Production designer

Alice Wasley

When shooting a film, production designers really set the scene.

In most cases, if they have done their job well you probably won’t notice their work. But next time you are watching a film think ofproduction designer Clayton Jauncey, whosejob it is to do meticulous research to get a period piece just right or perhaps dream upan imaginary world.

Jauncey, 45, has been a production designer for 12 years. He has worked on a number of Australian television series and films, including the ABC telemovie 3 Acts Of Murder, which is being shown tomorrow night at 8.30pm.

The telemovie, which was shot in Western Australia last year, is set in the 1920s and ’30s and tells the true story of crime writer Arthur Upfield, whose friend stole his plot ideas to commit three murders.

Jauncey and his team did extensive research to get the right look for the film.

“Fortunately it’s a reasonably well documented period of history so there’s a lot of archive material for places that they lived and various vehicles,” he says.

“And also the way people lived their lives, too — you’re doing a kitchen, for example, and you have to remember how people lived their lives much more simply.”

Looking at historical books is the first step.

“A lot of the state libraries are really well resourced in terms of period photographs and they’re good for showing the minute details,” Jauncey says.

“It’s really handy for us in the artdepartment because we can see that they had saucepans like that [for example].”

Jauncey’s next job is a World War I film called Beneath Hill 60, directed by Jeremy Sims.He says the beginning of a project is his favourite part of the process.

“Generally you work very closely with the director, discussing how the sets and the location are going to help tell the story and also what’s required to help illustrate and reflect the characters,” he says.

“And then you start doing some rough sketches and floor plans and you build a set from that.”

Jauncey first developed an interest in film as a photography student. He put his hand up to help out in the art department on some student films and from there he worked his way up — spending time on short films and eventually progressing to TV series and feature films.

“You start off as a props buyer or a set dresser and you sort of work your way up and you help out and do short films so that people can see what you can design and eventually people get confidence in you and they give you bigger projects with bigger budgets,” he says.

Although he says there is a “constant level of uncertainty” in regards to where his next job is coming from, he considers himself “very lucky” to work in such a creative field.

“Every day is a challenge,” he says. “It’s sort of problem solving — I guess you can sort of be an architect without the training or the responsibility. You can build things directly from your imagination. You’re helping the director with his vision and watching the scriptcome to life.

“I’ve been lucky to do a bit of everything. Ilike doing period films because the research is fun and recreating that fine detail but I also like the science fiction, space kind of things. It’s pure creativity and you’re not tied to anything specific, so that’s always really rewarding.”

How to be a production designer

Qualifications
A degree is not necessarily required but the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) offers a graduate diploma in production design.

Course
The AFTRS course prepares students for employment in designing environments for the screen and focuses on developing the design process through theory, skills and practice.

Assumed knowledge
Applicants must demonstrate ability in design-related fields or fine arts and apassion for design. A portfolio or show reel is required.

Cost
$11,500 for two semesters, full-time.

From the inside
“Production design involves long hours and a lot of pressure but it is worth it,” says Clayton Jauncey (pictured).

“Things need to happen very quickly and once a film has started it’s like a steam train that you need to be putting the tracks in front of to keep it going.”
More information: aftrs.edu.au