Overview of Professional
Film Production

Stages of the Filmmaking
Process
Development
Preproduction
Production
Postproduction

Begins from the moment someone says “ Let ’ s make a movie!
”
Ends when we start actually hiring people.
Can take from many months to many years.

Where do movie ideas come from?
Original Ideas
Novels
Real Life
Broadway
Music
Comics
Other
Movies/TV shows

Development Stages of the
Script
Idea Screenplay
(Author ’ s Final)
Synopsis
Shooting Script
Treatment

Synopis
A brief summary of the storyline.
The Widow Paris is the story of Marie Leveau and how she develops from faithful
Catholic to Voodoo queen .

Treatment
Generally written in simple prose.
Includes all of the major scenes, but...
little or no dialogue.
The Widow Paris
Treatment
As Jacques Paris chissels strange symbols on the lid of a wooden box in his carpenter's studio, Marie Paris assists Pere Antoine as the aging priest administers the last rites to a yellow fever victim in a slave ’ s shack while the worried relatives look on.
When Jacques' blade accidently cuts his hand Marie reacts as if striken herself and when a drop of Jacque's blood spills inside the box, the yellow fever victim breathes his last and Marie rushes from the room shaken. Pere Antoine joins her outside the shack.
Convinced that she's fatigued from the long day of visiting fever victims, he sends her home.
Marie finds Jacques collapsed on the floorin his studio, conscious, but unable to talk. Marie examines the box Jacques was working on and discovers a note with the name of the voodoun Dr.
John on it.
Marie brings the box to Dr. John and tells him to take the "fix" off her husband. He tells her that he can't since the loa (spirits) are using Jacques to get to her. He tells her that she has a spiritual power and offers to help her realize it. When she shuns his offer he tells her about a job opportunity as a hair dresser for Judge Fouquet's wife and gives her a charm to help her land the job.

Screenplay
( “ author ’ s final ” )
Written in “ master scene ” form.
Usually only the first shot of a scene is described.
All dialogue is included.
9. INT. MARIE'S COTTAGE--NIGHT
Marie opens the door to Jacque's work room. The box he was working on sits on the table lit by candles at each of its four corners.
MARIE
Jacques?
Marie crosses and studies the box. Something stirs in the room, startling her. It's Jacques sitting on the floor, shrouded in flickering shadows.
MARIE
Jacques!
She kneels beside him and sees a bloody rag tied around his hand.

The term ” producer ” means many things.
The “ executive producer ” is the person responsible for raising the money and caring the project through to its final exploitation.

How do you raise money for a movie?
Write a check?
Get a loan from a bank?
Investors?

Producer must create an attractive “ package ”
Producer ’ s own track record
Option a “ property ”
Option stars
Option a director/writer

Begins when we start hiring people.
Ends when we begin filming.
Usually takes several weeks to several months.

After at least the “ startup ” money is raised, the producer usually hires...
Production Manager
Screen Writer(s)
Director

Production Management
Shooting Script
Storyboard
Script Breakdown
Location Scouting
Shooting Schedule
Budget

Shooting Script
Script is “ lined ” and prepared for breakdown.

Script Breakdown Sheet
Location/
Time of
Day
Characters
Costumes
Props
Mechanical
Effects
Special
Equipment
Stunts
Transportation
/ Food

Shooting Schedule
Efficiency
Availability
Performer ’ s needs
Guild regulations
Psychology

Cast
Crew
Equipment /
Supplies
Sets / Locations
Budget
Lab
Costumes / Makeup
Props
Transportation /
Food

Production
Begins when we put film in a camera.
Ends when “ principal photography ” is completed--i.e. the film is “ wrapped.
”
Usually takes several weeks to several months.

Production Organization
DIRECTOR
Responsible for coordinating all of the artistic and technical activities of the production phase.
First Assistant Director
Second Assistant Director
Second Second AD
Production Assistant
Director of Photography
Responsible for the "look" of the film
Gaffer
Electrics
Camera Operator
First AC
Second AC
Loader/Clapper
Key Grip
Grips
Dolly Grip
Production Sound Mixer
Responsible for the location sound recording.
Boom Operator Cable Puller

Other Crew Possibilities
Production
Designer
Art Director
Costume Designer
Wardrobe
Makeup
Stunts