Article: Having an arts degree will make it easier to get a job in the film industry. Art directors must have a broad understanding of the arts, so enroll in courses that cover a wide variety of artistic subjects. Some good places to start are: Courses in architecture. As an art director you'll be responsible for designing sets, so you want to develop an understanding of construction, building, and technical drawing. Courses in interior design. Part of the set design you'll do as an art director includes interior design, so you want to learn how to use props and decor to create a visually appealing aesthetic. Courses in theatre. Understanding how sets and props factor into a performance will help you down the road when you're responsible for creating large-scale sets that directors and actors have to work with. Study them and take notes. Pay attention to a film's overall aesthetic, asking yourself what you liked and didn't like about it. Understanding how art and design can be used to fulfill a director's vision is essential if you want to be an art director. If you liked a particular set design or artistic element of a film, look up the art director behind it and study their career. Practice working on a team with other people, because as an art director you'll be responsible for managing multiple departments and film crews. Work on your time management and organizational skills, and flex your creativity whenever possible. You'll also want to be good at budgeting and working with money. Volunteer for a local production or film company to gain experience and work on your personal skills. Enroll in financial literacy courses to learn about money and budgeting. Most art director positions will require you to do a lot of driving (driving to and from set, transporting supplies, driving to meet with the different crews, etc). Look up your local requirements for obtaining a driver's license and work on getting one so it doesn't become a deal breaker down the road. Get your master's in production design. A lot of aspiring art directors go this route. You'll get advanced training in architecture, digital design, and other crucial aspects of film production that you'll need to know to be an art director.
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Enroll in an undergraduate art program. Watch a lot of films. Cultivate the necessary personal skills. Get your driver's license. Go to graduate school to increase your chances of landing a job.