Posted by
Arman Khan
on
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
Film Production or Filmmaking (in an academic context) is the process of making a film, generally in the sense of films intended for extensive theatrical exhibition. Filmmaking involves a number of complex and discrete stages including an initial story, idea, or commission, through screenwriting, casting, shooting, sound recording and pre-production, editing, and screening the finished product before an audience that may result in a film release and an exhibition. Filmmaking takes place in many places around the world in a range of economic, social, and political contexts, and using a variety of technologies and cinematic techniques.
Film Production involves a lot of things to deliver it's final product. To make it simple there are 7 stages of film production. All of the stage require a lot of planning and hardwork to achieve great output. Each and every stage should be well planned and well executed.
The 7 stages of Film Production
After watching a great movie, not many people sit back and think about what it took to make this film and all the effort that goes into the making of the film. They might only look at the budget of the film or how much the actors were paid. Noboby will actually know what it takes to produce a film unless they go through it themselves.
So for those who are curious to know what it takes to make a film here are the seven stages of Film Production:
- Development
- Pre-Production
- Production
- Principal Photography
- Wrap
- Post-Production
- Distribution
1 Development
Development, the first stage of Film Production. This phase is the start of the project. The start of a project always varies, but generally will begin with development of a script, be that an existing script, a book, a brief story outline. Development may also start with a Director and/or Writer pitching an idea to a Producer.
In this stage, the producer will select a story which may come from script, a book, fairy tail, game or an original idea, etc. After this the producer(s) work with writer to prepare a synopsis. Next, they produce a step outline, which breaks the story down into one-paragraph scenes that concentrate on dramatic structure. Then, they prepare a treatment, a 25-to-30-page description of the story, its mood, and characters. This usually has little dialogue and stage direction, but often contains drawings that help visualize key points. Another way is to produce a scripment once a synopsis is produced.
After that a screenwiter will write a screenplay for several months and he may rewrite it several times to improve characters, structure, dramatiztion, etc. However, producers often skip the previous steps and develop submitted screenplays which investors, studios, and other interested parties assess through a process called script coverage.
2. Pre-Production
Pre-Production, the second stage of a Film Production. This is the phase where you would narrow down the options of the production. It is where all the planning takes place before the camera rolls and sets the overall vision of the project. Pre-production also includes working out the shoot location and casting. The Producer will now hire a Line Manager or Production Manager to create the schedule and budget for the film.
In this stage the hiring of the crew takes place. Here are some typical crew postions:
Storyboard Artist:
Creates visual images to help the director and production designer communicate their ideas to the production team.
Director:
Primarily responsible for the storytelling, creative decisions and acting of the film.
Assistant Director (AD) :
Manages the shooting schedule and logistics of the production, among other tasks. There are several types of AD, each with different responsibilities.
Film Producer:
Hire's the film's crew.
Unit Production Manager:
Manages the production budget and production schedule. They also report, on behalf of the production office, to the studio executives or financiers of the film.
Location Manager:
finds and manages film locations. Nearly all pictures feature segments that are shot in the controllable environment of a studio sound stage, while outdoor sequences call for filming on location.
Production Designers:
The one who creates the visual conception of the film, working with the art director, who manages the art department, which makes production sets.
Costume Designer:
Creates the clothing for the characters in the film working closely with the actors, as well as other departments.
Makeup and hair designer:
Works closely with the costume designer in order to create a certain look for a character.
Casting director:
Finds actors to fill the parts in the script. This normally requires that actors part-take in an audition, either live in front of the casting director or in front of a camera, or multiple cameras.
Choreographer:
Creates and coordinates the movement and dance – typically for musicals. Some films also credit a fight choreographer.
Director of Photography (DOP) / Cinematographer:
The head of the photography of the entire film, supervises all Cinematographers and Camera Operators.
Production sound mixer:
The head of the sound department during the production stage of filmmaking. They record and mix the audio on set – dialogue, presence and sound effects in mono and ambience in stereo. They work with the boom operator, Director, DA, DP, and First AD.
Sound designer:
Creates the aural conception of the film, working with the supervising sound editor. On Bollywood-style Indian productions the sound designer plays the role of a director of audiography.
Composer:
Creates new music for the film. (usually not until post-production)
3 Production
Production, the third stage of Film Production. During this phase it is key to keep planning ahead of the daily shoot. The primary aim is to stick to the budget and schedule, this requires constant vigilance. Communication is key between location, set, office, production company, distributors - in short, all parties involved.
A typical day shooting begins with the crew arriving on the set/location by their call time. Actors usually have their own separate call times. Since set construction, dressing and lighting can take many hours or even days, they are often set up in advance.
The grip, electric and production design crews are typically a step ahead of the camera and sound departments: for efficiency's sake, while a scene is being filmed, they are already preparing the next one. While the crew prepares their equipment, the actors do their costumes and attend the hair and make-up departments. The actors rehearse the script and blocking with the director, and the camera and sound crews rehearse with them and make final tweaks. Finally, the action is shot in as many takes as the director wishes. Most American productions follow a specific procedure:
The assistant director (AD) calls "picture is up!" to inform everyone that a take is about to be recorded, and then "quiet, everyone!" Once everyone is ready to shoot, the AD calls "roll sound" (if the take involves sound), and the production sound mixer will start their equipment, record a verbal slate of the take's information, and announce "sound speed", or just "speed", when they are ready. The AD follows with "roll camera", answered by "speed!" by the camera operator once the camera is recording. The clapper, who is already in front of the camera with the clapperboard, calls "marker!" and slaps it shut. If the take involves extras or background action, the AD will cue them ("action background!"), and last is the director, telling the actors "action!". The AD may echo "action" louder on large sets.
A take is over when the director calls "Cut!" and the camera and sound stop recording. The script supervisor will note any continuity issues, and the sound and camera teams log technical notes for the take on their respective report sheets. If the director decides additional takes are required, the whole process repeats. Once satisfied, the crew moves on to the next camera angle or "setup," until the whole scene is "covered." When shooting is finished for the scene, the assistant director declares a "wrap" or "moving on," and the crew will "strike," or dismantle, the set for that scene.
At the end of the day, the director approves the next day's shooting schedule and a daily progress report is sent to the production office.
4 Principal Photography
Principal photography or photography, is the fourth stage in Film Production. This is when the camera rolls. It is nearly always the most expensive phase of film production, due to actor, director, and set crew salaries, as well as the costs of certain shots, props, and on-set special effects. Everything that has happened up to this point is to make principal photography go as smoothly and efficiently as possible. Communication between all parties is crucial during the shoot and the production must maintain a full set of records and strive to remain on time and on budget.
5 Wrap
Wrap, the fifth stage of Film Production. The period immediately after shooting ends. It is when we strike (dismantle) the set and clear the location. Everything must be returned in good order to suppliers and there must be a full set of records of the shoot.
6 Post-Production
Post-Production, the sixth stage of Film Production. This stage starts when principal Film Production ends, but they may overlap. The bulk of post-production consists of reviewing the footage and assembling the movie and taking it to the next step that is editing. Here the video/film is assembled by the film editor. The shot film material is edited. The production sound (dialogue) is also edited; music tracks and songs are composed and recorded if a film is sought to have a score; sound effects are designed and recorded. Any computer-graphic visual effects are digitally added by an artist. Finally, all sound elements are mixed into "stems", which are then married to picture, and the film is fully completed ("locked").
7 Distribution
Distribution is seventh and the final stage of the Film Production process. The film must be distributed for the producers to make their money back. It is the work of these producers to strike a lucrative deal for distribution amongst the cinemas and other platforms such as Amazon Prime, Netflix, HBO etc. It is also important to secure the correct deals because they will determine the film’s reach and rake in the right amount of money to ensure the return on investment.
Film distributors usually release a film with a launch party, a red-carpet premiere, press releases, interviews with the press, press preview screenings, and film festivals screenings. Most films are also promoted with their own special website separate from those of the production company or distributor. For major films, key personnel are often contractually required to participate in promotional tours in which they appear at premieres and festivals and sit for interviews with many TV, print, and online journalists. The largest productions may require more than one promotional tour, in order to rejuvenate audience demand at each release window.
This is it for this post. I hope you got what you were looking for. Thank you for giving your precious time. If you like what you see please share and comment. You can suggest me what should I post next in the comment section. Once again Thank You.
Comments
Post a Comment