When you step into an old timey Western town, an alien spaceship, or a sinuous cavern, you’re experiencing the craftsmanship of the Construction Department. This team turns drawings into doors you can open, staircases you can climb, and entire environments that are safe, camera‑ready, and built to strike on schedule.
The Construction Department
Construction is where production design becomes physical reality. Working from plans approved by the Production Designer and Art Directors, this department is tasked with fabricating full‑scale scenery on stages, backlots, or on location, using specialized techniques that balance realism, safety, speed, and sustainability.
Construction bridges vision and tangible reality. While some of the magic of filmmaking is created digitally, a lot of productions use a mix of physical sets and VFX. Physical sets give actors real environments to interact with, provide authentic lighting and textures for cinematographers, and create a sense of scale and presence. Even in the era of advanced VFX, practical builds remain essential for scenes where realism matters most.
Key Roles in the Construction Department
The exact amount of crew and scope of the Construction Department on a film set depend on the size and needs of the production. Here are only a few of the possible roles in this department that will give you a sense of the variety of work you can undertake:
Leadership
Construction Manager
- Oversees the entire set build from planning to strike
- Interprets designer drawings, manages materials, hires and schedules trades
- Handles budgeting, timelines, and ensures safety and sustainability
Paint and Scenic Finishing
Charge Artist (Lead Scenic/Key Scenic)
- Leads the scenic/paint team and interprets paint elevations.
- Sets finishes, textures, and ensures visual continuity across sets.
- Manages paint budgets and supply logistics.
Scenic Artist
- Creates detailed scenic finishes: faux textures (wood, marble), aging, patina
- Paints backdrops, murals, and specialty scenic elements
- Works from designer references to achieve period or stylized looks
Set Painter
- Applies base coats and specialty effects (spray finishes, rusting, distressing)
- Installs wall coverings and performs on-set touch-ups
- Uses specialized tools for quick, high-quality finishes
Carpentry and Structural Fabrication
Set Carpenter
- Builds structural set pieces: walls, doors, windows, platforms, and wild walls
- Interprets plans and operates shop tools for fast, modular construction
- Coordinates with grip, lighting, and SFX for safe integration
Plaster, Sculpt, and Surface Construction
Plasterer (including ornamental/fibrous)
- Finishes walls and ceilings with plaster or fiberglass
- Creates molds and casts for architectural details and sculpted elements
- Delivers period or fantastical looks at cinematic scale
Rigging
Rigger/Head Rigger
- Designs and installs overhead support systems for scenery, lighting, and cameras
- Sets up grids, platforms, and safety lines
- Enforces strict fall-protection and industry safety standards
Specialized Fabrication
Model Maker
- Builds miniatures and scale models for shots where full-scale sets aren’t practical
- Collaborates with production design and VFX for seamless integration
- Crafts highly detailed models for establishing shots or controlled destruction
Discover even more roles in the Construction Department on the Creative Pathways site.