Production Title: Masters of the Air

Company: SDTA Productions

Line Manager: Sarah Sanderson

Programme Length: 60 minutes

Season: 1

Genre: Drama History

Sector: Other

Description :
I have just finished a twelve month contract on an international war drama series for Apple TV. It has been a non-stop, high-pressured environment with long days, and I feel grateful to have had this experience as Assistant to the Set Decoration Department.

Efficiency and organisation were crucial skills in keeping up with this fast-paced environment. I was in-charge of overseeing the hundreds of set drawings released by the art department. This process required an extensive system of cataloguing on various spreadsheets, servers and physical files. I would also regularly be asked to catalogue the thousands of props that we purchased or hired, and would create visual presentations on PowerPoint to facilitate speedy decisions by the set decorators. Excel was crucial in keeping track of the many fabric samples and fabric books coming in and out of the office. My role also meant overseeing office-supplies and general office organisation, as well catering to the needs of the head Set Decorator, Celia Bobak.

Added to this was the unexpected departure of our department co-ordinator which meant that I was suddenly asked to take over the co-ordinator role for a period, including setting up NDAs and Covid tests for external vendors as well as cataloguing all set dec items for copyright, filling out time-sheets, sorting out overtime requests and mileage requests amongst other jobs.

Besides administrative roles, this job was also a creative one. At times I was asked to research options for materials and would acquire samples to be seen by the set decorators. I also spent a lot of time in prop stores taking photos of optioned furniture and props. I was frequently required to drive around the UK sourcing small props or picking up chosen articles. Further to this, I was often hands-on with prop making/painting, and was regularly on set. I was lucky to be given the opportunity to decorate small parts of the various sets on numerous occasions. Working on set and being a part of the inner workings of the filming was an incredibly informative experience.