• Try “portfolio”, “ink”, “branding” or a code like “PRS 101”.

FEA 301Film and Entertainment Arts

Production Portfolio Development

Build a production-focused portfolio and resume for art department roles, including how to present work you can't show yet.

Planned

About this course

Art departments hire for speed, accuracy, range and reliability, and they review portfolios differently from agencies. This course helps you build a production portfolio: choosing work that shows research, period range, print production and problem-solving; creating self-initiated set graphics projects when you lack credits; handling confidentiality and unreleased work responsibly; and presenting a production resume, references and availability. It draws on the founder's art-department experience, with no productions named.

Who it’s for: Designers and illustrators preparing to apply for art department graphics roles, and production crew moving into graphics. Graphic Props and Set Graphics is required.

You will be able to

  • Select and sequence portfolio work that demonstrates production-relevant skills
  • Create a self-initiated set graphics project clearly labelled as such
  • Present confidential or unreleased work responsibly, including on-request portfolios
  • Write a production-style resume and an introduction to an art department

Prerequisites

Studio project

A production-focused portfolio section with a labelled self-initiated set graphics project, a production resume and an introduction message to an art department.

To complete this course

  • Complete every required lesson.
  • Have the assignment “Production portfolio section and resume” accepted by an instructor.
  • Records of completion are issued only for courses whose content has passed instructor review.

Part of

Syllabus

Working titles: they may change as the course is written.

  1. Module 1: What art departments look for

    Speed, accuracy and range.

    1. 1.1How production reviewers lookReading · 25 min
    2. 1.2Auditing your work for productionExercise · 35 min

  2. Module 2: Filling the gaps

    Spec projects and transferable work.

    1. 2.1Self-initiated set graphicsStudio · 60 min
    2. 2.2Presenting transferable workReading · 20 min

  3. Module 3: Confidentiality

    What you can show, and when.

    1. 3.1Unreleased workReading · 25 min
    2. 3.2On-request portfoliosExercise · 30 min

  4. Module 4: Getting hired

    Resume, introductions and availability.

    1. 4.1The production resumeExercise · 35 min
    2. 4.2Introductions and referencesReading · 25 min
    3. 4.3Day-one readinessReading · 20 min

Author: Ricketts University curriculum team (draft for founder review) · Not yet reviewed

Related courses

  1. FEA 101

    Introduction to Film Art Departments

    How a film or television art department is organised, who does what, how work flows from script to set, and where graphic designers fit.Film and Entertainment Arts    Foundation8 lessons · ~6 hPlanned
  2. FEA 210

    Graphic Props and Set Graphics

    Design in-world graphics that read on camera: signage, labels, documents, packaging and screens, from brief to print-ready files and set dressing.Film and Entertainment Arts    Intermediate12 lessons · ~16 hIn development
  3. PRS 310

    Creative Career Planning

    Turn scattered goals into a three-year creative career plan with an income mix, skills to build, milestones and a quarterly review habit.Professional Identity and Online Presence    Advanced10 lessons · ~10 hPlanned
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