I could have sworn it was 9 o'clock like- 3 minutes ago! I don't understand how it happens, but when I get really into something I'm working on I get sucked into these weird time-warp moments and come out bleary eyed and dazed. Good thing I don't have to be up early tomorrow. JK, I have to be at an SFX fitting in the morning as the behind the scenes videographer. Lol, I think I'll keep it on sticks for the most part. No reason to go all clover field on it just because I couldn't figure out how to look up from my budgeting.

Hmm... Nope.

Last post I mentioned how excited I was about the casting call we where having. The search continues, since neither of our two little actors showed up. You'll never get cast if you don't show up. Just saying.

While in waiting

A pretty slow moving and sludge-like day. I have no problem saying that script breakdowns are not one of my favorite things to do. They are necessary, and I love them with a fiery love once they are done, but I still hate doing them... Ah well small price to pay to do work I love.

So my day has been spent using final draft tagger, and taking breaks to do research for specific props. It would perhaps come as a shock to some of my pintrests followers to realize most of my boards are straight-up research for upcoming projects. Lol

Right now I'm hanging out in the gallery waiting for tonight's actors to arrive for their auditions for a project my husband and I are producing. Their reels seems very promising, and they're hella cute. I hope we find the right little actors tonight ^_^