2. Pre-Production (Research &
Planning)
This stage in film making is more office based, which involves a
team with the producer, director, assistants and administrative
staff. This is the first stage in a film's life and can take anything
from six months to two years and involves planning and
scheduling the shooting of a film. Shooting a film is extremely
expensive involving actors, technicians and equipment. It is at
the pre-production stage that decisions are made, and potential
problems are solved to ensure that the shooting schedule is
followed and runs as smoothly as possible.
3. Production (Filming):
Production is the actual shooting of the film where everyone is involved. The
numerous credits at the end of each film gives a good example of who works
on a film and their importance. The most expensive part of film making is
the production which is labour intensive, with equipment and travel being
part of the budget costs. Detailed planning in pre-production will help to
ensure that likely problems will have been addressed, making sure filming
schedule runs smoothly. To make sure the production stays within the
planned schedule, daily 'call/ schedule sheets' are produced and distributed
to all members of the cast and crew. These detail the shooting schedule for
the following day including scenes to be shot, the actors required, start
times, contact numbers etc.
4. Post–Production (Sound &
Film Editing):
This turns individual scenes, called raw footage, into a finished motion picture.
Editors splice all of the practical footage together into a comprehensible
storyline according to the script. Composers add background music to create
dramatic or comical effects. Special effects teams add computer-generated
images and backgrounds to enhance the set or provide an as-yet-unseen
character. During the shooting of most films, editing begins during production,
with the editor and the director discussing about the rushes and cautiously
putting together an uneven assembly. Recent developments in digital
technology are having a profound effect on the skills of the editor and the
process of editing. Computerised editing allows for greater flexibility, speed and
accuracy, and gives the editor the chance to try out a variety of sequences and
be creative by 'mixing' shots whilst doing away with the need for the traditional
'cut' of a film print.
