From Script to Set: The Role of Art Direction in Nollywood

Art direction is the craft of transforming the director’s vision from words on a script into tangible visual worlds on screen. It bridges the narrative leap from page to set through the creation of immersive production design, sets, props and locations. Understanding this crucial behind-the-scenes function provides insight into the design thinking that brings scripts to cinematic life.

In Nollywood, art direction brings unique African perspectives into the production design process. The art department contextualizes stories by blending traditional with contemporary design elements tailored to Nigerian experiences and settings. Let’s dive deeper into the multifaceted contributions of the art director in shaping the industry’s distinct visual landscape.

Understanding the Art Director’s Role

The art director oversees the aesthetic realization of the story’s physical spaces and environments. They lead creative teams of illustrators, set decorators, and designers to create set builds, procure props, and alter locations based on the director’s vision and production design lead.

Art directors play a crucial role in bringing a film’s visual elements to life by interpreting the script and creating appropriate visual styles and atmospheres that align with the narrative. Their responsibilities include:

• Script Interpretation: Art directors analyze the script to understand the intended scenes and the visual requirements of the story.
• Conceptualization: They conceptualize the visual aspects, which may include sketching layouts, selecting fabric swatches, determining color palettes, and sourcing furnishings and props.
• Supervision: Art directors oversee the construction of sets by working with build crews and specialty vendors. They ensure that the physical environments match the creative vision.
• Support for Filmmaking: Their holistic designs provide tangible creative frameworks that support the performances of actors and the cinematography during production.

Distinguishing Art Direction from Production Design

Art direction and production design are closely related roles but have distinct responsibilities:

• Production Designers: They shape the overall visual style, including costumes, hair and makeup, color schemes, and the overarching aesthetic, in addition to sets and environments. They craft the big picture tonal plan for the entire film.
• Art Directors: They execute a subset of the production designer’s vision by creating physical environments, transforming locations, and curating props. They focus on solving granular build challenges and logistics to bring the production designer’s vision to life.

The Evolution of Art Direction in Nollywood

In the early years of Nollywood’s vintage home video era, art departments operated with makeshift resources, improvisation, and limited budgets. Filmmaking primarily took place on real locations with minimal sets.

In the 2000s, as production quality standards improved, art direction evolved into a specialized craft with dedicated professionals. Veterans like Chima Okereke and Adeoye Odusanya played key roles in professionalizing art direction during this transitional era. They demonstrated resourceful creativity in maximizing limited budgets to develop Nollywood’s visual identity.

Higher-budget productions like Tunde Kelani’s “Maami” in 2009 showcased elevated art direction standards with richer set designs and props. In recent years, fully-fledged art departments and specialists have emerged to tackle more ambitious technical design challenges, as seen in expansive productions like Kemi Adetiba’s “King of Boys.”

Influence of Nigerian Culture on Art Direction

Nollywood art directors draw inspiration from Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage to create authentic environments that resonate with local experiences. They incorporate elements such as:

• Handcrafted Artifacts: Fascinating masks, textiles, ceramics, and other handcrafted items from various ethnic groups are used as set dressing and prop designs.
• Color Palettes: Color choices reflect the vibrant hues found in local attire, textiles, and landscapes.
• Traditional Architecture: Traditional mud houses and architectural styles are recreated to serve as backdrops for rural village scenes.
• Costumes: Costumes incorporate various fabrics and ceremonial regalia unique to each culture, blending tradition with modern sensibilities.

This fusion of tradition and progress defines the Nollywood aesthetic, showcasing the dynamic expression of Nigerian identities.

The Art Director’s Creative Process: From Script to Set Design

Art directors follow a meticulous creative process to translate the script into realized production designs:

• Visualization: They break down described environments, conducting extensive concept sketching and utilizing CGI architectural rendering to visualize sets.
• Mood Boards: Art directors compile mood boards with color schemes, furniture, and styling references to align the overall look and feel with the director and production designer’s vision.
• Location Scouting: Diligent location scouts identify practical sites for set construction that meet scenic requirements cost-effectively. Construction crews then execute set builds based on the art department’s technical drawings.
• Props: Props are sourced extensively from vendors or custom created by the team to dress sets appropriately and complement scripted character actions.

These details collectively shape immersive worlds that enhance the directorial vision.

Key Contributions of the Art Department

Nollywood’s art directors and their teams have several primary responsibilities:

• Set Design: Elaborate interior and exterior sets, such as palatial estates, village huts, and office spaces, are constructed to provide visual continuity for multi-angle filming. Set builders fabricate, paint, and dress intricate environments to enable practical filmmaking.
• Props: Extensive arrays of practical and hero props are used to help performers inhabit their roles convincingly. Hero props like books, phones, and food items facilitate storytelling, while practical items like lamps, stoves, and technology props add authenticity. Finding or making accurate cultural artifacts requires art department expertise and local knowledge.
• Locations: Real-world locations are adapted into fictionalized environments through meticulous set dressing and design modifications. Residential interiors often serve as different settings with strategic prop placements and set extensions that match required scenes. Finding locations that are both suitable for filming and adaptable to art direction is crucial.

Challenges for Art Directors in Nollywood

Nollywood art departments face challenges despite their progress:

• Budget Limitations: Limited budgets often necessitate using existing affordable buildings and locations instead of constructing custom sets, limiting creative flexibility. Stock props are frequently reused.
• Time Constraints: Tight shooting schedules rush set fabrication timelines, making it challenging to craft intricate bespoke set builds.
• Sourcing Specialized Props: Finding specialized props and set decorations that reflect Nigeria’s diverse traditional cultures can be difficult, as local suppliers may not always have them readily available.

However, Nollywood art directors showcase remarkable resourcefulness in overcoming these obstacles to achieve the director’s design vision. Their flexibility, creativity, and problem-solving skills will be vital in adapting to new technologies like virtual production.

For aspiring art directors, Nollywood offers a platform to exercise creative skills in designing culturally rooted yet visually vibrant worlds on tight budgets. Their contributions play a crucial role in bringing the next generation of Nigerian stories to life.