The Filmmaking Process

The filmmaking process.
Making a movie is a hard job to do, and is even harder to make a good one. We as an audience
have seen many and enjoyed them every time that we get into a movie theater, but have asked
ourselves: How was this movie made?, How many people work to make it?, How long was this
movie being filmed?. We rarely do so or care about it, without even knowing the exhausting, long
difficult and careful process that a film requires.
This filmmaking process involves a large number of people, as creativity, time talent and money.
This process can be divided in five major stages: development, pre-production, production, post-
production and distribution.
Development
During this stage the story is selected or conceptualized, this story may come from a book, comic
book, another film, o videogame or an original idea. Then this story needs to be expanded or
stretched until a synopsis is established, after this a screenwriter comes and writes a screenplay,
this process takes several months to be finished. Although the screenplay may be rewritten many
times until the screenwriter feels solid with his work.
After the screenplay is done, its presented to investor or a studio, they analyse this script its
potential and its commercial possible success. Also investors usually ask for a director and actors
that the producer has in mind. When this analysis is done, the studio decides to move forward
(green light) or not. If the green light is given the pre-production starts to move forward.
Pre-production
During this stage every step of creating the film is carefully designed and planned.
The producer hires a director, at the same time the director hires an illustrator to help him
visualize images or how the characters will look, this is also called conceptual art.
A production budget gets established during this stage, this budget covers the expenses that the
film will need for its realization.
The nature of the film and the budget determines the size and type of crew that will be used
during filmmaking. Blockbusters usually employ a large number of cast and crew, while a low
budget or independent film may be made by 8 or 9 members of the crew.
This crew typically has the next positions:
Storyboard artist: creates visual images to help the director and production designer
communicate their ideas to their production team.
Director : responsible of the storytelling, creative decisions and acting of the film.
Assistant director: manages the shooting schedule and logistics of production.
Film producer: hires the crew and also has an impact over the big decisions that will be
made during filmmaking.
Production designer: creates the visual look and conception of the film, he is in charge of
the sets, make up and costumes.
Casting director: Is the one that proposes to the actors to fit certain role, he or she is in
charge of auditions.
Choreographer
Fight choreographer
Stunt doubles
Director of photography: the head of the photography of the entire film supervises all
cinematographers and camera operators.
Production sound mixer: he is the leader of all the sound department during the
production stage (sound effects, soundtrack, score, etc)
Composer
Production
During this stage is where the film is created and shot. More crew is hired in different charges of
production like property master script supervisor, assistant director, picture editor, etc.
A normal production day begins with the crew arriving on the set/location to prepare everything
to shoot, actors arrive later to record scenes, usually actors and the crew have different call times.
Things like set construction, dressing and lighting can take many hours or days, this is usually set
up in audience.
While the crew prepares the equipment to shoot, actors get into their costumes and go to the
makeup room, where they will get ready to stand in front of the cameras. The actors also rehearse
in front of the director to receive instructions or observations about the performance. Finally, the
action is shot, to get the shot the director has to be satisfied with the performance of the actors,
how it looks, the delivery timing, etc. the director can do as many takes as he wishes.
The assistant director will lead the instructions to coordinate, extras, cameramen, special effects,
etc. the script supervisor will note any continuity issues and the sound and the camera teams log
technical notes for the take on their respective report sheets. If the director decides additional
takes are required, the whole process is repeated.
When the shooting is finished for the scene, they will move on to the next scene, the crew will
dismantle everything to set everything for the next scene. This process is repeated, during the
shooting directors, producers , actors, crew meet to see the recorded footage to review it and to
see how the film is going.
Post-production
Here the video/film is assembled by the video/film editor. The shot film material is edited, many
scenes usually are cut from the whole recorded material. The production sound (dialogue) is also
edited; music tracks and songs are composed and recorded. Computer graphics visual effects are
digitally added. After this is finished the director decides or not to do reshoots to improve the
passing of the film.
Distribution
This is the final stage, here the film is released in cinemas or TV, blue-ray, etc. the film is
duplicated to certain cinemas for screenings to the public and critics, usually these screenings are
exhibited a week or 2 weeks before the actual public release. Press review, posters and other
advertisings are published for the film to be promoted.
Finally the film gets released in theaters, during a period of time normally between 4 or 5 weeks
depending on the demand of the film.

The Filmmaking Process

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The filmmaking process.

This crew typically has the next positions:

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