The 12 Stages of Film Production

By Rory Giddings

THE IDEA:

• Filmmaking is a very difficult and diverse business, and the amount of work that goes into filming just one scene is absolutely incredible. Each film takes sometimes years to make and almost always involves a huge amount of people. The production unit, soundtrack, the financing unit, lighting, the script, costumes, editing, the list just goes on and on. Movie making can be a somewhat near-impossible process, but if the right amount of effort and work is put into it, it comes off absolutely fantastic. The idea for films is all around us. We get inspiration from newspapers, magazines and previous films that have been made. Sometimes just a conversation can enlighten you with a completely unique idea. The next step is the producer, if you have an idea that a film producer likes it’s up to him/her to commission the film. Now you must find the person who can direct the film. Once you find a director, they will be able to bring your vision to life. You need a script to put the words to the idea which means finding a script writer. Once assigned, the writer will then write a treatment, a one page summary of the main story and characters. And finally, we come to the pitch. The pitch contains all the information that the producer needs to sell the idea to the financiers to commission the script. The idea is what brings the film to life, no matter how big or how small. There are many different sources of inspiration that surround us. Books, plays, films, newspapers, photos, art, etc. Sometimes books can inspire and bring to life very successful films, such as, The Great Gatsby, Romeo and Juliet, The Godfather, The Hobbit, Harry Potter, etc.

DEVELOPMENT FINANCE

• Firstly, the producer uses the treatment and pitch, plus his/her talent of persuasion. This is to provide money in order to develop the script. Then, the producer needs to approach a film production company for development money. The producer can then offer the future sales and broadcast rights to the film in return for the money to develop the script. However, the producer can also turn to a public funding body such as the British Film Industry/UK Film Council for a development grant. The producer is also able to turn to private investors to see if they are able to support the project in some way. Once you have secured one of these people, you have the backing to fund the script and of course the film itself.

THE SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT

• First, the writer produces a synopsis then he or she and the producer agree (or disagree) on the key scenes and events in the film. However, the writer should aim to create a step outline to plan the script. Moving on, comes what is usually the hardest part of a writers difficult job, the dreaded first draft. You must remember that the script is not just dialogue, it is actions/directives too. Once the writer and the producer are pleased, then the draft is sent on it’s way to the financiers who will then make their own personal changes and touches. Once everybody is happy with the script, it is secured off and then becomes the final draft. Then the writer, as he should, gets paid. The final stage of the script development is the creation of a sales treatment.

PACKAGING:

• The producer and the director must now package the script into a full commercial proposition, ready for financing. One common way to make the project more commercial is by including well-known celebrities/movie stars to the script. By doing this, it attracts people to pay attention to the film as it would feature some of their favourite/good actors. Respected, commercially successful head of department carry considerable clout with knowledgeable financiers. To turn the movie into a serious business proposition, the producer must know how much it will realistically cost to make. Potential investors will want to know how the producer plans to raise the money and how she/he plans to pay them back. Once this whole process is complete, the producer needs to package the film into a viable commercial proposition.

FINANCING:

• The financiers could be absolutely anywhere, to secure the investment he/she needs to actually make the film. The producer must travel all over the place. Private individuals, production companies and also public bodies all invest in films. The producers lawyer draws up contracts to secure the deals. The producer can also raise money from pre-sales selling the rights to the film before it had actually been made. As a matter of fact, departments of banks that specialise in film finance, they invest in commercial projects, and also offer loans. But most financiers that a completion bond is in place before they agree to invest. This is actually insurance for the production. Once all of the essential funding and insurance is eventually secured, the film gets the signal to begin!

PRE - PRODUCTION

• Once all the heads of various departments are hired the shooting script is circulated and then the pre-production stage finally begins. Next, the casting director begins the expansive task of finding and casting the actors who will appear in the film. Easier said than done! Now, storyboards are needed. Storyboards are the blueprint for the film where every shot is planned in advance by the storyboard artist, director and director of photography. The production designer is the one who has to plan every single different aspect of how the film will look. They hire people to help design and build each set. To be paired with the sets you need some special effects to be included. Effect shots are planned in much more detail than normal shots. This tiring process can take weeks and even months to design and build. Finally, it comes down to the production unit, the line producer and the production manager to make up the key areas of the production.

THE SHOOT:

• Eventually, you’re ready to start filming. It’s the first day of principal photography, and this is the key moment in your film production, shooting begins, funding is released and the crew can begin doing what they are there to do. The camera department is responsible for compiling all the clips/footage together and giving it to the director and editor to make there own personal tweaks and changes to the film. The director says how he would like it edited and then the editors will go to work. Furthermore, the lighting and sound team along with hair and makeup, the director will then decide after he gets the lighting that he wants for the shot. It is glaringly obvious that the acting must definitely compliment all the other masses of work that is occurring, the acting is the main feature to the film. Now, the special effects team are called in to help keep the film fresh and updated. You might need stunt men and other features to help keep any possible action scenes safe. However, this can’t take too long as they mall start to fall behind schedule and the insurers may need to step in.

POST - PRODUCTION

• Now, as the processed/analysed footage comes through, the editor will need to assemble it into certain scenes and create a narrative sequence for the film. (Unless it is a silent film.) Once the picture is locked, the sound department works on the audio files track, thus creating and editing every individual sound for the film. After this, the film can be released!