2. Pre-production is the stage in which you prepare your project for the shoot.
Production is the phase in which all the sequences are shot.
Postproduction is the assimilation of all the sequences shot into the final film.
Pre-production is the process of arranging and carrying out all of the tasks that have to be
completed before production can begin. Once the script is finalized, the
director, cinematographer, producers, first assistant director, production managers, production
coordinators, and site scouts are frequently involved.
3. 7 Elements of the Preproduction Process in Film
The stages of preproduction vary depending on the type of project
you’re filming (for instance, a 10-minute short film will have a
significantly shorter and less involved preproduction period than a
90-minute movie). However, for most film production, the
preproduction process follows similar steps:
4. 1. Script breakdown: After a project is greenlit, you’ll need to finalize your
shooting script. Once the script is locked, the first AD will comb through the
screenplay and create a breakdown of all your times of day, locations,
characters, stunts, extras, special effects, props, vehicles, animals, sound effects,
music cues, and costumes—everything that is significant on a logistical level. The
more prepared you are, the fewer surprises you’ll encounter during shooting or
postproduction.
5. 2. Budget: Once you know the logistical elements to prepare for, you’ll have to
figure out how much it will cost. Whether you have a low budget or a high
budget, now is the time to determine how you can achieve the vision of the film
with the resources you have. Research the costs of everything you’ll need to
figure out which funds to allocate where.
6. 3. Schedule: Your production schedule (or shooting schedule) will help you
figure out which scenes you shoot when, where you shoot them, and how many
you shoot per day. Time is a valuable resource, especially if you have to deal
with elements like daylight or weather.
7. 4. Crew: Assemble your crew members and valuable department heads. You’ll
want to hire a director, a first assistant director, a production manager, a
cinematographer (known as the director of photography), a casting director, a
production designer, and a costume designer. As preproduction moves along,
these departments will expand, filling out your crew.
8. 5. Planning: Each department works with the line producer to break down what
they need to properly execute the director's vision. The planning stage also
includes location scouting and securing permits, creating a shot
list and storyboard, and figuring out props and equipment. Once you establish
those needs, the line producer (or production manager) will check and revise
the budget to make sure everything fits within the established parameters. You
may want to remove some settings or props—or even rewrite scenes—to fit
within your budget.
9. 6. Talent: The casting director auditions talent for all the roles according to your
script breakdown and director’s notes.
7. Rehearsal: At the end of the preproduction phase and before your film shoot
begins, you’ll likely want to rehearse with the cast, figuring out the emotional
and physical logistics of each scene. Meanwhile, your department heads will be
heading into their final prepping stages, working with the production
coordinator to ensure that all the pieces are in place. When everything is ready,
it’s time to send out call sheets to the whole cast and crew, which outline the
schedule for every shoot day during filming as the production phase begins.
10. Costume Design And Production Design In Pre-Production
Find The Costumes
Unless you are working on a shoestring budget, you’ll need an experienced costume designer to
precisely discover your requirements. The costume designer, the production design department,
the director and director of photography, and possibly the make-up and hair departments
should all be consulted about the colors and textures. This will help to guarantee that the entire
production has a consistent look and visual identity.
Fitting appointments should be scheduled as soon as possible so that costume designers may
take some prospective outfits they’ve identified, dress the actors, and take images to share with
the other creative departments stated above. This will ensure that all of the movie’s elements
combine well.
11. Conclusion
We have received funding, completed your script, selected our crew, budgeted,
and planned your production and shooting dates. We are now ready for the
progression of your project from pre-production to production. It may have
seemed like trying to keep a lot of plates spinning simultaneously, but the entire
time and money invested up to this point will pay off.
An adequately managed pre-production period will condition for production in
the best possible way. Of course, it requires a lot of effort to arrive on set. Still,
comprehending the numerous factors involved makes doing everything right
effortlessly