stage 3 production management planning and production

1. Stage 3
Production Management
Short Film
Planning and Production
Elliot Miller

2. Section 1
Visual Planning

3. Structural breakdown
• Breakdown your film into it’s basic sections [e.g. via scene
breakdown or similar] and apply broad visual ideas to each section.
You should list the shots required
• You can use this as the master template for your production, then
add more shots to each section when you develop your full visual
plan
• There is a template for this so you can break down the film into
scenes and then the scenes into shots.
• From this you could work on a conventional script if you want, but
using the scene breakdowns should be enough

4. Structural breakdown
• Scene 1 – morning wake up day 1
This beginning sequence will set the scene of our main characters normal morning routine. Done in the style of a Guy Ritchie cutting montage I will present a number of aspects
involved in a classic morning routine edited together in short fast cut segments, alarm clock off, shower on, buttering toast, pouring glass of juice, grabbing keys (next to phone as he
hesitates to pick up phone but chooses not too, setting up the character he is in this narrative) and finally door closing each shot will be a close up of the item of aspect involved in the
morning routine.
Scene 2 – at the bus stop
establishing shot used to set the scene of the bus stop, presenting main character along side 2 extras on their phones, our main character however isn’t, cut to close up of characters
face blankly looking at either person sat next to him, cut to POV of him looking at each persons phones (giving the audiences a stronger incline to message being presented and the
world this character lives in). Cuts back to establishing shot, car comes across scene as it transitions back to his alarm clock for next scene.
Scene 3 – day 2 wake up
Alarm clock rings, main character quickly shuts it off and cuts to tracking shot behind as he walks to bus stop, cuts to mid shot showing woman walking towards him with shopping. Cut
to side on mid shot as she trips and drops shopping in front of main character. People walk by only paying attention to their phones as main character gets down to help. (adds to
likable status of main character).
Scene 4 – day 2 bus stop
Establishing shot of bus stop, main character walks into frame, cuts to over the shoulder moves to low shot of same faces at bus stop on their phones again as main character sits in the
middle and huffs in disappointment. Over the main characters shoulder again we see a girl across the road, attention is drawn to her in a long lasting cut, low angle while she walks over
to him (empowering status) sits next to him yet he realizes she too is on her phone, again he sighs. Cuts to long shot of bus stop as car drives past to block view, transitions to next shot.
Scene 5 – day 3 wake up/bus stop
Alarm clock rings, hand slaps it off. Cuts straight to bus stop long shot. Girl 1 walks into shot and sits next to him, cuts to close up of main character looking towards her, cuts to close up
of her name badge, cuts back to his face again, happiness is shown.
Scene 6 – day 3 home
Cuts again to back at his house mid shot of him sat on his bed on his phone. Over the shoulder showing his phone screen, Instagram, his profile , hardly any followers. He then types the
girls name in and finds her profile and messages her, cuts back to mid shot as main character looks gleeful, shot zooms out and pans upward to show clock on the wall, three hours pass
as the shot moves back down to show close up of phone as character picks it up. Over shoulder shot of mains phone, shows he was read and ignored, cuts to close up of face in anger,
cut to mid shot as character throws his phone at the wall in anger.
Scene 7 – day 4 bus stop
mid shot of the bus stop, main character walks into shot again and sits down, same two people next to him on theirs phones once again. Low close up Main character sighs he looks up
across the road, cuts to shot across the road from his point of view, he sees a number of people walking on their phones, blank coloured clothing, then a girl in bright colours walks by,
she isn't on her phone, cuts back to close up of main character, face lights up, he sees her walk by and continues his day with a smile on his face.
Scene 8 – day 5 bus stop
Alarm clock rings, is turned off gently. mid shot again at the bus stop, main character walks in, girl on her phone is already there, he sits next to her. Close up of Felix looking at her, pov
of his view, cuts to mid shot of them both, Felix leans in and says “hi…. My names Felix”. Cuts to close up as she looks up blankly, cuts back to mid close up of them both, she shows a
face of confusion, says ‘sorry, do i know you?”, close up to felix, lost for words ‘ahh ahh’. Cuts back to girl mid close up, she puts her headphones in and walks away, cuts back to felix as
sound of bus comes and leaves. mid long shot of felix alone at the bus stop, head in his hands. Close up side angle of his head in hands, girls voice is heard, “hey, are you okay?”, cuts
back to mid shot showing the girl in the bright colours, he looks up in shock, surpirsed by the moment of communication he doesnt know what to say and stutters nonsense, cuts to
close up of her as she laughs, cuts back mid of them both, they both laugh. He introduces himself, so does she. The camera slowly starts to zoom futher away while a sound track is
played over the ambient sound and their dialogue. They are shown laughing and conversing. The camera gets further and away until black screen.... “LOOK UP” is displayed in big white

5. Storyboarding
• Your storyboard should bring your idea to life
• Provide an idea of the sequencing of you film
• Provides a basis for production
• Suggested online storyboard creators are:
• https://www.storyboardthat.com
• http://www.pixton.com [very complicated]
• http://www.storyjumper.com [allows you to insert your own images]
• Alternatively, hand draw or photograph your storyboard and scan or
copy to insert it onto your slides
• There are lots of tips collected together on Blackboard!

6. Scene 1 – morning wake up day 1
This beginning sequence will set the scene of our main characters normal morning routine. Done in the style of a Guy Ritchie cutting montage I
will present a number of aspects involved in a classic morning routine edited together in short fast cut segments.
alarm clock off shower on buttering toast
pouring glass of juice
grabbing keys (next to phone as he
hesitates to pick up phone but chooses not
too, setting up the character he is in this
narrative)
finally door closing

7. Scene 2 – at the bus stop
establishing long shot used to set the scene of
the bus stop, presenting main character along
side 2 extras on their phones, our main
character however isn’t.
cut to close up of characters face blankly
looking at either person sat next to him, cut
to POV of him looking at each persons
phones (giving the audiences a stronger
incline to message being presented and the
world this character lives in)
Cuts back to establishing shot, bus
comes across screen as it
transitions back to his alarm clock
for next scene.
Scene 3 – day 2 wake up
close up, Alarm clock rings, main
character quickly shuts it off.
cuts to tracking shot behind as he
walks to bus stop.
cuts to mid shot showing woman
walking towards him with shopping.

8. Cut to side on mid shot as she trips
and drops shopping in front of main
character
People walk by only paying attention to
their phones as main character gets
down to help. (adds to likable status of
main character).
Scene 4 – day 2 bus stop
Establishing shot of bus stop, main character
walks into frame cuts to over the shoulder moves
to low shot of same faces at bus stop on their
phones again as main character sits in the middle
and huffs in disappointment.
Over the main characters shoulder again
we see a girl across the road, attention is
drawn to her in a long lasting cut.
low angle while she walks over to him
(empowering status) sits next to him yet he
realizes she too is on her phone, again he
sighs.
Cuts to long shot of bus stop as car drives
past to block view, transitions to next shot.

9. Scene 5 – day 3 wake up/bus stop
Alarm clock rings, hand slaps it off. Cuts straight to bus stop long
shot. Girl 1 walks into shot
and sits next to him.
cuts to close up of main character
looking towards her.
cuts to close up of her
name badge.
cuts back to his face again,
happiness is shown.
Cuts again to back at his house
mid shot of him sat on his bed
on his phone.
Scene 6 – day 3 home

10. Over the shoulder showing his phone screen,
Instagram, his profile , hardly any followers. He
then types the girls name in and finds her
profile and messages her.
cuts back to mid shot as
main character looks gleeful
shot zooms out and pans upward
to show clock on the wall.
three hours pass as the shot moves back down to show close
up of phone as character picks it up.
over shoulder shot of mains
phone, shows he was read and
ignored.

11. cut to mid shot as character throws
his phone at the wall in anger.
cuts to close up of face in anger.
Scene 7 – day 4 bus stop
mid shot of the bus stop, main character walks into
shot again and sits down, same two people next to
him on theirs phones once again.
Low close up Main character sighs he looks up
across the road, cuts to shot across the road
from his point of view, he sees a number of
people walking on their phones, blank coloured
clothing, then a girl in bright colours walks by,
she isn't on her phone.
cuts back to close up of
main character, face lights
up.
he sees her walk by and
continues his day with a smile on
his face.

12. Scene 8 – day 5 bus stop
Alarm clock rings, is turned off
gently.
mid shot again at the bus stop,
main character walks in, girl on
her phone is already there, he
sits next to her.
Close up of Felix looking at
her.
POV shot of his view of her. cuts to mid shot of them both,
Felix leans in and says “hi….
My names Felix”.
Cuts to close up as she
looks up blankly.

13. cuts back to mid close up of them both,
she shows a face of confusion, says
‘sorry, do i know you?”.
close up to felix, lost for words ‘ahh
ahh’.
Cuts back to girl mid close up, she
puts her headphones in and walks
away.
cuts back to felix as sound of bus
comes and leaves. mid long shot of
felix alone at the bus stop, head in his
hands.
Close up side angle of his head
in hands, girls voice is heard,
“hey, are you okay?”.
cuts back to mid shot showing the girl in the
bright colours, he looks up in shock,
surpirsed by the moment of communication
he doesnt know what to say and stutters
nonsense.

14. cuts to close up of her as she
laughs.
cuts back mid of them
both, they both laugh.
He introduces himself,
so does she.
The camera slowly starts to zoom futher away
while a sound track is played over the
ambient sound and their dialogue. They are
shown laughing and conversing. The camera
gets further and away until….
black screen.... “LOOK UP” is
displayed in big white font on the
screen, the end.

15. Shot List
• Your shot list should contain the sequential breakdown of what you
need to shoot for your film
• It should work in partnership with your storyboard
• It will be your working document when you film
• It should contain the shot number, scene number, shot description,
framing, cast/location info and action you will see
• It should also have information on performers in the scene and other
props, etc
• Shot list template is on Blackboard in the pre-production folder.

18. Section 2
Organisational Planning

19. Production Group Info
• Include names, contact info, and defined roles at difference stages of
production, using a table is suggested
Personnel role Contact infomation
Elliot Miller Director/Camera
Op/editor/producer/extra 2
N/A
Harvey Hinchcliffe main character (Felix) 07922039515
Alicia Miller Girl 1 07595417623
Thea Miller Girl 2 07989021092
Harry Chalmers Extra 1 07846473884
Moira Miller Woman who trips 07815531523

20. This is where in Ripon I will be filming,
marked by the red box on the map.
This is bus stand located on Harrogate
road. It is single stand with rain cover
and a total of 6 seats with small hand
railings.
There is a healthy space of pavement
in front of the stand enabling me
good access to set up and film
within.
Location information
Location information

21. This is the opposite side of the road to the bus stand,
there is also a large amount of pavement for me to
use as a filming station. I plan to conduct establishing
long shots for the scenes on this side so that I have a
large frame for the scene.
I plan to position my
camera and tripod
here for the long
shots and possibly
mid shots.
I plan to conduct filming in the early mornings as
to avoid any interruptions to filming from cars
and pedestrians passing by .
I plan to conduct
my mid shots and
close ups on this
side of the road is
enables me to get
the best detailed
shots, clearly
displaying what I
want the audience
to see in the frame.

22. Bed Room Floor Plan bedWooden bench
desk
chair
door
Wardrobe
Drawers
desk
window
Camera
This angle can be used for the
mid shots I plan to use of the
character on his bed.
Camera
This camera angle will
be used for the close
ups of the character.

25. Contingency Planning
• Things go wrong
• Your contingency plan is there to give you a backup or to minimise
the effect on production
• You should consider the following areas: Technical, Location,
Personnel and Organisational areas [about 5 potential issues for
each]
• Use the form in pre-production folder on Blackboard

26. Contingency plan

29. Clearance and Permissions

32. Section 3
Footage log

35. Section 4
Edit process log

36. Editing process – sound editing choices
There were a number of choices I made to enhance the sound editing of my footage, this was either
with the ambient sounds surrounding the character in said scenes, the sound of the characters actions
and even dialogue, all of which I added in my self. Firstly I took the footage and placed it into sequence
without the audio attached, I then added clips of audio of my own choosing, for instance in this scene I
added an outdoor ambient background in that included sounds of birds, construction sites, cars and
people. I then also wanted to really push the point of mobile phones being used in the film so I decided
to add in the sound of iPhone texting in twice, one slower then the other so its clear there are two
being used. I then decided to add footsteps that matched with my characters and over all of them I
placed the soundtrack.
Footsteps
Outdoor ambient sounds
iPhone texting

37. Editing process – sound editing choices
I also had to make some editing choices for my scenes which featured dialogue as I had to record them separate to my
footage due to the sound quality not being good enough when recording on set as it was next to a busy road. So to
combat this issue I recorded the dialogue separately in a sound booth with a microphone to ensure no outside noise
would interrupt the dialogue. This then meant I had to edit the sound recordings so that they didn’t sound pre
recorded and sounded more like it was recorded outside as to match the footage and setting. To do so I went into
audio effects file and placed an EQ over the audio clip. I then changed the low, mid and high frequencies to edit the
pitch of the dialogue as to make it sound more like it was shot from outside and not right next to microphone in a
sound booth. I also lowered to master volume and placed other ambient noises over it such as passing cars so that
there was more depth of sound within the clip making it appear more realistic.

38. Editing process – colour corrections
A small number of my clips came out looking
too dark or even slightly over exposed or even
just weren’t vibrant enough colour wise so to
fix these issues I used a colour correction
process. This process involved placing an
adjustment layer over the clip, I then went into
the video effects file in premiere, selected the
colour correction folder and dragged and
dropped the RGB curves effect on to my
adjustment layer. From there this enabled me
to alter the master, red, green and blue colours
within the clip to enable me to add more
colour to the footage.
before
after

39. Editing process – shot to shot continuity editing
• I conducted little production effects within my short film as the narrative itself didn’t need any fancy edits
or visual effects to be used to effectively portray my narrative. However what I did use was a range of
continuity editing to sequence my short film together by creating an understandable narrative that is easy
for the audience to follow by setting up shot to shot sequences in scenes to give multiple points of views
and angles, as to give the best possible picture for audiences to follow while watching my short film. For
example to set up my opening sequence and introduce my main character, I deployed continuity editing,
using specific shots to describe the characters nature in this story. For example I chose to use a shot where
the main characters phone and keys are set out on the table in front of him, his hand comes into shot to
pick them up, however he hovers over his phone briefly and decides to leave it as he only picks up the keys
as he leaves. I chose to use this in my film as I felt it sets up the character background to the audience, by
quickly showing the hesitation of taking his phone and thus deciding to leave it shows he doesn’t care
much for it and has the ability to leave it at home, an unlikely trait to have in this day and age. This also
goes along side a number of other shots which sets up his morning routine, edited into quick concession it
quickly illustrates him waking up and leaving to start his day.

40. Section 5
Soundtrack Planning

41. Soundtrack planning
• Initially I planned to create my own soundtrack using garage band, however I found this to be a
harder process that what I first thought. I wasn’t happy with the quality of what I was producing
and felt that it would then bring the quality of my entire project down so I began to look for
another approach. I first looked on a website called Ben Sound which allows users to freely
download non-copyrighted music. However I struggled to find a soundtrack that matched the
tone of my short film, most of the songs I came across work better with happier and joyful scenes
as well as the opposite with sad and depressing conventions, this didn’t work with what I wanted
to create so I could not use them. I then researched further into the laws of copy righted music
and tried to find if there was any loop holes that would enable me to use a soundtrack I desired
that had been made by another party. I found that these laws are very strict and the majority of
the music I wanted to use would be impossible to do so. However I then came across the laws
considering how long it was that copyright laws stayed in place after the creator had passed
away. I found that the laws only stay in place up to 70 years after the death of the artist, thus
meaning work from a classical musical composers such as Mozart and Beethoven were free for
public use and would not infringe on any copy righted laws. This was great for as the classical
music these composers created worked perfectly with the tone I wanted to create in my short
film. Not only this but the music also relates to the message I want to express within my film, the
fact that these modern times as so different to how our elders lived which also relates to how
much music has changed since the days of these composers. A simplistic piano melody from
Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata expressed both emotional tones as well as classy ones which I felt
worked perfectly with my short film, the simple melody fits with the pacing of the shots and It is
just what I wanted originally to use as there is just the one instrument meaning there isn’t too
much going on that takes the focus of the audience off what the film is showing.