FILM PRE-PRODUCTION

Pre-ProductionFilm pre-production is regarded by may as the most vital step in the production process. During pre-production the time spent and cost are aspects that must be carefully planned and saved wherever possible.

The quality of the script is as important as the quality of the director, cast and crew and even the budget. Without an effective script the audience is unable to connect with the film and understand the message the film is attempting to communicate.

The producer is tasked with creating the best possible production team for the specific type of movie within the budget he s given. The director is needed for creating the script into a visual form of art, he has the creative control and responsibility for assembling the film itself, being the unifying intelligence behind it.

Pre-Production Steps1. Make a production schedule

• Schedule chronologically to keep story flow• Schedule difficult scenes earlier• Be realistic about the scheduling and take editing into consideration

2. Personnel required for specific tasks

• Production Accountant• Production Manager• Unit and Location Managers

3. Be more specific on visual direction of film

As the production of the film progresses, the director must continuously develop more clear ideas about the visual aspects of the film and how they will be applied such as lighting, color palette, tone and mood and their significance to develop the film and convey its message.

•Location Scout•Transport Manager•Production Runners and Assistants

4. Find and secure locations•Once you have discovered an optimal shooting location, bring the still camera•Complete a necessary amount of research about the location, through either the internet, local archives or by asking the locals. Attempt to find information about size, lighting a weather, local places that could be of use and the history.

5. Casting• It is crucial to remember that good casting is essential to the films success,

as bad casting can create a rift between the audience and film itself. An amateur director can always hire talented friends or put up posters and scout the local theatres.

• Make sure to get information about the candidates such as their personal information, past experiences and recommendations.

• After the first reading, give the actor directions to verify their acting abilities and flexibility

6. Production design• What is the theme of the film?• How is the mood progression portrayed?• What type of props are appropriate with the film and how to place them on

the set?• For each sequence what type of location should be used?

7. Prepare the costumes, props and set dressing

8. Make a Floor-plan/lighting plot for each location• This is done is order to help select the appropriate types of shots used for

each scene.

9. Break down your shooting script• This is done through numbering the scenes in the script, the decide through

which camera to shoot it or in my case which angle as I will only be using 1 main camera due to choosing the mockumentary genre)

• Its important to give each scene a short description, and to leave some space to prevent actions from overlapping and also to allow some improvisation

• This can be practiced from by analyzing a creating a floor-plan for iconic movie scenes

10. Make a storyboard

11. Make a realistic shooting schedule.

Directors Role• During the production of a film, the director is the creative leader and mentor,

not only to the actors or crew, but also to the story.

• Because of all the work that goes into his job, a film director gets most of credit for his finished piece of work. This is largely because he is involved in all aspects of the film's development and oversees their progress and direction. He helps the screenwriter visualize the script, with his own interpretation of it being the final product. He also guides the actors and crew into the direction of his creative vision.

• Because of the amount of influence a director has, the selection of the director is one of the most important decisions a film's producer must make in the early stages of film development.

• Not only is the director heavily involved in the production phase of a film, he is also influential in post-production. The director will work with the film's editor to make sure that the final product of editing results in a cohesive story that adheres to his creative vision. He may also work directly with the sound mixers and film score in order to make sure it harmonizes with his film.