1. Pre-Production Evaluation
The firstthingI didwas complete myinitial ideas.Icreatedaspiderdiagraminorderto visuallyplan
out whatI was thinkingintermsof whattype of filmI wasgoingto create.I createda different
diagramfor eachstage of the planning,forexample,Imade one diagramto figure outwhichgenre
of filmIwasgoingto create and thena separate diagramtofigure outthe title of my film, etc.This
helpedme withthe progressof pre-productionasIcouldconsiderwhichcodes andconventionsI
wouldneedtouse inmy film.
The nextthingI didwas createdmyproposal.Icreateda proposal tohelpme produce a plotfor my
film,howIwill filmeachactand howtheyshouldlookandalsowhat eachof the characters inmy
filmshouldbe doing.The proposal of afilmisimportantbecause itgivesyouabetterunderstanding
of whatisgoingto be inthe film anda synopsisof the charactersand scenes.A filmproposal isvital
as they’re usedtoattract a cast and crew to helpyoumake yourfilm.
Next,Icreatedmy script.Thisisobviouslyusedtoshow the actorswhat theirdialogue foreach
scene isand where theyshouldbe ateachpart of the film.The scriptwas importantbecause itgave
the actors, as well asmyself,animmediate acknowledgementof whatthey’re goingtosayand when
they’re goingtosay it.Thismade it veryeasywhenitcame to filmingaseverybodyknewwhatthey
were tosay.
I thencreatedmy storyboards.Idrewouthow eachscene shouldlookinorderto getan
understandingof whichcameraangle Ishoulduse foreachshot.The storyboardisa veryimportant
part of the pre-productionprocessbecause itclearlyconveyshow the storywill flowandthe type of
shotsyou will use aswell ashowtheywouldflow.Italsosayswhatwill be happeningineachshotso
the filmmaker,myself,knowswhattodo.
Next,Icreatedmy resource list,thiswastodocumentwhichresourcesIwouldneedinorderto
create my film,forexample,acameraand props.I alsodocumentedonthissheetwhere Icouldfind
each piece of equipment,orwhetherIcouldbuyor rent it.A resource listisimportantasit allows
the filmmakertogetan approximate budgetthattheyneedtobuy/rentthe equipment.Italsotells
the filmmakerwhetherthey alreadyhave the itemorwhethertheyneedtobuythe itemsothat he
knowsbefore the dayof filmingwhetherhe needstogooutand buyanything.
The nextthingI didwas create my personnel list.Thiswasalistof all the membersof mycast and
crewas well astheircontactdetails.Thiswaseffective asIcouldeasilycontactwhoeverIneededto
wheneverIneededtoinorderto tell themwhentofilm, aswell asthis,if a memberof mycast and
crewneededtocontact me or anothermemberof the cast and crew,theyeach hada copyof the
personnel listsotheywere able todoso.
The nextthingI didwas mylocationscouting.ForthisI filledinsome sheetstoshow where Iwanted
to filmeachof my scenes,whatthe addressof eachlocationis,and what days I needtofilmatthat
location. Locationscoutingsheetsare importantbecause itallowsyoutoknow whenyoucan use a
certainlocationtofilmandhow longyoucan use it for.This makesitimportantas itallowsthe
filmmakertobe preparedandhelpshimcreate ashootingschedule.
Next,Ifilledinmyriskassessmentforms.These formshelpedme identifyall of the healthandsafety
riskswhichcouldharm cast or crewmembersandwhichactionI neededtotake to reduce thatrisk.
Riskassessments are vital sothatthe you can identifyanyrisksthatthe cast or crew mightface ina
specificlocationwhile filming.Withoutriskassessmentsthe actorscouldgetinjuredthereforearisk
assessmentisalwaysneeded.
2. Next,Icompletedmybudgetplanning.Icalculatedhow muchitwasgoingto cost for the resources,
etc.Budgetsare importantasit tellsthe filmmakerhow muchmoneyhe needstomake the film.
Withouta budgetthe filmmakerwouldn'thave anideahow muchhe needsandtherefore mightnot
getthe amountof moneyhe needs.
For my permissions,Ihadto getpermissionforall locationsIwantedtofilminandI hadto get a
signature fromthe landownerinorderto be able tofilmthere. Locationreleaseformsare
importantsoyou can getpermissiontofilmincertainplaceswithoutgettingintotrouble.If youdo
not getpermissiontofilmsomewhere butdoitanywayyoucouldbe suedor arrestedetc
The nextthingI didwas mycontributionreleaseforms.Imade sure thatall of the cast and crew
signedthese formstosaythey’re goingtocontribute tothe creationof my film.Thiswaseffectiveas
it allowedme todocumentwhowouldbe involvedinmyfilm.
FollowingthisIthendidmyshootingschedule.TodothisI createdan excel documenttoshow
whichdaysI wouldbe filmingandapproximatelyhow longeachscene wouldtake. Shooting
schedulesare importantsothatyouare organizedandeveryone knowswhentheyare neededto
film.Withoutshootingschedules,people mayturnupto filmat differenttimesandtherefore no
filmingwouldbe completed.
Finally,Icompletedmyminutesof meetings.Todothis I gatheredmycast andcrew togetherto
discussthe filmandwhateach personwouldbe doing. Havingthese meetingswere importantso
that yourcast andcrew are briefedonwhattheyneedtodoand when.
