Planet's coolest jobs: set decorator
When you watch a film in the cinema or at home do you ever think about how the scene behind the actors has been created or how that scene contributes to your understanding of the characters and plot of what you are watching? Well, our latest instalment of planet’s coolest jobs is going to help you do just that. Meet Kimberley Fahey, set decorator extraordinaire with films as diverse as Spiderman: Far From Home, Aladdin, Suffragette, Rocketman and Jane Eyre under her name.
Describe your job in five words
Best job in the world!
What does your job involve?
As a set decorator in the film industry I work closely with the production designer to create a set with the right look and atmosphere to best tell the scripted story. My job involves sourcing props and decorations to create a specific aesthetic that supports and enhances the film’s story and also aids the actor’s performance. We are responsible for translating the writer and director’s vision of the film into reality and we look after everything you see in the frame, apart from the actor. We are visual storytellers and aim to describe the characters by surrounding them with particular items such as glasses on tables and pictures on walls and even down to the small personal trinkets they may have in their pockets or bedside table.
What does a typical day look like for Kim?
There is no typical day. No script is ever the same, so each job is completely different and each day brings a new challenge. Will it be creating a magical world, or a medieval village, or even an underwater skull dungeon?
I normally begin by breaking down the script, in story order and then the order in which the film will be shot. Then I begin putting images together on mood boards for each set, including the particular pieces of furniture, rugs and lighting that I feel will work within the set. There is usually a lot of chatting and eliminating of ideas between the Production designer and the director before decisions are made. Once the production designer is happy with our suggestions of furniture, wallpaper, lighting, colours, fabrics and textures, we can start buying and confirming prop hires. You can see why we need a really strong team who work collaboratively together to make it all happen. There’s a lot to get organised!
Once we have everything together I begin working on the dressing plan, which includes every little detail we are putting into the actual set. This document is handed to all the Set Decorating and Props team so they know what props are coming in and where they will be dressed into the set. When we say dressed we don’t mean clothes but where the different pieces need to go on the set.
Do you get to travel with your job?
Yes, I have to go on a location recce which is where we go to check out the location before filming begins. This is essential for our department to find out if there are restrictions and to measure up and work out whether our ideas will work in the spaces. I also get to travel in time! I love working on period films, as I can discover beautiful historical props with a story to tell. It’s really important to be as accurate as you can so I wish I could really time travel!
What’s the best thing about your job?
So many different things! The first has to be getting to visit some of the most amazing locations, from remote caves in Bulgaria, to tunnels in Malta and mountains in Spain. And it’s not just the location but what we get to do while we are there. I’ve dressed a pirate ship as we sailed the Black Sea, been stranded on an island and painted a horse pink. Being part of a wonderful team who works so well together to create the seemingly impossible comes a very close second for the best thing about my job. It’s an incredible experience to achieve the unachievable and to be part of making something beautiful and lasting. Lastly, I love the fact that every job teaches me something new so I never stop learning.
Tell us something we might not know about set design.
Did you know that the UK film industry has the best prop hire houses in the world? These are where you can hire anything from gigantic Roman statues to 1920s embroidered silk scarfs and jewel-encrusted thrones. Each prop hire house has its own unique collection of props that are not held anywhere else, so depending on what sort of job I’m working on, I can visit these diverse collections and source the required props.
What advice would you give someone who wants to become a set decorator?
An interest and enthusiasm for crafts, art history, culture and design are key. But the main advice would be to follow your heart and be prepared to work hard. Working as a Set Decorator is a hugely rewarding creative career but it is a big commitment, involving long and varied hours and constant problem-solving. It’s really important to have lots of energy, to not be afraid to ask questions and to keep smiling.
You can learn more about Kim's work at kimberleyfahey.com
If this inspires you to explore some real-life movie sets, we have 11 places that bring the magic of kids’ movies to life.
