pre production

Planning my short film

STEP 1- PRODUCTION

The type of production i am writing about is a film, however there are other productions that could be included, such as a TV programme, A game etc. A film is created through these 5 stages, it will start with development, which is where the rough idea is created and a storyline and script is created/planned. Then comes the pre-production stage this is where plans and designs are made ready for the final production of the film. This would be where the schedule would be created for the cast and crew.The budgets will be allocated and storyboards are drawn. This is where everything will be prepared eg. costumes, props etc. The next stage is production and this is where the actual shooting of the film begins. The props are set up and all the clips are shot in that location before moving on. After this comes post production. This is were the movie is edited and polished. Scenes are cut and the audio is finalised. Any special effects are added and then the movie is considered locked. Afterwards there's distribution. This is when the films sent out as DVD's or in cinemas. This also involves promotions through interviews, film showings and film festival activities. The list below shows the steps included in film making. 

• Schedule 
• Script 
• Script Breakdown 
• Budget 
• Storyboards 
• Risk Assessment 
• Call Sheet 
• Clearances and Contracts 

Step 2 - TIME

A schedule is part of time management. A schedule is a sort of timetable for you to follow when doing a project. This keeps you on track for any deadlines you are needing to meet. Your schedule will tell you what you have to accomplish each day in order for you project to be finished on time. To make a schedule you can use Microsoft Word. If I was creating a Schedule I would use a table to help me. A schedule would include the time you need to be somewhere. The place/location you are shooting at. The cast members that have to be there. The props that are being used, and the shot that will be taken. Also any equipment needed and any risks at the location. All of these are involved so that nothing is forgotten and everyone can run on time and knows what they have to bring if they do so. This is what a schedule can look like.

Another aspect of time management would be the script. This will be included because you will know what shots are taken in each scene and what needs to be finished. It will also decide how many actors you need, what equipment and props you will need and what location/locations you will be filming at. This is an example of a professional script. 















The third part of time management would be the script breakdown. This happens when your script is locked and you will not be changing anything else therefore you would go through the script and number each scene. You breakdown you're script, as it's called. You would go through and mark in a colour key; Speaking actors, actors with no speaking parts, props, location, costumes etc. The colour key example is underneath. The script may look untidy but it will help you. You then go through the script breakdown and decide where about in the real world you can shoot these scenes that will end up being what you wanted. Most of this would be done by the location manager but its nice to know yourself to keep everything in check. You will go through the script and decide how many actors you need, not necessarily speaking main roles, but background actors to full a scene out. You could then even write a list at the bottom of the page of what costumes and props you need to save you looking through the script for colours etc. 

The last thing included in time management is the call sheet. A call sheet is a list for each cast and crew member, telling them where they need to be and at what times on what days. This would be included in time management because it will take a lot of time to go through each cast and crew member depending on how big the film is going to be and how many people are involved. It will need to include the dates that the person will need to be free for, the times that they will start and finish and what breaks they will have during the day, what they will need to bring with them eg. costumes, props, cameras etc. depending on what your job is throughout the film. Below is an example of a professional call sheet and how they are set out. 

STEP 3- RESOURCES

The first thing included in resources is a script. This will be included because when you write you're script you will need to decide what equipment etc you are going to need for the project. To do this you would need a word document so that you could note down all the things you will need. This will help you to remember what you need etc. 

Another thing you could use is the script breakdown. This helps you to mark down the resources you need. You do this by highlighting or colour coding your resources. This will help you when you go back to look at what you need because you will know what resources are highlighted in what colour. For example if all props were coded in blue, then you know you only have to look at what's coloured in blue. This will help you a lot because you wont have to read through the full script and find them, they will stand out to you. Which will make time shorter. 

Another thing that is included in resources is a budget. On a spreadsheet you will note down each resource which is going to cost you money. This would be things such as; Cameras that are being hired, actors that are being hired, locations you have to pay for and props and costumes you will need to buy/hire. These are all placed on here in order for you to remember what things you are going to need and the things you are going to have to pay for. 

As well as these there is a risk assessment. A risk assessment is a table explaining all the hazards or dangerous areas in the locations that you are working in. These could either be for the cast or the crew. This is included in resources because it is giving everyone involved a warning on what they have to look out for that could be dangerous. It may be different areas or the location, or things in the location. But this risk assessment is giving vital information to all involved. 

Lastly included in resources would be a call sheet. This is included because it will remind you of who is going to be involved in your project. For example all the cast that you will have performing, main roles or background and all the crew members involved, for example the cinematographers or set designers. 

STEP 4- BUDGET

Included in a budget is a script. This is included because when you are writing your script you are deciding what you want your story to be. Therefore you are deciding what props, actors, sets, locations etc you will need. This is all planning up to the final product. If you go with a detailed storyline with lots of locations etc then you are going to need more actors, crew, sets and equipment, therefore it is going to cost you more money. Which all leads down to the budget. The smaller and simpler the storyline the cheaper your budget is going to be so on so forth. So when you are writing your script, if you don't want t be spending a lot f money and have a high budget then you need to make your film simpler. Maybe use only to or three locations, maybe one that will be free. And only a few cheap actors that aren't going to cost you a lot of money, if so no money. This will help you to keep your budget as low as possible. 

A script breakdown is the next thing on budget. This is also included like a script because you will have coloured all of your resources, therefore you can go through and check what resources you will need and whether you will have to pay for them or not. these are all the things I talked about in the paragraph above. Things such as, locations actors and equipment etc. this then may hep you to cut down a bit. This will probably take up some time if you need to go back and take parts out of the script but if it makes your budget smaller then it will help in some way. 

The next thing included would be a budget itself. A budget is an excel spreadsheet that will add up what your film is going to cost. This will all be marked on the left hand side of the spreadsheet, in the next column, you would have 'number of days'. This means the number of days you need to hire that certain thing for. Then in the final column you would have prices. You would put in here all the prices of each resource at the price they cost to hire for a certain amount of days. You will then have a total budget of the film altogether. This budget will be an aim. You would aim to stay at this price meaning the amount of days you are hiring equipment for, needs to stay the same otherwise its going to cost more money. This means you need to make sure all the filming goes well and sticks to the timetable in order for your cost to stay as low as possible. here is an example of a budget. 

STEP 5- COMMUNICATION

The first thing communication contains is a script. This is included because the directors would talk to the actors or crew members to tell them what they have to do. They would explain what the story line is and what they will be needed to do. For example, you would explain to your actors that you want them to start in a certain place and what to do next. Eg. Walk towards the TV and pick up the remote. Or if you were talking to your camera crew, you may say to camera man 1 have a close up from behind the TV of the actor. This is all done through communication and talking to the cast and crew to inform them what they have to do.

The next thing included is the script breakdown. This is included because you would tell your cast and crew what colours are what. For example, you may give out a script breakdown to all cast and crew members. This will help them to know what they need. If you have made a list of all the things included like props and costumes and coloured them then it is easier for everyone involved to know what they need. You would explain to them that all props are in yellow and all speaking roles are in green (this is just an example). Then they would be able to find whatever they are using easier.

As well as these, storyboards are involved in communication. They are included because you would go through the storyboard and show the camera operators each picture. You would do this because then the camera crew can see where about's they will need to be standing when filming each shot. You would explain to them 'the actor will be stood facing the front, i want you to be at the right of her but a panning shot around to in front of her'. This would be communicating what you want to happen through talking instead of it being written down on paper for everyone to read and understand. Talking to your cast and crew may make things easier for some people to understand. Underneath are two different examples of storyboard. Some people will just draw their storyboard whereas others may write on the bottom of the picture to explain to themselves what they are wanting to see. 

The last thing included in communication is a call sheet. A call sheet would be involved because communication is all about talking and the call sheet is when you ring up your; cast and crew, hiring companies and any other things you need such as costume people or who your hiring props off. This is when you ring them up to make sure the contact numbers, names and addresses are correct etc. You may also use these if you need an extra rehearsal or shooting date that needs to be arranged. You would use these number to ask your cast and crew to see if they can make it. Call sheets are all about communication. They also explain to everyone the dates times and locations. This means your cast and crew could all get in touch with each other in case they were needed. Maybe your location is a large place and your actor may need to be at one side of the sight but then is suddenly needed at the other side. This means anyone from the crew or cast can get in touch with them and ask them to come over.


STEP 6- PERMISSION

There is only one thing included in permission and this is clearances and contacts. This is a letter that declares all that needs to be said. It will be signed by each cast and crew member in order for them to be used in the film. It will state things such as; 'you will be available to film at ...... location' This will then be filled in by the person. At the top of this letter there will be a space where the company/directors name and address would be and also a space for the cast or crew member to pout their name and address. At the bottom of this letter there will be a space for the members signature. This is in permission because it means you are being allowed to use the members, or even the companies you are hiring equipment from it is part of copyright that must be signed before being able to film.You have to sign for the right before you do anything in order for yo to use things that have already been produced. Here is an example of a permission letter.

Hopefully my information will help along the way of making a film.