1. The Pre-Production Process
The pre-production process is the planning and preparatory side of production. Pre-production is the
most important stage of any production as it lays the foundations for a production’s completion.
The pre-production process comes with nine stages.
The nine steps of the pre-production process
1. Finalising the script – every project needs to have a well-established idea or premise. Any
idea can be presented as a script or a screenplay, which will need to be fully formed and well
thought out before filming begins. The content of the script or screenplay needs to be clear
and easy to understand for the director, cinematographer, production crew and actors.
2. Creating Storyboards and shot lists – The storyboards and shot lists are visual interpretations
of the film which provide reference points for the director and cinematographer. A
storyboard artist will draw out the scene to help bring a vision to life which gives the cast
and crew something to work towards.
3. Recruiting the crew – The heads of department and senior staff need to be hired during the
pre-production stage to organise the project. The sooner that they are involved the more
valuable their input will be.
4. Scouting for locations – Location scouts will have the scene settings in mind when they are
looking for suitable locations to film at. They will do this by trying to match up the setting
with the script. They will also find out what permits and paperwork they will need to be
processed to be able to film there.
5. Creating a budget – The budget is one of the most important parts of a project. It needs to
be structured and followed so that resources can be found and allocated efficiently so that
the project can be completed without losing money.
6. Selecting equipment – Whether you are planning to shoot digitally using a 16mm film or film
using your phone, it is important to establish what pieces of equipment need to be used.
Production companies will often rent equipment out in order to manage costs.
7. Clearing red tape – This stage of the pre-production stage often involves getting filming
permits, filling out paperwork and getting insurance to film on location. Location
agreements are also needed when filming on private property. Insurance is essential in case
of a crew member damaging property or a piece of rented filming equipment.
8. Recruiting the cast – Filmmakers will try to host auditions early and frequently in order to
find the right person to fill a role. They will also employ casting agents or casting directors to
find talented actors or actresses who might be interested in the project.
9. Rehearsals – Directors will often hold table reads with the cast in the weeks running up to
filming to make sure that the cast understand their roles. This also allows the cast to develop
a chemistry which helps to improve their performances.
2. Four headings for pre-production
1. Scripting and pitching
2. Legal and budgets
3. Creative planning
4. Logistics
Six script writing components
1. Format – This refers to font, type size, spacing, headings and other ways that the text is
organised to make it easy to translate onto the screen.
2. Story – the sequence of the events that take place
3. Style – The writers distinctive voice which refers to their original idea – revealing information
about the characters or the story.
4. Narrative Structure – This refers to where and when the writers decide to place the different
parts of the story; the beginning, middle and ending.
5. Characters – This explores how different people behave and respond under pressure.
6. Tone – This is the mood of the story, the correspondence between characters, concepts and
themes.
Budgeting Sections
1. Above the line – This represents fees being paid to creative talent.
2. Below the line – The direct production costs (cameras, props, and other filming equipment).
3. Post-production – Managing the costs for editing and visual effects.
4. Other – This includes insurance and legal costs.
Five steps of the logistics process
1. Revising the budget and filming schedules – When the pre-production stage is entering the
final phases, the line producers and production managers will make any adjustments needed
to the budgets and filming schedules. The team will need to work together to make a
balance between the creative, financial and logistical goals of the project.
2. Booking out equipment and locations – When the location manager is scouting for potential
locations, the heads of department work with the production manager to sort out rentals,
props, building supplies and equipment.
3. Hiring the production crew and talent – Each department must begin to get a production
crew together, while a casting manager will take on the task of getting the best cast possible
together. The actors will need to sign an agreement to align with actors’ unions.
4. Rehearsals and preparation – When pre-production is coming to an end, the director will
begin rehearsals with the cast. The line producer, production manager, production co-
ordinator and assistant directors will work together to organise each department and a final
production plan will be put in place.
5. Sending out call sheets – Call sheets are a very important production document which will
contain information needed for the shoot. They need to be detailed and well written. The
call sheet tells the cast and crew when they need to be on set and what the schedule is for
3. each day. They contain information such as contact information, set location and parking
information. To be able to write up a call sheet, you need to have strong administrative
skills.
