Filmmaking includes the creative process, the techniques and technology for making a film, the organization of production, and the promotion of the film in the marketplace. The nature of the film determines the size and type of crew needed to create the film. And today I’m going to tell you everything you need to know about the stages of filmmaking. Let’s go!
The Stages of Filmmaking
The film production cycle consists of five basic stages:
- development
- pre-production
- production
- post-production
- sale
Designing
The film producer finds the story, prepares a brief outline in the form of a step-by-step description of the scenes, with an emphasis on the dramaturgy. This is a 25 to 30-page description of the plot, mood, and character of the scenes, with brief dialogues and a description of the setting, often containing sketches in the form of drawings to visualize key points.
The script is written over a six-month period, perhaps rewritten several times to improve the drama, clarity, structure, characters, dialogue, and overall style of the story. A brief presentation of the film is presented to potential financiers. Financial support is usually provided by major film and television studios, film support foundations, the Ministry of Culture, or independent investors. A deal is agreed upon, and a contract is signed.
At this stage, the question of the purchase of copyrights for the screenplay, music, poetry, etc. is resolved.
Preliminary Preparation
In pre-production, the film is designed and developed a plan. A film crew and production departments are formed. Illustrators and production artists create sketches for visual planning of scenes before filming. The film’s budget will also be considered in the design of the scenes, the cast of actors, the film equipment used, special effects computer graphics.
The producer hires people to perform the following functions:
- Director has primary responsibility for shooting the film and managing the creative process.
- Assistant Director, directs the planning of filming and oversees the logistics of filming.
- Casting Supervisor handles the selection of actors.
- Site Manager – prepares on location and interior sites for filming.
- Production manager monitors budget and shooting schedule, keeps accountability.
- The Director of photography (cinematographer), shoots film scenes together with the director, his assistant, and the sound engineer.
- Art Director, responsible for sets, costumes, makeup, hair styling, etc.
- Designer Technologist, creates sets, costumes, makeup, and hairstyling, reports to Art Director.
- Production Designer creates drawings to help the Director and Design Technologist communicate their ideas to the crew.
- Sound Designer records sound during filming. Collaborates with the director, cameraman, and assistant director.
- Sound technician, handles sound effects.
- The composer writes music for the film.
- The choreographer creates and coordinates movement, dance, wrestling.
Filming
The film crew expands. The work includes a master of filming technique, script supervisor, assistant director, camera operator, image editor, and sound editor, consultants, clapper, sharecroppers, pyrotechnics, lighting operators, hairdressers, makeup artists, and other positions with the specifics of the film.
Actors rehearse scenes under the direction of the director. The scenes are then rehearsed again and coordinated with the crew. Then, the scene is shot with the required number of takes. Script supervisor, picture, and sound cameramen in their report sheets mark each take as successful or unsuccessful and note all the necessary information about the take.
When the scene is shot, the crew dismantles the set. The director approves the next day’s shooting schedule and supervisors’ reports on the script, sound, and image are prepared. The cast and crew are informed of where and when the next filming day will take place. The director reviews the results of the shoot that evening, sometimes consulting with department heads and actors.
Post-production
In filmmaking, there are 2 methods of editing: intraframe (linear) editing and inter-frame (nonlinear) editing.
In linear editing, scenes in the footage are cut without disturbing their sequence. In non-linear editing, the video is divided into fragments, and then the fragments are recorded in the desired sequence. At the same time, the fragments can be substantially cut down.
The first task of the editor-editor is to roughly slice and reassemble the scenes. Debris is sifted out. Then more detailed work with the footage and the creation of the video narrative. The director and producer of the film review the results and approve it. The editor completes a document listing the sliced scenes with a description of the original footage for the final edit.
The edited film is sent to the sound department, where the sound engineer synchronizes voices, sound effects, music, background, etc. If the quality of the synchronized sound recording does not satisfy the director, the film is dubbed in the studio. An image is shown on the screen and rehearsals are held. The actors try to make the articulation on the screen coincide with the spoken sound. A phonogram is recorded. Then it is edited and synchronized.
Video and sound are combined into a low-quality sample film. After viewing, the film is refined to a high-quality sample. Finally, a focus group is recruited to watch the film, and their feedback is used to make additional refinements and changes.
Distribution
The desired number of copies of the film is produced on the desired media. An advertising campaign is organized: Internet, press releases to specialized publications, interviews with representatives of the press, TV channels, cinemas, posters, etc. Previews of the film are organized or it is brought to film festivals. A website about the film is created. The film is shown in cinemas. After a few months, a TV screening is organized, and then on the Internet. Any profits are shared between the distributor and the producer. Then agreements are made with game, toy, and product manufacturers, publishers, and other companies to use the artistic elements of the film for advertising, brand development, etc.
That’s It!
The film is a living, breathing organism, and like all living things, from plants to people, it begins with something small, gradually taking its final form. If you want to know where to start when making a film, I hope you’ve got it. Also, I hope this article is interesting and useful for you!