It’s an often misunderstood concept, but art direction can make or break your Florida video production or Florida film production. What exactly is art direction, you ask? Easy. Well, easily said, anyway. A film or video production’s art direction involves developing and meticulously maintaining the project’s look. Need to turn your girlfriend’s spotless apartment into a grungy frat house for a day-long indie film shoot? Have access to a bare office space that you transform into a bustling storefront for a TV commercial? Or are you looking to recreate a historic scene for a documentary project?

Talented art direction professionals can transform any space into a scene that perfectly communicates your vision for your Florida video production or Florida film production. Art direction for a film or video project involves designing, building and dressing sets including choosing furniture, wall and floor coverings, artwork, plants, dishes and a million other items that might appear in a believable scene. Wardrobe choices also are a determination of the art department or art direction professionals.

A Wikipedia entry describes the work of an art director or production designer as “in charge of the overall visual appearance and how it communicates visually, stimulates moods, contrasts features, and psychologically appeals to a target audience. The art director makes decisions about visual elements used, what artistic style to use, and when to use motion.”

Originally called “art directors,” these professionals have increasingly been called “production designers” since 1939, when famed film producer David O. Selznick decided that the term “art director” failed to lend due credit to William Cameron Menzies for his work on “Gone with the Wind” and created the “production designer” title.

In advertising, art direction takes a similar purpose in that it involves creating the most effective visual approach for your advertising, marketing and promotional materials including television commercials and print collateral. This involves creating and choosing just the right color, typeface, logo design, graphics and photographs that successfully relay your message to your target audience.

At DVA, our team of art direction professionals boasts decades of experience in all related aspects including set design, construction and dressing, props, costume design, etc. Our advertising art directors are experts in visual communication. No matter the message, DVA has the expertise and experience to create the perfect look for your Florida video production, Florida film production or advertising collateral. Contact us toll free at 888-340-1010.

Financial incentives for Florida video production and Florida film production can help slash your production budget if you know where to look for assistance. Cash rebates, tax advantages and exemptions, travel and lodging discounts and more are available to both Florida-based video production and film production companies as well as projects and companies coming to the Sunshine State from elsewhere.

Existing Florida video production and Florida film production incentives include:

• 15-22% cash rebate for films, TV commercials and music videos with qualified expenditures of $625,000 or more;
• 15-20% cash rebate for multiple commercials and music videos with $500,000 or more in combined qualified expenditures and with a minimum of $100,000 in qualified expenditures per production;
• 15-17% cash rebate for indie Florida feature films or documentaries 70 minutes or longer with qualified expenditures of $100,000 up to $625,000;
• 10% cash rebate for interactive entertainment projects with qualified expenditures of $300,000 or more;
• Various sales and use tax exemptions on Florida film production and television production equipment and real property;
• Discounts on hotel and resort stays, truck rentals, location fees and other items offered through the Florida Discounts & Deals program.

At Digital Video Arts, we keep up to date on all of the Florida video production and Florida film production incentives offered to both in-state projects and to producers of projects coming to Florida from out-of-state. Currently, state legislation sets aside $10.8 million in annual incentives for Florida video production and Florida film production projects, but industry lobbyists are continually working to land higher amounts.

To see if your Florida video production or Florida film production project qualifies for any of these incentives, visit the Film in Florida website, operated by the Governor’s Office of Film & Entertainment. Then, call DVA. We are a full-service Florida video production and film production company that takes the “concept to completion” tagline to a whole new level, offering all the core pre-production, production and post-production video and film services, plus related extras including logo and brand image design, print advertisements and collateral, and Internet and interactive experiences.

There are lots of great reasons to plan your next video or film project in Florida. Jacksonville-based and familiar with all things Florida when it comes to video and film production, DVA can help you take advantage of all of them. Browse our website for a look at our capabilities, then call toll free: 888-340-1010.