Studio 1 - FLM215 BLOG

Our class made a short film all together, but on the pre-production period after the story have been picked/chosen we were given roles, and the role I was assigned to is the set designer and prop master, at first I wanted to be the writer but I was still very happy to be given a role I never paid any attention to before which is the set dresser or set designer, mainly a person who move, decorate and create a set and for the prop master is a person who add or even make props all together for a movie, while in our department there was another set designer that helped and the other two members were in charge of wardrobes.

I had to interview and ask a professional who worked as a set designer for five years in a row, who worked on major and even indie projects that usually involve fashion but in the end it’s all about setting up a set for a film or any type of media work, but in her answers and tips she pointed out that I have to focus on time management because of that point she made hurry up and make a list of props  and I’ve started collecting them one by one, it took 3-4 trips to different stores and malls but me and our department were very happy with everything I’ve collected.

The set designer also recommended to study and research the project or story behind it before anything else and start developing your own version of it, to give a very clear idea of how the set should be seen as and what kinds of props will be used on set and what should be brought on set, at first I was nervous but then our department had to read the script multiple times and leave notes, for me I’ve highlighted everything regarding the set and the props appearing in every set such as the wall clock that was mentioned in the script once or twice, no color was mentioned so I brought a classic red wall clock with me, we also researched everything about people in the 1940’s since the story is set in the year 1940, we researched what people would wear back then, how the props looked like, what kind of bags they used to carry, the type of glass cups and even how did their pens and pencils look like before, to give a perfect image of the 1940’s in the film but especially 1940.

Even for the courtroom, I had to watch multiple movies with courtrooms in them around the 1940’s to get inspired and collect a big chunk of courtroom images especially from the year 1940 to start working on my own set up, for the set up I tried to make a replica of a set but at the same time I really wanted the movie its own unique set up so I started combining images and pretty much draw a blue print of the courtroom from above, and another sketch that shows how the courtroom will look like with every single prop sketched into the drawing even the pens on the table, the set designer who I’ve interviewed told me to pay attention to every small and big detail to give a perfect image and to mix research with your initial set up.

I didn’t think much of the role in the beginning but later on I’ve learned a lot from it, especially being ahead of time, collecting research and sources so you could combine all the information into one perfect set with connected props, knowing how to manage your time, how to work with your team, be flexible with last minute problems and solutions and especially share the same layer of ideas and vision with the department and start developing it to make it into the reality everyone wants to see.  

One of the indie sets created by the set designer i interviewed:

My early sketches of the courtroom:

Actual set:

Links to youtube videos that inspired us:

George stinney film scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak6m1QPrt60

To kill a mocking bird courtroom scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44TG_H_oY2E&t=36s

Richard Pryor comedy at court: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE1f4awlxVc&t=48s

Classic courtroom film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJrFj3oa7iU&t=513s

While watching these videos, i only kept an eye on the set up of the courtroom in each video and every small and big props around the courtroom, whether they're being used or not, of course some props differ in each video so i learnt to combine it all, maybe some items don't connect with the timeline of each video but as a designer i have to make sure it connects with the scene so the audiences can enjoy the detail the props are giving to each the scene.