What Do Set Construction Companies Do?

Set construction companies work with production designers and art directors to build what they envision for a setting. The head of the construction department is the construction coordinator who reports to the production designer and art director.

Film sets are generally built on studio stages or back lots, and while movie sets often look larger than life on screen, they are constructed as minimally as possible using many inexpensive materials to help save on construction time and costs. For example, plywood flats and styrofoam can have textured and patterned facades added to them to create the illusion of a brick wall, tile, or even marble. Safety and security, however, are never compromised and set construction companies are responsible for ensuring the physical integrity of the set to prevent accidents from occurring.

Some construction companies will build sets in their own workspace and transport them to the studio (in pieces if necessary). In most cases, a completely built out set with all walls, accessories, and fixtures is not necessary to represent the type of room or space that the characters are in. For example, a bathroom set does not need an actual bathtub or shower if the scenes do not require them. Instead, simply hanging a shower curtain is enough to make viewers think that the bathroom is complete with a tub or shower.

From flooring to windows, ceilings, and more, there are many other artistic strategies and creative techniques used to help design and build an extravagant-looking movie set within a reasonable budget. To learn more about set construction, you can visit svnfilm.com for more information.

You can also check out this timelapse below of the work involved in a set build:

“Watch a Film Set Go Up in 3 Minutes (Time-Lapse)” by Full Sail University

In Nevada, we have experienced set construction companies whose credits include Marvel’s Spider-Man: Homecoming, The Hillywood Show, What Happens In Vegas, and more. If you are looking for a set construction company for your next production, check out our online Nevada Production Directory for a list of set construction companies in Nevada or drop by our office and pick up a free printed directory!

If you have a set construction company in Nevada and are not yet listed in our Nevada Production Directory, you can learn more about how to sign up for the NPD here.

Related Production Services: Set Designer, Production Designer

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