GETTING A FILM MADE

Draw out a flow chart that shows the process of making a film from start to finish.

HOW MANY STAGES ARE THERE?

12! Each stage has a number of things that must be done with it

1. Idea

9. Sales

2. Development Finance 10. Marketing 3. Script Development 11. Exhibition 4. Packaging 5. Financing 6. Pre-Production 7. The Shoot 8. Post Production 12. Other Windows.

1. THE IDEA
Sources of inspiration Original ideas Real life stories

Remakes
Adaptations

 Producer Acquires the rights to a film Finance Creative and Commercial driving force

Director
On board early

Turn the idea into a film

Help to sell / get a good writer on board

 Writer yes they write!

Treatment
A one page description of main events and characters Well written / fit genre Pitch - Contains everything needed to sell the film One liner / Genre / Market / People attached / Rough budget / Brief synopsis

2. DEVELOPMENT FINANCE
Pitching the Project the producers uses the treatment and the pitch to get money to develop the script. Themselves Production Companies Sales / Distribution / Broadcasters Public Investment Private Finance

3. SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT
Synopsis key scenes and events agreed Step Outline Drafts

Revisions
Final draft

Sales Treatment

4. PACKAGING
Rough budget The Cast HoDs Editor / Production Designer / Director of Photography Detailed Budget and Production Schedule

Finance Plan and Recoupment Schedule

5. FINANCING
The Market producer must travel around the world. Competitive market different countries offer different tax breaks for investing in films. Investment 3 sources:

Private Individuals
Production Companies Public bodies Unless youre a huge film studio!

 Pre-sales Sell the rights to the film before its made: Sales Broadcasters Distributors first refusal to distribute film

Banks and Gap Funding Departments that specialise in film investments and offer loans
Completion bonds Financiers (other than studios) insist on having a completion bond in place insurance for the film and ensures it gets made GREEN LIGHT!

6. PRE-PRODUCTION
Kick Off Meeting develop the shooting script with HoDs Casting Casting director has to find all the actors needed. Avg film has 30 cast members availability / fees etc Storyboarding quick sketches to get exact shots director and director of photography to develop the look / structure of the film.

 Production Design: Design and build every set and aspect of the film Special Effects planning Effects takes months of planning physical effects (stunts, models, pyrotechnics or animatronics) or CGI Production Unit Production Accountant = Money / Production Manager = day to day money and admin / Line Producer = producer and financiers / 1 st Assistant Director = crew and schedule etc

7. THE SHOOT
First day of principle photography funds released, shooting begins! Camera Lighting and Sound Acting Special Physical effects

Chain of command

8. POST PRODUCTION
Rough cut assembles all the footage into the narrative sequence Post Production Sound once the footage is locked the sound department works on the audio track laying, creating and editing every sound Digital effects and titles digital effects and credits etc are added by special effects compositors Grade and colour final aspect of the picture edit is to adjust the colour and establish the fine aesthetic of the film

 Final Mix - after picture lock the rough sound mix goes to a dubbing theatre where the sound mixers set the final levels Final Cut After the final cut the film reaches full lock and is ready for duplication. It is the investors, sales and distributors who decide on the final cut very few directors get this say!

9. SALES
Selling the Product: The producer must use the services of a sales agent who specialises in film sales

The process of getting the film to the public is complex and time consuming. Need to use film distributors (film marketing companies specialise is marketing and releasing films).

 Sales agents operate between the distributor and the producer, helping them to assess products and negotiate deals

THE TRAILER

A trailer is made to show the film buyers the most marketable aspects of the film. It must sell the film without giving too much of it away show the selling points and whats unique about it. The producer will commission a promo and then distribution company will commission their trailer and tv spots

SALES TOOLKIT

The producer and sales agent gather everything they will need to sell the film to distributors. Sales pack everything about the film trailer, one page sheet of key elements, estimated box office figures etc

TAKING THE FILM TO MARKET

Market is saturated with films. The producer must go out of their way to attract attention to their film. With theatrical and DVD release shrinks it is becoming more difficult to sell films to cinemagoers. The producer must create a buzz about their film

 Critical acclaim good indicator of quality Audience enthusiasm evidence people will see it. Having a good film!

SCREENINGS.

High profile screenings at top film festivals can create interest Stars promotional work

DEALS Now the film has interest the producer can negotiate good deals with distributors around the world. The prodcuer negotiates a deal with a distributor for the rights to distribute the film across certain territories (countries or one or more countries with the same language/culture). Distributors have the rights to market the film and negotiate deals with cinemas

MARKETING

The marketing team look at the films usp and the best way to hook the audience Work out how much money they think can be made based on the target audience and draw up a marketing budget. Must carefully consider the target audience and give them what they want.

THE AUDIENCE

Test screenings see how the film is received Marketing is all about word of mouth need to make people want to see it. Need to get the balance right if they start too early it could dissipate before the release. Too late and its not seen either.

ADVERTISING

Posters Cinema trailers TV Spots

Difficult to get peoples attention high marketing budgets. Needs to be targeted just right.

PRESS AND MEDIA COVERAGE

Television, radio, newspapers and magazines all help to create positive word of mouth. Positive reception in the form of reviews, interviews etc

THE INTERNET AND NEW MARKETING MODELS

Targeted marketing more efficient New ways of marketing through websites and digital technology

SELLING THE FILM TO EXHIBITORS.. Distributor needs to negotiate with cinemas to get the film to the public The cinema programmer watches all the films and plans their exhibition schedule key decision makers. They choose what they will show based on what they think their audiences will want to see. Exhibitors rely on blockbusters for much of their revenue putting large distributors in a position of power packages persuade them to take their less commercial products.

EXHIBITION