2024 Set Dressing Workshop Roundup

On June 22, 2024 Local 490 held an educational workshop on the fundamentals of Set Dressing. The class of 18 attendees were taught by veteran union Lead Man and Art Director Brian Simpson. The class was open to union and non-union crew. The venue was the Jack Pine Scene shop in St.Paul.

Lead Man Brian Simpson teaches the craft of Set dressing, photos provided by Jinny Jacobson

This workshop covered the job classifications and responsibilities, safety, organizing a warehouse and how to properly wrap out a set decoration warehouse at the end of production. It also offered hands on training in warehouse equipment, properly protecting set dressing for transport, practical light fixtures and recreating an established set for re-shoots or insert shots.

Attendees were taught Intro skills from wiring a lamp fixture to how to use a ratchet strap.

Attendee and 490 art dept, Jinny Jacobson commented that; “It was a great into and refresher. Fun opportunity to connect with old and new faces in the industry.”

Lead Man Brian Simpson teaches the craft of Set dressing, photo provided by Jinny Jacobson

The description of this position is as follows; the Set Dresser is responsible to the Set Decorator and Lead person. The Set Dresser assists in: the safe and efficient pick-up and return of all items and materials used as set decor; the carriage, movement, placement and preparation of all dressings within all studio and/or location sets; the maintenance, replacement and listing of inventory. The Set Dresser should be able to perform these tasks without direct supervision. The set dressers apply and remove the "dressing"; i.e., furniture, drapery, carpets, wall signs, vinyl decals—everything one would find in a location, (even doorknobs and wall sockets, when such items do not fall under the purview of construction.) Together the set dressers work on a “swing gang”. Most of the swing gang's work occurs before and after the shooting crew arrives, but one set dresser remains with the shooting crew and is known as the on-set dresser. Informally, in the U.S., the department is often referred to simply as “Set Dec”.

This workshop is funded by the Internationals Training trust fund. Local 490 will have other workshops in the future. Pls check our website and social media pages for the next event. If you would apply to become a member of Local 490, here is a link to the membership application page. Local 490 thanks members like brother Brian Simpson who are shining examples of the excellent crew base in Minnesota.