Production

Designer.
-Research.
 What is a Production
Designer?
A production designer (PD) is the person in charge of
the overall aesthetics of a production. Their main role
is to work directly with the director, cinematographer
and producer to create the visual appeal of the set and
select settings that will enable the story line to be told
through the given scenery; PD’s are also often known
as art directors as they are in charge of the set and
scenic design. Alongside this PD’s are also in charge of
making sure everything is prepared in terms of making
sure the shooting location is perfect and is on track in
showing the visions of the film; these are key as a film
is a form of visual storytelling, meaning concepts and
the mise-en-scene need to be right to best convey the
plot of the film. Most of the production designers work
take place before filming even starts; this is known as
pre-production where they (the PD) will work alongside
the director and producer to formulate solid ideas, set
locations and look at taking the writers work, directors
vision and producers plan and compiling it into a
cohesive visual story entailing colour schemes,
themes, various visual elements and compositions.
 Rick Carter.
Rick Carter is an American production designer best known for his works on Avatar (2009), Star
Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015) and War of the Worlds (2005). Carter has also
worked on other films such as Cast Away (2000), A.I. Artificial intelligence (2001) and Jurassic
Park (1993). Within his works Carter is able to show a variety of genre designs to best suit the
features main ideas, this seen in A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) where Jude Law’s character
(Gigolo Joe) takes David to the provocative Rouge City; where he has been able to intertwine the
idea of the female body into the cities infrastructure to further push the idea that Rouge is a
sexually rousing city. Many of Carter’s works also look to bring in a futuristic element in as seen in
the War of the Worlds (2005) and Avatar (2009); where technologies are so advanced in terms of
extra-terrestrial life or to undermine them is ultimately their down fall as their technology’s either
fail to ‘win’ the battle or give out completely on them. With this in mind I can look to reinforce the
idea of observation within the city of Baucis and push the idea of the spyglass to its fullest
potential and exhaust all possible alternatives to achieve a professional finished outcome.

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (20

War of the
Worlds (2005)