5 STAGES OF FILM PRODUCTION

Development

• Developing an idea through: Creation, Outline, Screenplay, Pitch

• Pitching through production companies

• Finding Investors

• “Trying to get your idea sold”

• “Development Hell”

• “Turnaround - their not gonna make it but they aren’t going to release it”

• Last Step: Green Light

Pre- production

• Your screenplay is bought by investors and you’re ready to go

• Locked Screen Script = ready to start pre-production

• Unlock script = often turn out horrible

• 1 Page of screenplay = 1 minute of screen time

[Pre-production] 6 Main Elements of Pre-Production - SCREEN HEADING

• Screenplays are broken up into scenes

Each scene heading is a different location

• The scene headings are written in all caps, as well as INT (interior) or EXT (exterior)

• This is followed by the name of the location and a designation of day or night

[Pre-production] 6 Main Elements of Pre-Production - ACTION

• This should describe action that can be seen or heard.

• The first time a characters name appear it should be in ALL CAPS.

• Sound Effects that are important to the story but are heard on screen should be in ALL CAPS

[Pre-production] 6 Main Elements of Pre-Production - Character Name

• This has its own line in ALL CAPS.

• A character who is off screen or speaking in voiceover should be designated by OS or VO in parenthesis next to the characters name

[Pre-production] 6 Main Elements of Pre-Production - PARENTHETICALS

• provide context or instruction for how the dialogue should be delivered

• these should be used sparingly

[Pre-production] 6 Main Elements of Pre-Production - DIALOGUE

centered on the page, parallel

[Pre-production] 6 Main Elements of Pre-Production - TRANSITION

include FADE OUT or CUT OUT

Pre-Production - SCRIPT

“More white on the screen = more action”

From Spec Script to Shot List

• Spec Script - A script that someone asks a writer to write

• Shot List - Breaking the script down on how many shots is it going to take make the film

• WS: Wide Shot

• MS: Medium Shot

• OS: Over Shoulder

• CU: Close up

• Rv Ang: Reverse Angle close up

Production

AKA “LIGHT CAMERA ACTION”

• The point where ideas and scripts are captured on camera

• Shortest but busiest and most cost effective

Post Production

• Assemble the film and lock it down

• Footage and sounds edited, visual effects, soundtrack composed, titles, project is created and ready to be distributed

Distribution

• Final part

• Production company is responsible for producing the film