From Script To Screen Part 1 Film Pre-Production

Very excited to bring you my 3 part series on how films are made. It’s called ‘From Script to Screen – A Guide To The Film-making Process’.

When your done reading it you will have  a very good idea how scripted television and film production works. 

If you haven’t read it yet I highly recommend you check out last weeks post all about screenplays. As pointed out in that post you need the screenplay before you even get to step 1 of creating the film.

So after the screenplay is set and ready to go, films can basically be broken down into three parts. Pre-Production, Production and Post Production.

In part one we will be discussing Pre-Production.

Overview of Pre-Production

“If I had nine hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend the first six sharpening my ax” -Abraham Lincoln

That is one of my favorite quotes and it perfectly applies to how you should think about the “Pre-Production” phase of film-making.

The primary purpose of pre-production is to design and plan every step of creating a film or TV show.

What’s Already Been Done Before Pre-Production Starts?

• The script has already been completed except for maybe some minor rewrites and polish.
• The film or TV series has already received the official green-light by the Studio, Network or Investors.

What Happens Next

• The production company is created and a production office is established.
• The production is story-boarded and visualized with the help of illustrators and concept artists.
• A production budget is drawn up to plan expenditures.
• For major productions, insurance is acquired to protect against accidents…and lawsuits!
• All the financial logistics are worked out. (how and when people are paid etc…)

Pre-Production Length

Since Pre-Production is the first of the three stages, it will set the pace for the rest of stages of production. The amount of time spent in pre-production varies based on the type of project.

Features:

• Low Budget/Independent Film: Typically 4-8 weeks.
• Big Budget / Studio Film: Can be anywhere from 2 months to a year or more, depending on complexity and scale of the production.

Scripted Television:

• This works in a constant cycle with one show in pre-production while another show is shooting.
• Pre-Production per Episode is about only about a 1-2 week process.

So What Actually Happens During Pre-Production?

To sum it up simply, all preparations need to be made for the shoot. Every step of creating and producing the film is carefully designed and meticulously planned in this phase of the project.

“The more effort that is put into the pre-production phase the easier and more successful the film will most likely be.”

Filmmaker Roles

Let’s take a look at some of the roles that are defined for film-making.

The Director

The Director is absolutely the most influential creative force of the film.

Here are some of the most important duties of the director during pre-production:

• Determines the style and visual look of film.
• Begins the Storyboarding and shotlisting (Lists shots for each scene in entire film and Works with Storyboard artist to draw and visualize shots).
• Meets with all the departments to discuss specifics of film as it relates to their department.
• Helps cast and rehearses with the Actors.

Casting

Selecting talent for the film or TV production ( The lead actors may have already been cast.) Sometimes a bigger film will get green-lighted based on casting a specific actor.

Production Budget

The production budget is formulated and approved. This determines how much money will be spent on the film. It is important that the estimations are as accurate as possible to avoid going over budget.

Crew Members

The crew members are selected and hired. The crew members are typically everyone who works on the film that is not the director, producer or cast.

Locations

The locations are scouted out and chosen. Producers are making decisions about location more and more based on the money and tax incentives they can receive from the state or country. See my post here about the best film locations for tax incentives.

Sets

The sets are designed and built.

Visual Effects

The visual effects are discussed and designed.

Stunts

The stunts are coordinated.

Camera or Make -up Tests

Tests Performed

Pre-Production Role and Responsibilities

Now lets look at some of the roles and responsibilities in pre production.

Producers

Here are the most common types of producers.

• Executive Producer (or “Show Runner” in TV)
• Producer
• Line Producer ( Commonly DGA Production Manager)
• Associate Producer

The producer is responsible from the start (conception) to the end (distribution) to deliver a high quality project that is well received, comes in under budget and makes a profit!

Director

The director is ultimately responsible for everything that goes on screen.

Responsibilities include:

• Directing Actors and getting the best performance
• Shotlisting and designing all visuals from camera

Production Manager

The production manager

• Manages the Production Budget and Production Schedule.
• Hires crew, arranges insurance, and makes deals with Unions.
• Reports on behalf of the production to the studio executives or financiers of the film on the progress of the film.

First Assistant Director

• Logistics of Film / TV Series
• Works closely with Director in all aspects of production, facilitating and communicating
• Schedules Film / TV series
• Runs the set
• Oversees Unions ad Guilds on the set DGA, SAG, AFTRA, IA, Etc.
• Oversees his team of 2nd AD, and Additional 2nd AD’s

Director of Photography

• Shoots the film (Either with an Operator or alone)
• Manages all the lighting in film
• Executes framing and camera movement
• Works with Director to compose shots

Production Designer

• Manages the design and décor of all sets stage/location
• Responsible for physical look and conception of film
• Collaborates with Director to achieve a unified, stylized look

Script Supervisor

• Times the script in pre-production
• Makes certain that continuity is correct from scene to scene during production
• Keeps comprehensive notes on set for all facets of continuity, dialogue, timings, etc.

Sound Mixer

Head of the sound department during the production stage of filmmaking

• Records and mixes the audio on set dialogue

Casting Director

• Finds actors to fill the parts in the script
• Sets up auditions for Director
• Possibly may make deals with talent

Costume Designer

• Designs, creates, purchases and rents wardrobe for actors in film

Location Scout

• Consults with Director to determine the look, feel, and style of individual locations
• Finds and secures locations
• Manages locations during principal photography

Editor

• Assembles film following the guidelines set by director
• Cuts film “up to camera” during shooting period
• Completes Editors Cut after film, then works with Director to finalize cut of film

Pre Production Shooting Schedule

Shot out of Order

Films are usually shot out of order due to budget, actor’s availability, locations, Special effects, shooting practicalities, etc. For example:

• Often actors are only available for certain dates, therefore their scenes need to be scheduled appropriately
• Scenes in individual locations need to be bunched together for budgeting and other practical reasons.  For example: If we return to a neighborhood park throughout a film, it would not make sense to return to the park every time it shows up in script to shoot in sequence
• Special Effects or Stunts may need to be scheduled to be shot at specific times.  Time of day (Day/Night)

The Shooting Schedule

The shooting schedule is the bible of production.  It organizes everything that is out of sequence when shooting.  Everybody in cast and crew gets one.

Daily Shooting Time

• Studio Feature Film Shoots from 1/2 – 4 pages in a given day.  Indie films can shoot substantially more
• TV Series shoots from 3-8 pages in given day

Production Stripboard

• Scheduling used to be hand-written on a large board with cardboard strips.  Most of the time it is now done on computer by a program like ” Movie Magic Scheduling and Budgeting” How does it work?
• Strips are set up on computer – one for each scene.  They contain info on: Scene Number / Scene Slug – Line / Day or Night / Interior or Exterior / One line Description of scene / Number of Pages to be shot / Actors in scene.  These strips are shifted and moved around to accommodate all scenes shot out of sequence.

Pre-Production Completion

Ideally, at the completion of Pre-production, the Production Team should have confirmed or have an excellent idea of:

• All Locations
• All Cast
• The film’s budget
• The film’s schedule ( amount and specific work to be done in a given day)
• Visual look of film
• All SFX required for film
• All Production Design exactly what will be on stage or location
• All Wardrobe
• All equipment and film / tape needed for film

So there you have it! This is most of what you need to know about the process of pre-production for film projects.

I hope you will join me next week for Part 2 where will go over the actual production phase.

From Script to Screen Series

First the Screen Play 

Part 1 – From Script to Screen: Pre-Production

Part 2 – From Script to Screen: Film Production 

Part 3 – From Script to Screen: Post Production

If you are working on a Documentary or Independent Film I always recommend you have agreements and contracts in place to PROTECT YOUR WORK!

Without the proper agreements in place no major player will ever take you seriously.

I have put together affordable individual and packaged agreements you can buy and download instantly.

Documentary and Independent Film Agreements

Reality TV agreements/Digital Production Agreements

Take care and see you next week!