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Types of Documentation
Ideas Generation
Ideas generation is the process that a creator will go through to express the ideas that they
have thought of in a particular film genre in order to find their final idea. This process is very
important due to its ability to compare the creator’s ideas together. As a result of this, they
can pick the most effective and intriguing ideas to communicate the purpose of their project
best. Furthermore, idea generation allows the creator to logically work out if they can work
with the budget that they have and the facilities this will provide.
Proposal
A proposal will be created after the final idea has been chosen upon. The proposal is a
document that allows the creator to analyse and think about the requirements of the final
idea. This document will usually contain the title, the running time and the genre of the
production, crew and talent that will be required on and off set. It will also justify their roles,
the content and the purpose of their production, screening and distribution. This therefore
helps them to understand the platform that they will be using to showcase the piece of
content, the target audience of the production (which also will help them when they are
making future creative decisions) and legal and ethical considerations. The proposal will also
contain what their required resources are and any justification for them. This information not
only helps the producer to organise the production, but it will also help to sell the idea to a
client or a commissioner.
Script
A script is a written document that includes all of the verbal language that the characters will
be using in each scene (Duologue, Monologue etc). The script will also include any transitions
that occur into the next shot and the location that the shot is going to be filmed at (external
or internal). The script allows the producer to visualise the story and see if the purpose of the
content is reflected from the verbal point of view. This will therefore help during the pre-
production process as the script can be edited and changed multiple times in order to get it
right before anything is filmed.
Storyboard
A storyboard is a document that provides shot after shot visual analysis. Storyboards allows
filmmakers to decide and plan where the characters are going to appear on the screen in
order to deliver the purpose of the scene. The storyboard is not only the shot by shot
placement of the characters but will alsoinclude the duration of each shot and the description
of each shot. As a result, the storyboard will allow the filmmaker to understand what is
happening in the particular scene during the production, the type of shot that is used, any
sounds or transitions that will be used to cut between scenes. All of this information helps
the filmmaker to visualise the production. This therefore allows them to improve it or to see
what is missing. Storyboards are particularly useful during production as it gives the director
step-by-step guidelines on what shot needs to be done on the day of the production, allowing
them to make a schedule.
Lighting Plans
A lighting plan is a document that uses drawn illustrations to locate where the lights are going
to be standing internally or externally in order to achieve the effect that is desired. The

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illustration provides information regarding where is the camera will be placed and where the
actors are going to be standing. In most cases there will be three-point lighting that will show
where the key, back and fill lights are going to be standing. This is in order to light up the
character in the scene.The lighting plan is therefore useful during the pre-production process
because it allows the creator to think about the lighting for each scene. Furthermore, during
production this is less time-consuming as the plan tells the crew exactly where the lighting
needs to be placed for each shot. This also allows them to organise the lighting on the day of
the production.
Production Schedule
A production schedule is a written document that provides an organised plan about what kind
of shots will be filmed on a specific day of the production. This schedule includes the location
that the shots are going to be filmed in, the type of shot, the description of the shot and the
approximate time-frame that it will take to produce each shot. The reason why production
schedules are so important relates to how they keep the production organised, therefore the
production time is used effectively. As a result, a production schedule keeps the production
running smoothly.
Location Recce
A location recce is a document that provides clear images of the specific locations that are
going to be used during production. The location recce also should provide a detailed analysis
that showcases the understanding of any issues that may occur. For example, if electricity is
not available, what would need to be identified and completed. A location recce is completed
in order to be able to fix a problem before the production begins. Additionally, a location
recce should include where the lighting is going to be placed within the location. This
document helps the creator to understand if the location suits the purpose of the scene and
enables them to visualise the shots. This therefore helps the content creator to decide
whether the location is good enough for their vision.
Risk Assessment
A risk sssessment is a document called ‘General Risk Assessment Form’. This document
provides information on health hazards in each location that may affect the crew and the
actors. These factors can then be categorised as controlled (wires, litter etc.) and not
controlled (weather etc.). The risk assessment form provides a list of health hazards that can
occur during the production in each location and how the members of the production avoid.
Theseforms are really important becauseit allows the crew to understand the risks that could
occur during the production, therefore they can be aware of it and avoid it. Also, risk
assessments are used in Contributors Release Form, therefore it protects the production
company against any fees or responsibilities as the members of the production agrees to be
responsible for themselves.
Budget
A budget or a budgeting plan is a written document that provides information regarding all
of the expenses that will be made during the production. At the end, the budget provides the
total amount that is needed to cover the costs. The document usually involves information
on: above the rate (professional rates), below the line (non-union rates) as well as any
organisations that may fund the production like corporate finances, sponsorships,

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crowdfunding etc. The budget not only allows the crew to plan their expenses, but it also
helps to getfunding from organisations as it works as written evidence. Finally,when creating
a budget, it can be extremely helpful to the rest of production as it allows the crew to see
unnecessary expenses.
Call Sheets
A call sheet is a document that provides information that allows the producer to organise the
actors and when/where they are needed on set. This document includes the date of the
shooting, the location, the scene/s that are going to be filmed that day and the actors that
are going to be required. As a result, call sheets inform the crew when they have to be on set
as well as what they should prepare for the day which keeps the production organised and
productive.
Booking Forms
A booking form is a document that provides information on the equipment that is required
and therefore needs to be booked for the particular day of shooting. Booking forms are
important because the producer will become responsible for the equipment and therefore if
damage occurs, they will have to repair it. Additionally, when using a booking form, the
document allows equipment to be booked in advance, which prevents long waiting times and
wasting production time, which costs more money. Booking forms alsoinclude permission for
filming in the picked locations as some owners may disagree with any filming in their zone.
Contributors Release Form
Contributors release forms are documents/forms that provide a risk assessment and the
details of the crew and talent, which is then signedby the contributor accepting that whatever
happens to them during the production is their responsibility. The reason that these forms
are so important is due to them protecting the production company for big charges, being
sued or closing the production all together.
Evaluating the Documentation
Good use of Time and Teamwork (Sharing & Feasibility)
Pre-production contributes towards the success of a production by creating the opportunity
to plan every aspect of a film. This includes planning the visual elements of the film, while
also considering the legal aspects and risk assessments in order to keep everyone safe. When
time is taken before the production begins, this means that a range of perspectives will be
considered, and every possible scenario resolved in advance. As a result of this, the best idea
can be put forward for the production and time can therefore be managed in an efficient
manner.
Good Use of Budgets
Budgets are a vitalpart of pre-production as they are the foundations of the film. Without the
budget, the production would not be feasible. Budgets allow a production to identify what
they can achieve with the funding that is available to them. Depending on how big or small
the budget is, will determine the size of the overall production itself. The budget will work as
evidence and will allow for a careful analyse to be carried out regarding the expenses that are
going to be made when creating the production for the film.

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Health and Safety
Health and safety is another aspect of the pre-production which involves minimising the risk
of incidents occurring. This is just as important as budgeting due to the ability to increase the
crew’s ability to identify a risk. The fewer risks there are minimises the likelihood for any
injuries to occur during filming. This also saves time and therefore money. When making a
risk assessment during pre-production, this document allows everyone to take each detail
and decision into consideration and take time to think about how each health hazard can be
avoided during the production. As a result, this document not only protects the crew and
talent as much as possible but also protects the production. This is because if a member of
the production gets injured, the production team willnot be held responsible for this person’s
actions.
Use of Resources (Both Human and Physical)
During pre-production, all of the documents have to be produced in order to avoid getting
into trouble with the legal authorities as well as avoid wasting time or skipping production
days. For example, in terms of Contributors Release Form, the producer will plan out the
possible risks that could happen and therefore take time for everyone to sign it in order to
avoid getting into legal issues whilst filming. Call-Sheets are also crucial for crew and talent
members before filming due to their ability to identify when each person is needed. If call
sheets were not created then this could lead to a loss of a shooting day. This is because if the
sheet is not done property or not done at all, right people may not show up on the set. In
terms of equipment booking forms, when it comes to pre-production, you are able to take
time on planning out what will you need for each day of production and therefore, book
before the production starts in order to avoid waiting for the right equipment for along period
of time. Booking forms will also ensure that the right equipment is gained. If booking forms
were not used this could also increase the days of unproductive filming, increasing the risk of
not reaching the deadline for the production.
Observing the law and following regulations (Compliance)
The pre-production process is very important as it not only plans out the entire process of
production but it also protects any ideas. Furthermore, the pre-production process reduces
the chances of any time being wasted because if anything occurs during filming where legal
issues arise, the process will be short and clear as you will be able to show all of the evidence
that you created the ideaas well as you provided allof the right documentation likecopyright,
contributors release form etc. in order to meet the needs of the law. Additionally, the pre-
production process also protects the finances of the production because it makes the
producers aware of the content that should be produced in order to fit in the age category. If
the producer wasn’t aware of this and thought that they produced content suitable for the
particular age category but ends up being in a different category, their company may lose
revenue due to the content being too childish or serious for the specific age category that is
their target audience.
Meeting the needs of the audience (Visualisation)
Finally, pre-production alsoprepares for the visualsidewhen it comes to filming. When taking
time before filming to explore the idea in terms of visual style and receiving feedback from
your partners, this creates an engaging piece of work as it allows you to experiment with the
original idea. This is really important because you always have to be unique in the industry as

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well as gaining a thorough understanding of the specific target audience and which trends
attract them. For example, the productions that create horror films always have to think
about what people are terrified of these days because what audiences were scared of 10
years ago is now considered comedy. As a result, producers are able to think about visual
effects and if it is appealing enough to their target audience in order to attract the audience
and make revenue out of the production overall.