The stages of film production include development, pre-production, production, and post-production. Development involves finding a story, writing a pitch, and securing funding. Pre-production establishes the budget, gathers crew, and plans scenes. Production is the actual filming. Post-production includes editing, adding effects, and test screenings to finalize the film.

1. Key roles & Areas
By Elliot Woodward

2. Film production is the process of making a film.
For the exam you'll need to understand all the stages of film production,
these are:
Development - This is simply the process of 'finding' a story. Ideas for films come from a
variety of sources; they can range from novels, real life events to computer game
adaptations. Once you've got an idea you'll need someone to write a pitch for you which you
take to a film producer in an attempt to get some funding to make your film. Even at this
very early stage you need a very clear idea of who you're aiming you film at so you can
include elements that will appeal to them.
Pre-production - Once you've got funding you establish your budget and can begin to get a
film crew together, you can storyboard the script. You also need break the script down into
individual scenes and identify all the locations, props, cast members, costumes, special
effects and visual effects needed.
Production - This is simply the process of 'making' the film. Provided you've done your job
properly in the pre-production stage making the film should be straight forward. 'Film' is
very expensive and difficult to store so an increasing number of film makers are using digital
cameras to save money.
Post-production - During this stage you take all the 'film' you've shot and give it to a film
editor. They will then begin putting it together. Special effects will be added, a soundtrack
will be added, any missing dialogue will be re-recorded and added resulting in a 'rough cut'.
This will be shown to the director and a test audience who will offer feedback. Often this
causes scenes to be filmed and added or removed.

3. Writer
• Screenwriters create
screenplays for films. They
provide the blueprint for
the creative input of the
Producer, Director,
Production Designer,
Composer and Editor, cast
and crew. In some cases
the original Screenwriter
may be replaced entirely
by another Screenwriter. In
this case the original
Screenwriter may then
receive a "Screenstory
by..." credit on the finished
film.
Claude-Michel Schönberg
is the writer of Les
Miserables film (2012).

4. Producer
• Producers are
responsible for all
aspects of a film's
production, putting
together a creative and
talented cast and crew,
and turning story ideas
into profitable films.
They steer the film from
beginning to
completion and
beyond.
Cameron Mackintosh is the
producer of Les Miserables
film (2012).

5. Casting Director
- In pre-production, Casting
Directors work with both the
Director and Producer to assemble
the perfect cast for the film. As a
result, Casting Directors must
have in-depth and up-to-date
knowledge of new and existing
acting talent. They are responsible
for matching the ideal actor to
each role, based on a number of
factors, such as the actor's
experience, ability, reputation,
availability and box office appeal.
Casting Directors also work
closely with Production
Accountants to prepare the casting
budget.
Nina Gold is the casting director
of Les Miserables film (2012).

6. Director
• Directors are responsible for
creatively translating the film's
written script into actual
images and sounds on the
screen. They are ultimately
responsible for a film's artistic
and commercial success or
failure. Directors may write the
film's script or commission it to
be written, or they may be
hired after an early draft of the
script is complete. They must
then develop a vision for the
finished film and work out how
to achieve it. Directors also
have the role of keeping the
full team motivated striving to
reach the best possible
results.
Tom Hooper is the
director of Les
Miserables film (2012).

7. Film Finance
• There are two types of Financial Controllers:
1. A large production company, studio or broadcaster
may employ a Production Accountant or qualified
Accountant as a Financial Controller, to manage
the finances of all of the company's activities,
including those of individual productions.
2. On larger productions, a freelance Senior
Production Accountant may work as a Financial
Controller to oversee the work of the Production
Accountant and Accounts team.
• The role of a Financial Controller is very
challenging. They are responsible for controlling
the accounting, taxation and financial analysis for
all of the work a company does, including
development, production and distribution.
Universal Pictures is the
production company who
financed Les Miserables film
(2012).

8. Camera Operator
• They carry out the Director of
Photography’s (DoP) and
Director’s instructions for shot
composition and
development. They are
usually the first people to use
the camera's eyepiece to
assess how all the elements
of performance, art direction,
lighting, composition and
camera movement come
together to create the
cinematic experience.
Simon Finney is the
camera operator for the
Les Miserables Film
(2012).

9. Editor
• Editors are one of the key
Heads of Department on
feature films, responsible
for First Assistant Editors,
and on bigger productions,
Second Assistants and
Trainees. The Editor works
closely with the Director,
crafting the daily rushes into
a coherent whole. To
ensure that the story flows
effortlessly from beginning
to end, each shot is
carefully chosen and edited
into a series of scenes,
which are in turn assembled
to create the finished film.
Chris Dickens is the Editor
of Les Miserables film
(2012).

10. Production Designer
• Production Designers
are major heads of
department on film
crews, and are
responsible for the
entire art department.
They help Directors to
define and achieve the
look and feel of a film.
Eve Stewart is the production
designer for Les Miserables film
(2012).

11. Marketing
• The Marketing and Publicity
Managers' main responsibility is
to convince the public that this is
a 'must-see' movie. Once
Distributors have identified the
target audiences and potential
revenue, the marketing campaign
should reach target audiences
before and during film
releases. When the film opens,
audiences’ interest should be at
its peak. After release, the
Marketing and Publicity Manager
needs to increase interest in the
film with more promotion and
troubleshoot any problems.
David Dolman is the market
director for Les Miserables
film (2012).

12. Exhibition
• Distributors acquire films
via deals with studios, and
production companies,
and/or through film sales
agents who represent
filmmakers. Distributors
may either be 'majors', who
are affiliated to Hollywood
studios and handle their
films, or 'independents' who
handle films made outside
the Hollywood studio
system.
Universal Pictures exhibited
Les Miserables Film (2012).