The importance of sets

In film, sets are locations built especially for the film in order t suit a particular scene. They are built by Construction Managers and specified by a Production designer working in collaboration with the director of a production.

Often, sets are not as they seem on camera. They are frequently missing walls or ceilings and are often not the size they appear to be on screen. For example, the corridor of the Leaky Cauldron in Harry Potter appears to be a full-sized corridor in the film, but in reality, it is not only very small, but also very thin. The corridor set has very little depth and is not as long as it seems in the film, nor is it large enough to stand in.

The sets would be incomplete, however, where it not for set decoration. This branch of the Art Department develops and selects props in collaboration with the production designer. This typically means researching sourcing and making furniture, drapery, light fixtures, art and many other decorative objects large or small.

The production designer is responsible for the environment and setting of every scene and works with the cinematographer and director to establish the visual style of the film. The choices they make include the shapes of rooms, the colours of walls or the positions of widows for example. They also make practical decisions such as whether to build a real or virtual set.