Preparation, Shooting and Assembly

Preparation: Pre-Production• Funding is more or less secure and script is solid enough for production,

filmmakers can prepare for physical production , this is called pre-production

• Director coordinates the staff to create the film. He/she is most responsible for final look and sound of the film.

• Producer and Director hire crew, cast roles and scout locations for filming

• Prepare daily schedule, all the while keeping an eye on the budget

• Producer assumes shots will be shot out of continuity –they want to shoot scenes that are at same location cuz it saves money from having to transport equipment

Pre-Production• Several things are happening at same time under supervision of producer and

director -ex: writer revises, casting director looks for actors• In large scale productions, there is a major division of labor. Director works closely

with heads of each department.• Production designer- in charge of visualizing the film’s settings. Unit creates

drawings and plans that determine architecture and color of the film.• Other roles- art director, set dresser, set decorator, costume designer.

Pre Production• Graphic artists creates a storyboard- a series of comic strip-like sketches of the

shots in each scene, including notations about costume lighting and camerawork

-not every scene is storyboarded, but action sequences and shots using special effects or complicated camera work tend to be storyboarded in detail

- cinematographers will know how things should look in the end

-previsualization- reworks the storyboards into 3-demensional animation, complete with moving figures, dialogue, sound effects, and music

Casino Royale (2006) Storyboards

The Shooting Phase: Principal Photography• The the director’s crew: script supervisior, 1st Asst. Director (AD), 2nd AD, 3rd AD,

dialogue coach, 2nd Unit director• Script supervisor: in charge of all continuity from shot to shot. It all has to make

sense (lighting, props, movement, etc.)• 1st A.D.: plans each shooting day with director. Sets up each shot for director’s

approval, while keeping track of actors, monitoring safety, etc.• 2nd A.D.: liason between 1st A.D., camera crew and electricians crew• 3rd AD: messenger for director and staff• Dialogue coach: feeds performers lines and speaks lines of offscreen characters

during shots of other performers• 2nd Unit Director: films stunts, location footage, action scenes, at a distance

where principal shooting is taking place

Shooting Phase: Principal Photography

• Most visibile is cast and supporting players, minor players, and extras

• One major job of director is to shape performances of the cast-explain how dialogue should be delivered and gestures rendered

• Photography unit: lead by cinematographer or Director of Photography (DP)

• he/she is an expert on photographic process, lighting and camera techniques.

-supervises the following: camera operator, key grip (equipment, props, and lighting), and gaffer (head electrician and light rigging)

Shooting Phase: Principal Photography• Sound Unit: headed by production recordist (sound mixer) • main job is to record dialogue; also captures ambient sounds• Boom operator: arranges boom mic, and conceals radio micorphones on actors• Third man: places other microphones, lays sound cables• Other units: visual effects, makeup, costuming, drivers, production accountants

Shooting Phase: Principal Photography• Director does many shots or takes• In order to keep track of all the shots, use a slate: which is written production,

scene, shot and take• Crews set up lighting and test sound, director reherses actors and directs

cinematographer. • Master shot: records entire action and dialogue of the scene• Then coverage is shot. Scene is restaged and shot in closer views or in different

angles. Could use multiple cameras.

Assembly Phase: Post-Production• Post-production: work behind the scenes throughout shooting• Editor: catalogues and assembles the takes. Works with the director to decide how

the footage can be best put together• Footage accumulates=rough cuts, without sound effects or music. Appocalypse

Now lasted 7 ½ hours!!!• Added later are CGI, sounds and music, etec.• Work of production does not end when film is released. (different versions)