Scheduling, Planning, Production Design/Wardrobe/Props/Make-Up & Hair

Script Breakdown

• Analysis of screenplay where all production elements are made into lists in order to schedule and budget the production

• A director’s creative analysis of the dramatic action, reciprocal struggle, theme, and design elements of a screenplay.

Script Breakdown

• Mark the script in 1/8s– Most pages of a screenplay are eight inches, so each

inch is an 1/8, even if a page exceeds eight inches. – Each scene, per per slug line, is measured into 1/8s of

a page by its number of inches. – The number of 1/8s is marked in the top left corner

of the scene and circled. – If a scene lasts longer than eight 1/8s, it is converted

to 1. So, a scene lasting twelve 1/8s is marked 1 4/8.

Script Breakdown

• Note the elements– The assistant director marks the elements found in

each scene. – The producer will be able to see which scenes

need which elements, and can begin to schedule accordingly.

– Each actor is assigned a number.– The film industry has a standard for color-coding:

Script Breakdown

Production Design

• The design of a film should be finalized as soon as possible in pre-production.– Drive the narrative/plot.– Character driven. Tells backstory.– Visual and spatial elements that best convey the

film’s themes and emotions.– Research.– Organization/tracking.

Costume Design

• Art and Design.– Need to be flexible with schedule – last minute

casting.– One of the first departments to arrive and leave.

• Silhouette - the outer shape is clear and unique.

• Don’t follow trends. • Accent the positive of the talent.

Props

• Obtain and/or build all portable objects.– Need to be good with a variety of things.– Organize and track props from scene to scene.– History of things.

Hair/Make-up

• Two different departments– Often times, stars have their own stylists.– Need to have good kits.– Need to reimburse them for the kit.– Talent needs to be comfortable with them.– Need to be ready for all skin/hair types.– Be careful with too much make-up on men.