BBC ACADEMY Getting into Design: Lisa Hall

http://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/production/article/art20130702112135523

Three industry professionals talk in this podcast: costume designer Howard Burden, make up artist Catherine Scoble and production designer Lisa Hall.
Since I am most interested in production design (set, props etc rather than costume or hair), Lisa Hall is the professional I got the most from in this podcast.

Job:
Lisa Hall is a production designer with a passion for nurturing talent and is the creator of the UK Film Design Mentoring Network. Her production design credits include This Is England ’86 for Channel 4 and Holy Flying Circus for BBC Four, Random for Channel 4 and Uberto Pasolini's Still life.

The art department is responsible for:
visual storytelling
interpreting the script
sharing emotions
moving the plot along
creating atmosphere
There is wide range of disciplines within the art department.

Career Path:
Knew that it was what she wanted to do. School plays, designing sets.
Degree in television production design at NTU.
Straight into NFTS.
Into industry. Straight into leading rather than working through art department.

There is no shortcut to the top. As a leader, you have to understand all the tasks of everyone in the team. Assist, know what the team involves. If you find a niche, work hard at that and it may turn into some more niche jobs... It's up to you but you do have to do your hard graft to get there.

Core Skills for being a Production Designer:
Be the storyteller
Need skills - drawing, drafting, modelmaking
visual communication skills
Communication with team
People management - making things happen
Be a good business person
Organise

The artistry won't make you a great designer
It's telling the stories, and doing that with the tools of the people you have around you. 

CV Tips
References - people IN THE INDUSTRY, names they might recognise
Name in the file name!
Name should be LARGE in the CV doc
Make an effort.

Most important things to do are:
network, get in front of people
physically go and experience art for yourself!
connect to fellow colleagues and people who are interested in making short films

We need to nurture the new talent

Portfolio Tips
Don't overload, be succinct
Only put in your best work that you could talk about
Follow the brief! Show that you can problem solve and follow instructions
Creative individuals - not just ticking boxes! What are you going to give me that no one else can?
Make contact PERSONAL, not cold calling.

Advice:
A team needs a balance of quiet and loud! Balance personalities.
Don't neglect storytelling, explore all creative avenues
Absorb yourself in how we tell stories! Educate yourself.