#Production designer job description movie#

During the design process, they act as a liaison between the client and engineering departments, balancing client desires and aesthetics with practical concerns. A team of electrical engineers will typically travel with them to survey the site.ĭesign Lighting - After adequately assessing a project site, the Lighting Designer designs a lighting plan for the site according to customer specifications, the assessment of the site itself and safety concerns including state and local energy and building codes. They also communicate extensively with the customer while there to identify their desires and needs. Visit Project Sites - In order to effectively design lighting systems for a given site, the Lighting Designer must travel to the site to assess and analyse it.

In order to design the lighting in a given space, a lighting designer performs many different tasks:. As a result, they can serve as a solid baseline for what a lighting designer should bring to the table. The ability to work under pressure to tight deadlinesĪdditional skills may also be necessary depending on the role, though the ones above are almost universally required.Strong leadership, communication and collaboration skills.Experience with various lighting tools (fixtures, riggings, dimmers, gels, etc.).However, many of the main responsibilities do remain similar, often mirroring those listed above.

#Production designer job description movie#

Television and movie productions have requirements that don’t always mimic the goals of stage productions. For larger productions, the lighting designer may also supervise a team of lighting professionals, giving them extra management duties.Īdditionally, the needs may be slightly different for television and movie lighting designer jobs than they are for stage productions. For example, with a smaller production, the lighting designer may also serve as a lighting technician, operating various lighting technologies during rehearsals and shows. Lighting designers can also have additional responsibilities.

Oversee lighting during the production’s run.

Attend dress and technical rehearsals to ensure lighting choices are correct, making adjustments as needed.

Make strategic lighting-oriented purchases that align with the budget and production’s needs.

Monitor energy use to ensure the production stays within budget.

Write lighting plots to outline when lighting changes occur and how the lighting changes are executed.

Create lighting design plans to achieve the desired result.

Coordinate with director and artistic director to understand the production’s goals and their overall vision.

While the exact nature of the duties can vary depending on the production involved, certain activities and tasks that are common for most jobs.Ī list of typical lighting designer main responsibilities includes:. They usually work for lighting companies, architecture or interior design firms and service clients, but sometimes they work for a large venue and are in charge of designing lighting for the venue’s events.ĭuring a production’s preparation, lighting designers have specific responsibilities. The lighting design can be for residential, commercial or industrial spaces.Ī lighting designer usually works under limited supervision but as a member of a collaborative team. They work in collaboration with a variety of professionals, including interior designers, engineers and architects. Lighting designers design and plan lighting and electrical systems.

Television and movie productions also make use of lighting designers, giving them access to critical expertise when lighting various scenes. It is important to note that lighting designers aren’t limited to the stage. They also know which lighting approaches will yield specific results, ensuring they can use the available lighting tech to achieve certain outcomes. Their medium is lighting and they are highly skilled in a variety of fixtures and techniques. This can include anything from deciding what sort of lighting will create a particular mood, steer the audience’s attention correctly, or create the right kind of special effects.Ī lighting designer is part technician, part artist. The lighting designer coordinates heavily with the director and artistic director to determine what sort of lighting-related visuals will craft the desired result on stage.