Overview of Professional Film

Production
By

Loris Greaud

Stages of the Filmmaking Process

Development
Preproduction
Production
Postproduction

Development
Begins from the moment someone
says Lets 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
Synopsis
Treatment

Screenplay
(Authors Final)
Shooting Script

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
slaves 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

Written in master
scene form.
Usually only the first
shot of a scene is
described.
All dialogue is
included.

(authors final)
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.

Screenplay Format

Producer

The termproducer 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

Producers own track record

Option a property
Option stars
Option a director/writer

Preproduction
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.

Storyboard

Script Breakdown Sheet

Location/
Time of
Day
Character
s
Costumes
Props

Mechanical
Effects
Special
Equipment
Stunts
Transportation
/ Food

Shooting Schedule

Efficiency
Availability
Performers
needs
Guild regulations
Psychology

Budget

Cast
Crew
Equipment /
Supplies
Sets /
Locations

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
D IR E C T O R
R e s p o n s i b le f o r c o o r d i n a t i n g a ll o f t h e a r t i s t i c a n d t e c h n i c a l a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e p r o d u c t i o n p h a s e .

F ir s t A s s is ta n t D ir e c to r
S e c o n d A s s is ta n t D ir e c to r
S econd S econd A D
P r o d u c t io n A s s is t a n t

D ir e c to r o f P h o to g r a p h y

P r o d u c tio n S o u n d M ix e r

R e s p o n s ib le f o r t h e " lo o k "
o f t h e f ilm

R e s p o n s ib le f o r t h e lo c a t io n
s o u n d r e c o r d in g .

G a ffe r

C a m e ra O p e ra to r

K e y G r ip

E le c t r ic s

F ir s t A C
S econd A C
L o a d e r / C la p p e r

G r ip s
D o lly G r ip

B o o m O p e ra to r

C a b le P u lle r

Other Crew Possibilities

Production
Designer
Art Director
Costume
Designer

Wardrobe
Makeup
Stunts