Film Production

Film Production

Development:

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 adaptions. 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 your 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 to break the script down into individual scenes and identify all the locations, props, cast members, costumes, special effects and visual effects needed.

Production:

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.

Writer:

To take either a pre-written story, or even a native story idea, and translate it into an effective screenplay is the primary role of a Screenwriter in the Film industry. Having said that,there is much more to this process than meets the eye. It is not as straightforward as writing a normal story, for the simple reason that the communication is audio-visual, and not literary.

There are some very important aspects that need to be carefully observed. Some of these aspects may be generic to good story-writing such as character development, believable characters, story and engaging plot points, regardless of the story-telling medium.

Producer:

Producers have overall control on every aspect of a film's production. They bring together and approve the whole production team. Their key responsibility is to create an environment where the talents of the cast and crew can flourish. Producers are accountable for the success of the finished film. They steer the film from beginning to completion and beyond. The Producer is often the first person to get involved in a project. Or they may be the agent-style Producer who focuses on the deal. The many responsibilities of the Producer span all four phases of production. In the Development stage, Producers are often responsible for coming up with the idea for a production, or selecting a screenplay. Producers secure the rights, choose the screenwriter and story editing team. They raise the development financing and supervise the development process.

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. They organise and conduct interviews and auditions for each part, and are also in charge of offering each Actor an appropriate fee to appear in the film. They also draw up and negotiate the terms and conditions of contracts with agents.

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.During pre-production, Directors make crucial decisions, such as selecting the right cast, crew and locations for the film. They then direct rehearsals and the performances of the actors once the film is in production. They also manage the technical aspects of filming including the camera, sound, lighting, design and special effects departments. 

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.

Camera operator:

Camera Operators 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.

Camera Operators usually start at the end of pre-production and attend technical recces with other Heads of Department. They work closely with the Director of Photography, Director and Grip, and are responsible for the First Assistant Camera (1st AC), Second Assistant Camera (2nd AC) and the Camera Trainee.

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. Editors work long, unsociable hours, often under pressure, in an edit suite. They are employed on a freelance basis by the Producer(sometimes with the approval of the film's financiers), based on their reputation and experience. Editors often work on television drama, as well as on feature films.  The Editor works closely with the Director before shooting begins, deciding how to maximise the potential of the screenplay. Editors check the technical standards, as well as the emerging sense of story, and the actors' performances.

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. Filming locations may range from a Victorian parlour, to a late-night café, to the interior of an alien space ship. The look of a set or location is vital in drawing the audience into the story and making a film convincing. A great deal of work and imagination goes into constructing the backdrop to any story and choosing or building locations and/or sets. Production Designers begin work at the very early stages of pre-production. They may be asked to look at scripts to provide spending estimates before a Director is even approached. On first reading a screenplay, they assess the visual qualities that will help to create atmosphere and bring the story to life. 

Marketing:
Marketing and Publicity Manager- 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.  

Marketing assistant-

Marketing Assistants are involved in the development and implementation of marketing projects and schemes related to film releases. They report to the Head of Marketing, or to the Marketing and Publicity Manager, and assist in creating and planning various on-going campaigns. Marketing Assistants often coordinate market research projects, and use the data to help assess current the effectiveness of campaigns and to help with future marketing schemes. 

Marketing manager:

As a marketing manager you would plan the direction of all marketing activity on a campaign. You would use your creativity and expertise to think of new ways of delivering your message to the customer. You could be in charge of a number of campaigns and manage and motivate people in the marketing team to make sure that each campaign is successful. 

Exhibition:

An ​event at which ​objects such as ​paintings are ​shown to the ​public, a ​situation in which someone ​shows a ​particular ​skill or ​quality to the public, or the act of showing these things: The photographs will be on exhibition until the end of the ​month. There's a new exhibition of sculpture on at the city gallery. The athlete's third, and winning, jump was an exhibition of skill and ​strength.