ART DIRECTOR: Chris Gorak
FILM: Fight Club

Scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOla1J-HcqU

An Art Directorworks directly below the production designer, in collaboration with the Set Decorator. A large part of their duties include the administrative aspects of the art department. They are responsible for assigning tasks to personnel. Keeping track of the art department budget and scheduling, as well as overall quality control. 

As the art director I had the role of executing some tasks assigned by the production designer and the director. In this scene in particular every detail was important. There is an overall dim green/washed out color to the basement the scene takes place in, immediately this serves to set a mood that the rest of the movie upholds, something akin to grit or realistic. We used some initial quick shots to establish this mood with little details of the room rather than a wide shot. Edward and Brad are placed on opposing sides of a counter demonstrating a divide between them that still exists within this point in the movie. During this scene the divide is bridged and Tyler is accepted by our unnamed protagonist.  The portion where the chemical is burning Edwards hand is particularly intense. We decided to add little escapes into his mind to allow for relief from the pain, however these escapes only last for long enough for you to have your discomfort furthered. The colors he sees in his imagination are relaxing and offer a deep contrast between the current situation and his meditation, but quickly we shift to thoughts that further his pain, such as fire and the dictionary page of the word sear. The power balance is also shifted throughout the scene depicted through both camera use and characters positions. The scene ends with Tyler looking down on the defeated main character knowing that he had accepted him.