A2 Level Media Studies Short Film Pre-Production Research

1. A2 Level Media Short Film Pre-
production Research
Mima Micic

2. The pre-production stage
of film making is meant
to plan the whole
process in order to help
the producers organise
everything in time. The
director is usually the
first person they hire and
will have a lot of
influence in molding the
pre-production process
that will fit them best. A
team of production that
will execute the film
properly quality and
budget wise must be
hired.
INTRODUCTION

3. Due to the director being the heart and
soul of the filmmaking process, the rest
of the crew is formed depending on the
director’s preference. They shape the
mood and feel of the film which the
editors, cinematographers, actors, writers,
etc. have to match and fulfill.
Once a script is written, the director, together with
the writers, has to consider how well it will translate
onto the screen. Some ideas might be well developed
and seem fitting on paper, but when it comes to
realisation, they might be inconvenient due to budget
or simply not conveying the right image.
The writers and the director also need to think about
whether the script allows the film to portray the
desired mood and feel. Once the script is finalized, all
of the following steps must match it perfectly in
order for the execution to be as imagined.
Quentin Tarantino, one of the most
famous film directors of today.

4. Usually, most of the crew is hired by the film producers
and casting directors with the influence of the director.
However, the director most of the time desires a
specific appearance for the main characters, so the
casting of starring roles is largely dependant on the
director’s wants.
If the right and talented actors aren’t picked, the whole
tone of the film could feel off and the audience might
not have the prefered reading of the message it’s trying
to get across.
A production designer is responsible for making sure
the film seems believable and realistic. They work
closely with the costimographers and set decorators,
who make sure the physical appearance of characters
and their surroundings fit the time period, mood of the
film etc. Makeup artists are also needed in order to
ensure the actors look their best on camera. However,
they are especially necessary if SFX makeup needs to
be done.

5. When booking out dates for shooting, the producers must allow enough time for careful filming and
reshoots. The filming locations that will fit the mood and needs of the film also must be chosen.
Scheduling must be realistic in order for the actors’ performance to be at its peak and the crew can work
hard.
When a location is chosen, it needs to be determined how will the lighting be placed so the scenery looks
its best, while also conveying the desired tone.
The equipment needs to be bought and ready to film on the set. The producers should also think about
what kind of props would be necessary for the filming, so they can also be brought to the set and ready
to be used.
A storyboard should be made prior to filming
since it would drastically save time during the
production process and help the director and the
rest of the crew plan their shots and determine
which ones are the best fit for the effect they
want to achieve.