Claudia Parker has worked as a set decorator for over 20 years working on commercials, TV dramas and now on feature films. Her impressive resume includes Stan & Ollie, Fantastic Beasts and Game of Thrones.

She says ‘I have always been fascinated by the way things look and the stories they tell. I love what I do because it gives me a chance to express the background of the characters in the film by focusing on every detail that is seen through the camera lens‘.

Claudia learnt about the job through assisting well-established set decorators or stylists as they are called on tv commercials.

‘It was a good training ground as, on commercial the crew is smaller so you cover several jobs which include; making that crucial choice of what to hire or buy for the dressing, making sure the supplier has a purchase order, making sure they get paid, keeping track of the budget, organising the transport, dressing the set and finally dealing with the returns.. It was a great way to learn what goes into a great looking set.

My love of set decorating stems from a real understanding that if you get it right then nobody notices, but if you get it wrong the props command the viewer’s attention and rather than enhance the film they are a distraction.

A tip for anyone who wants to pursue a career in Set Decoration is make a habit of noticing all the details in people’s houses which gives you clues as to who they are and what their backstory is. For example, what books are on the shelves, what china do they use, what style is their furniture, is it from England or another country and so on.

If you go to a gallery, you can do a similar thing when you look at paintings, take note of what is under the sitter’s feet, is he sitting in a chair If so what style is it, what can you see in the background and so on. The dressing is the wallpaper to the character in the film which needs to give the viewer a greater understanding of that person. It should never steal the lime light.’

Claudia has put together her 4 day masterclass to cover all the practical, professional and commercial aspects of being a set decorator. The course is perfect for people looking to pursue a career as a set decorator or stylist or for those looking to move into film from a more traditional design or film background.

‘I really enjoy being able to share my knowledge in an informal, professional environment knowing that the masterclass will provide all of our students with an essential toolkit to help them pursue their career.’