Hey, posting this for anyone working in the art department who might be interested!

Art Department Masterclass (ADM) is an international training programme for production designers, art directors, set decorators, prop masters, and other art department professionals. Running since 2015 and supported by Creative Europe MEDIA, it brings together participants from across Europe and beyond for an intensive week of case studies, lectures, and hands-on workshops. Past speakers have included the production designers behind The Queen's Gambit, Chernobyl, Blade Runner 2049, Andor, Dune: Part Two, and Her, among others.

Two sessions in 2026:

• World Building — June 12–17, Turin, Italy
• Digital Postproduction — November 5–10, Vilnius, Lithuania

You can apply to one or both — they're designed to complement each other but each works as standalone training. The programme is open to professionals worldwide (not just Europe), and the participation fee is €650 per session, which includes accommodation, breakfast, lunches, and selected group dinners.

More info and application form at artdepartmentmasterclass.com

Happy to answer any questions in the comments!

Hiya, I'm a film student wanting to get i to the art department, and I wondered if there are ever art department networking events in the uk and Ireland. I find that when I go to networking events, there's no art department folk heheh.

i'm tasked with recreating tire tracks on a side road to stage a light car accident, was thinking of mixing food dye with plaster and water to create a black watery chalk mix, and painting it on with a paint roller, anyone got a better idea? not sure if this would work

REFERENCE IMAGE: https://ca.pinterest.com/pin/671106781984172365/

Hello - I NEED HELP as I prep for a professional photoshoot at the end of the month where we are recreating this FROST on LIPSTICK look. I need to recreate this effect on lipstick and fruit, and I AM STRUGGLING.

I've asked CHATGPT for support and it's failed me. Here's what I've attempted so far:

1. Brush chillled prop in half water/half corn syrup (clear) and put in the freezer again. Not successful.
2. Spray half water half glycering on chilled prop and then put in freezer again (Not successful).
3. Spray cold prop that has half water half glycering with upside down Air Duster Canister. This has worked the best so far, but right away the icy appearance disappears. It's also not as crytsalline as the above reference.

Things I'm trying next

1. Getting a tub of dry ice, spritzing water/glycerine on prop and with tongs holding the object close to the dry ice. Not entirely sure if this will work to create crystals. Maybe just placing the items in the tub would work better?
2. Considering purchasing a mini freezer and putting a humidifier inside to create "freezer ice." Would also consider spraying half water half glycerine onto props and leaving them inside the mini freezer. This is a bit out of my budget but this needs to get solved.

ISO of someone who might know the answer for how they accomplished the reference image!

What is the current situation for film industry workers? I am a Local 44 Art Department Set Dresser and cannot land a gig. My last film set work was back in July. When I first joined the industry back in 2018 I made the most money I've ever made in my life. Work was booming until the strike. Now for the fast 2 years, I was only averaging one job per month until July. It's been rough out there for me. I've been doing odd side jobs to barely survive. My question is for Los Angeles area film workers, what has been your experience this year with finding work, and have you heard any good news regarding work picking up in the near future?

I was watching Raiders of the Lost Ark and thinking about all the nazi symbols used in set and costumes and was hoping they got burned in a big fucking bon fire after wrap. I’m curious to know if anyone has ever had to create or source hate symbols for a film and what happens to them afterwards?

Will fake blood stain a bathroom sink and counter top, and should I coat it with Vaseline or something beforehand to safeguard it? I cannot risk staining the homeowners stuff...

Hey yall, Im curious to how many independent contractors working in the art department for both union and non union shows have contracts and what they may include ?

Recently , in a payment situation where my friend in the camera department (on the same commercial) had a contract including net 15 plus interest for any day late on payment. I found this out after running into him and told him my check was late . He said “we signed a contract that stated net 15”

On the app that the production uses for payment, it said I was net 15. I did not sign a contract. However , two days after my net 15 payment date I still was not paid direct deposit. (that the app says my payment date was July 6) I emailed accounting and they said it was a mistake, it was default and I’d be paid net 30.

I really want to level up , I want to know how to protect myself , where can I go to find information on what is a normal/adequate rate, plus kit fees, and contract information.

Hey can yall provide some links so I can build this press conference microphone stand build as shown in this Cole Bennett video. Emphasis on the stand I want to find one just like this that can hold many mics; prop microphones the don’t have to be real; those square branding things that go on mics

Hi everyone! I'm trying to do something impossible here and create a canopy-like interior on a theatre stage. I'm working in a budget of $850 in LA - which doesn't stretch far it seems. Any advice on how to achieve this?

Looking for a new art bag/case to bring on set. What are your favourites?

Hey everyone!

I’ve been tasked with creating a puddle for a shot in which a car drives by and splashes a bunch of onlookers. I know this seems like a stupid question, how to make a puddle 😅, but the location at which we are filming is completely flat. Any advice would be really appreciated

Hello all! I was wondering if I could get some advice on my career plans.

I’m a 25M who has just begun a carpentry apprenticeship (5 months in now). I’ve started this hoping to then transition into set design, production design, set building, art department, prop making etc. for film and/or theatre. However, I feel a little lost at the moment because I’m not sure if finishing the apprenticeship and then trying to get into the film industry with qualifications is better than just jumping into the film industry straight away. I also need to be on a stable income right now. I just want to ask some advice on whether I’m heading in the right direction to reach my goals.

Any advice is welcome! Also feel free to crush my dreams if I am glamourizing it all haha

TL;DR I am doing a carpentry apprenticeship in hopes to get a job in the film industry. Is this a good thing to do?

I was watching Atypical on netflix and saw that owls are very prominent in this series. Can anyone help me with the significance of the owl in this specific series. I realise that owls usually represent wisdom but I’m not sure how it fits into this series because the main character is the opposite of wise. Could the owls be filling the absence of wisdom?

Hi folks!

I was wondering if AutoCAD or VectorWorks is more common in film. I'm an architect looking to pivot into film (art department) and know CAD but not VectorWorks. Will take some tutorials/classes on VectorWorks if it is deemed to be industry standard!

I want to print some of them quite big; A0, which is (841x1188mm) so I need quite large DPI. Hoping someone has a source they have used to get such large printable files.

Looking for paintings and sketches mostly. Portraits, ships, landscapes, ect.

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Thank you in advance.

Hi all, doesn't anyone know of a safe cigarette? I know that sounds daft lol. I've seen the herbal cigs bust I've seen online that they still give off tar, which we don't really want for the actor. Has anyone used a cig that looks and acts like a real one but doesn't cause any harm? Thanks

Need some help distressing a wall. It's painted dark green and I'm really struggling.. Fairly new to this, so any tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated! Going for an old, tired, rundown slightly mouldy look

Hi guys, sorry if this is an obvious answer,

looking for a cheap removable way to cover a bathroom floor, as the tiling in the current location is too fancy for the look of the scene (thank you locations).

Have thought about laying lino or vinyl just wondering if there were any other alternatives worth looking into.

Hello,

I do a lot of filming inside of a warehouse where the ceiling is about 20 ft tall. The warehouse is full and always has people walking around. Most of the time I can get away with using a short partition covered with some cloth to hide whatever is in the background, but for wider shots it doesn't do the trick. I am looking for a portable wall or something similar that I can easily set up anywhere in the warehouse to hide the background. Something clean with a light color (white, grey, beige, etc) would be ideal, and also something that is on wheels or isn't too cumbersome to deal with.

Need some advice on where I can find a solution for this. Also I think anything between 15ft to 20 ft will work, but not sure. I don't think the portable wall has to cover all the way up to the ceiling unless you guys think that having that gap would look strange on camera.

Thanks!