Pre-production

Day 1 Overview

PRE-PRODUCTION

Pre-production prepares everything needed for shoot:

• Creative preparation that includes scriptwriting to designing special props.

• Financial preparation that includes budgeting the film and finding the money to pay for it.

• Administrative preparation that includes arranging for people to be paid to ordering film and getting permits to shoot on location.

• Physical preparation that includes building sets, making costumes and arranging props. After pre-production, the film goes into production.

During a feature production, a number of key people are brought into the project. The key roles and responsibilities include the following.

FILM CREW

The creative stage of pre-production begins with the Screenwriter.

A Screenwriter creates a screenplay (a written version of a movie before it is filmed) either based on previously written material, such as a book or a play, or as an original work. A Screenwriter may write ascreenplay on speculation, then try to sell it, or the Screenwriter may be hired by a Producer or studio to write a screenplay to given specifications. Screenplays are often rewritten, and it’s not uncommon for morethan one Screenwriter to work on a script.

A Producer is given control over the entire production of a motion picture and is ultimately held responsible for the success or failure of the motion picture project; this person is involved with the project from startto finish. The Producer's task is to organize and guide the project into a successful motion picture. The Producer would be the person who accepts the Academy Award for best picture, should the movie win one.The Producer organizes the development of the film, and is thus quite active in the pre-production phase. Once production (filming) begins, generally the role of the Producer is to supervise and give suggestions—suggestions that must be taken seriously by those creating the film. However, some Producers play a key role throughout the entire production process.

The Director interprets the script and unifies the components of the film into something that bears his or her signature. This individual is like an orchestra conductor. The Director must be able to lead and controlpeople, have them do what he or she wants them to do, yet remain on good terms. While in production, the Director not only oversees actors, but also advises the Director of Photography, instructs the majortechnical people, administrates the flow of people, consults on budgets, and deals with outside pressures. The Director is ultimately responsible for what happens on the set.

The Director of Photography (also DP, DOP, or Cinematographer) is responsible for the quality of the photography and the cinematic look of the film. The Director of Photography transforms the Screenwriter'sand Director's concepts into visual images. Using his or her knowledge of lighting, lenses, cameras, and film emulsions, the Director of Photography creates the appropriate mood, atmosphere, and visual style ofeach shot to evoke the emotions that the Director desires. Working closely with the Director, the Director of Photography determines the camera angles, shot composition, and camera movement for every shot.The Director of Photography then decides upon the lighting equipment and the type and number of cameras that will be required for shooting. The Director of Photography orders the lights and cameras to be setup in such a way to attain the desired e?ect.

The creative side of pre-production includes “conceptualization.” During this on-going process, a Concept Artist designs, plans, and sketches what the film will look like.

The Concept Artist prepares the storyboard—a series of sketches that are used to visually illustrate the script. The sketches depict the key shots in the scripted scenes, including the framing, camera angle,blocking, character movement, as well as basic props and sets. During conceptualization, the Concept Artist also envisions and designs sets, characters, and costumes. Concept Artists often produce manythumbnail (small) sketches of different versions of objects or characters that are to appear in the intended film. The Concept Artist works closely with the Director, Producer, Director of Photography, and the entireart department.

The Executive Producer secures financing for a film. This person usually oversees business aspects but often has little actual involvement with the day-to-day operations of the filmmaking.

While the creative crew works on conceptualization, the Production Finance Person breaks down expenses and records expenses for every item for the production to keep the production within budget. (Onsmaller productions, the Producer or Associate Producer often performs this work.) Costs are divided into above-the-line and below-the-line. For high-budget features, the general rule is above-the- line costsequal 75% of the budget. They are negotiated before production and are considered fixed costs.

Above-the-line costs include salaries for the top creative talents and any rights to a book, play, or article. These are considered “fixed costs” because once they are negotiated, they won’t change duringproduction.

Below-the-line costs can equate to 25% of the budget. They cover everyday expenses to keep the production moving. Below-the-line costs are everything else, including crew, food costs during the shoot, housing, transportation, cameras, film stock and processing, editing, special effects, costumes, lighting, sets, props, and miscellaneous expenses.

The Production Designer works closely with the Director to make sure that the Director's creative vision can be put on film. The Production Designer, who heads the Art Department, is an artist responsible forcreating the overall visual appearance of the film—the proper feel, the appropriate costumes, the right setting.

The Art Director reports to the Production Designer, and ensures that the actual location or set looks the way the

Production Designer visualized it. The Art Director oversees the artists and craftspeople who build the sets, and is also responsible for costumes, make-up, and props.

A set is any scenery or environment built indoors or outdoors for use in a motion picture. The Set Designer, often a draftsman with architectural training, sketches plans and lists specifications for building setsbased on the verbal descriptions or rough sketches provided by the Art Director. Because of the high cost of constructing sets, the set designer plans to build only what the camera can see.

The Set Decorator, who often has interior design experience, finds the appropriate objects to place within a set to make it look real, according to need, whether it's a businessperson's oNce or a hermit's shack.

Lead Man (or Assistant Set Decorator), who reports to the Set Decorator, takes the lead in tracking down various artifacts needed to decorate the set.

The Swing Gang, which reports to the Lead Man, is sent out to bring all the objects needed for the production back to the set.

The Set Dresser physically places the objects and furnishings—furniture, rugs, lamps, draperies, paintings, books, etc.—on the movie set, making it ready for shooting. The Set Dresser takes orders from the SetDecorator.

The Construction Coordinator, who reports to the Art Director, supervises the construction of a film's set to the Set Designer's specifications. The actual construction of a set can take many weeks or months,depending on the size and complexity of the required set. One decision that needs to be made is whether to shoot on location or on a set. This decision is made by the producer and/or director on a sequence-by-sequence basis.

The Carpenter takes orders from the Construction Coordinator and constructs the set to given specifications.

The Carpenter's Assistant reports to the Carpenter and helps build the set. While the set is under construction,

The Costume Designer conceives and draws designs for the costumesto be worn by the actors in the movie. The costume designs must be approved by the Art Director, Director, and Producer before going tothe Seamstress, the person who actually makes the costumes.

The Seamstress makes the costumes based on the approved costume designs.

The Casting Director (or Casting Associate) suggests and evaluates potential actors appropriate for the film, sets up meetings with the actor and the Producer and/or Director, and often helps negotiate theterms of a proposed contract between the actor's agent or attorney and the Producer. When the actor is hired, the casting director helps negotiate the terms of a proposed contract between the actor’s agentand the Producer.

A Location Manager scouts out locations for shooting and arranges for permission to shoot in specific places.

A Technical Advisor (or Consultant) may be hired by the Director for his or her expertise in a particular field to make sure that the movie portrays the particular events or situation accurately. A historian might behired to make sure that a Civil War film is accurate. A lawyer may be consulted for courtroom scenes. A native of Laos may be asked to verify native customs or costumes. Or a biologist might be hired to checkthe accuracy of facts about the lives of dolphins.

If special effects, stunts, or animals are used, the film may also require specialized roles:

A Special Effects Coordinator (or Special effects Supervisor) makes sure the special effects crew properly sets up effects according the Director's wishes.

A Special Make-Up effects artist has expertise in combining make-up with special effects, such as squibs—small explosive devices that, when detonated, simulate the effect of a bullet, puncture wound, or smallexplosion.

A Stunt Coordinator is responsible for choreographing stunts and making sure the stunt is relatively safe, but still realistic.

Animals are sometimes used in movies. These animal performers often come with a Trainer or Wrangler who has either taught the animal to perform certain acts or entices the animal to perform by offeringmorsels of food. Several look-alike animals are often used for the same role. Clever editing makes an animal's random movements seem like they have a purpose.

The Line Producer runs the day-to-day operations. This person makes the deals for locations and transportation, secures extras for scenes, orders equipment, gets accommodations for the cast and crew whenthey're on location, and is on the set every day to ensure the production runs smoothly. The Line Producer is generally employed from pre-production through post-production and reports to the Producer.