A2 Level Media Studies

2. Pre-Production
 Most film workers consider pre-production as the most important step in
film production. Time and money must be spared.
 Generally, the producer is responsible for assembling the production
team. The director is the individual who will have overall creative control
and therefore, much of the pre-production period revolves around him. He
is the unifying intelligence.
 Director must be one of the first people the producer hires. However, it is
not only the quality of the director, cast and crew that determines whether
a film will be properly financed. The quality of the script is also an
important element of a successful film.

4. 1.Make a Production Schedule:
 -Block out dates for all your shoots. Aim to leave at least 3 weeks for careful editing.
 -Take notes and be realistic about scheduling
2. Crew up:
 -The more you are able to delegate specific jobs to specific people, the more you’ll be
able to focus on directing and getting the performances you want out of your actors.
 -Personnel involved in pre-production:
 1)The production manager 4)The production accountant
 2)The location scout 5)The unit and location managers
 3)The transport manager 6)Production runners and assistants
3. Visualize your project’s ‘Look’:
 -As you move further from the written script to thinking about your piece on screen, think
broadly about what kind of color palette, mood and tone you want your piece to have.

5.  4. Find and secure locations:
 -Once you want to shoot locations, always bring a still camera
 -Take notes about the available light in the location so as the size of the
location. Ask a lot of questions about the location like availability, any possible
limitations etc…
 -Once this is done, post location photos to the class blog.
 5. Casting
 -Bad actors are often the downfall of the student films. Contact various kinds of
theaters, adult acting classes, putting up layers on streets…
 -Make a form for people to fill out (contact info, experience etc…)
 -After the first reading, always give some suggestion-once the actor is chosen.
 6. Production Design (questions to ask yourself):
 1)What is the film’s theme? 3) What kind of props go with the set?
 2)What is its mood progression? 4) What kind of location should each
sequence have?

6.  7. Prepare costumes, props, set dressing
 8. Make a Floor-plan / lighting plot for each location
 -Sketch a simple one, mark camera positions ( ‘A’ should be the widest shot since it uses
the most lighting).
 9. Break down your shooting script:
 -Number each scene in your script
 -Design each shot as CAM A/B/C
 -Give each bracket a shot description
 -Make sure to leave lots of generous action overlap so you have editing options
 -A great exercise is to analyze a dialogue scene in a feature film- watch the scene, make
a floor plan and try to figure out how to draw all the camera position into the floor plan.
 10. Make a storyboard
 11. Make a shooting schedule

8.  The director’s vision shapes the look and feel of a film. He or she is the creative
force that pulls a film together. Actors, cinematographers, writers, and editors
orbit around the director like planets around the Sun..
 When a director is done reading the script, they ask themselves some key
questions. What is the main idea or theme of the screenplay? What does the
story say about the human condition in general? How will the script translate to
the visual language of the screen? And many more…
 A good script is the foundation of a good film, but even the best one may need
to be developed or molded to work well on the big screen- which is the job of
director. Director must work with either the writer or producer on the script
issued.
 Whatever the route from script to screen is, the director plays an important role
in shaping the way the story is told
The Director’s view

9.  The people director works with, both the actors and the crew who will make
things work behind the scenes, are crucial to the film’s success. The film’s
producer usually hires the crew, but the director will have input into crucial hires
such as lead actors.
 A production designer is responsible for the believability of a film’s scenery and
sets. The production designer also works closely with the art director and set
decorator, making certain all the visual details are accurate and the style and
period of the film reflect your wishes.
 The cinematographer, or director of photography, helps to translate your vision
to film, scene by scene, planning shots and supervising camera operators.
 The actors you choose will bring your story to life. Your casting decisions will be
based on such factors as availability and whether or not an actor is suitable for
lead or ensemble acting , as well as on a healthy dose of intuition.
Assembling the Cast and
Crew

10.  After months, or even years, the final script is set and the film goes into pre-
production.
 Once shooting begins, you’ll need to continue to communicate your vision of
the film to the actors and crew. You’ll also need to be able to improvise on the
set and troubleshoot if necessary.
 Once the shooting is over, hundreds of thousands of feet of film need to be
assembled into a coherent story. Days or weeks of shooting result in only a few
minutes of screen time.. The film’s producers may decide to cut certain scenes
or use a different film clip for a certain effect. Editing is a collaborative process,
the final step in the difficult work of bringing your vision to life.
 Your stature as a director determines how much say you have in determining
what version of the film is released to the public. Occasionally, a director
dislikes the final cut and decides not to be listed in credits. If this happens, the
credits list Alan Smithee as the director. Alan Smithee is not a real person, but
an alias used as a substitute when a director refuses to be linked to a film.
Filming and Post-
production