Commissioner Katherine Oliver moderates a discussion with the
production team of August Rush.

December 5, 2007 - Students and local residents recently had the opportunity to get the inside scoop on a variety of unfamiliar jobs in the entertainment industry. Coupled with an advance screening of August Rush, Commissioner Katherine Oliver moderated a discussion among members of the film’s production team at the Apollo Theater.

Along with the producer, director, and composer, the panel provided an opportunity to learn more about what it takes to be a story board artist, location scout, stunt coordinator, production designer, and set decorator.

John Davis, a storyboard artist whose other credits include The Departed and Just My Luck, explained that his job is to “visualize and illustrate the film.” Sometimes called the director’s wrist, the storyboard artist tells the story of the film in black and white drawings, allowing the director to visualize every beat in a sequence.

As the location manager, Tjamal Nomi looks at the script and then speaks with the production designer and director to determine the feel of the movie. “You can find almost everything you’re looking for in New York,” Nomi said.

Decorating a film set is like furnishing an apartment, according to Carol Silverman, the set decorator, who routinely picks up items at retails stores, like Ikea and Crate & Barrel. She even picks items up off the street. Working with the production designer, Silverman gets to think about what the characters would own and tell the story in objects.

Blaise Corrigan explained his role in the production very succinctly: “We fight, fall, and drive.” In his role as stunt coordinator, it’s his job to make sure that the danger is removed from every scene. Corrigan learned his craft on set from older stunt men. There are stunt schools, Corrigan explained, but they can’t get you the work, noting it’s a small industry.

Michael Shaw, the production designer, explained that the path to become a production designer is never the same. Some come from theatre or architecture or worked formerly as set decorators. Shaw worked his way up the ladder by “not taking no for an answer.”

To find out when the next Careers in Entertainment panel is scheduled, visit www.nyc.gov/film.