FILM MAKING PROCESS

Phase #1: Development

Before a film can get started, it needs to go through the “development” phase. This
phase includes the creation, writing, organizing and planning of a film project. The
budget must be set, cast goes through auditions, the location is decided, and
multiple scripts are written. Many times, writers and directors create storyboards to
entice producers to finance the film.

Pre-Production
Phase #2: Pre-Production
Once a film or digital media has gotten out of development, it’s not quite time to start
filming. Although that day is getting ever-closer, there first needs to be a pre-
production phase. While cameras are not yet rolling, pre-production can be just as
intense as the filming itself.

During the pre-production period, filmmakers need to know where they’re able to
shoot, who will be in their film, how much their budget will end up being, and what
changes might need to be made. They also need to have crew members lined up,
sets and costumes created, if need be, and work with local cities for cooperation to
film in different parts of town.

Pre-production can go by in a flash, and the more prepared a filmmaker is, the better
their film can end up. There should also be backup plans in case things change, such
as a city having an emergency that prevents the project from filming. Once the pre-
production phase is complete, it is on to the filming phase of production.

Phase #3: Production

At long last, the film is ready roll. Production is the quickest, and sometimes the
shortest portion of filmmaking and digital media production. How long it takes to
film depends on variables like the number of locations, the length of the film, and if
any key members, such as leads, are off set for any portion of the filming.

As challenging as development and pre-production can be, production itself can be

even more challenging. With high-profile films, reports of a bad production can sully
a film’s reputation before anyone has even seen it. “Waterworld” saw its budget
balloon to nearly twice its original $100 million estimate and behind-the-scenes
upheaval, resulting in toxic buzz. However, the film did eventually make a profit. Even
more fascinating is “Titanic,” which defied a rocky production to dominate at the
Oscars and, at one point, take the crown as the highest-grossing film of all-time.

Even if a production goes smoothly, it can still be stressful. A strong production

depends on strong communication. Directors must be clear about their visions.
Filmmaking is a collaborative process, and nowhere is the collaboration more
important than during the production phase. After the first scene is filmed in
production, post-production begins.

Phase #4: Post-Production

If someone saw a rough cut of a special effects-heavy blockbuster with no post-
production additions, they wouldn’t be all that excited. The audience would be
confused about why it looks so weird, without music or effects. Post-production is
when the footage is edited, visual effects are added, music is composed, and titles
are finalized.

For footage to become a film or digital media, it needs to go through a successful

post-production phase. Editing is one of the most important parts of making a film,
but it’s easy to overlook. Editors need to create a pace for the film. If a film is drags
or the plot develops at too accelerated of a rate, the blame can be placed on bad
editing.

Despite its name, post-production happens in conjunction with filming. Since the
editors, effects artists, sound designers, and composers don’t need to be on-call for
scenes, they can spend this time fulfilling their roles. They can also help to point out
issues with filming that are preventing them from doing the best job possible.

Post-production can help a filmmaker’s efforts and sacrifices feel like they’re finally
paying off. It is where raw footage can be refined and begin to resemble a real
movie. By no means is it easy, but it can be encouraging.

Phase #5: Distribution

With so many different mediums, such as movie theaters, television, home video,
digital media and streaming, there are various distribution possibilities. What kind of
distribution a film gets can depend on its quality and the pull of the filmmaker or
studio.

An independent filmmaker’s first feature is unlikely to get the film into 3,000 theaters
nationwide, since they’re far too unproven and not financially backed to make that
happen. However, they can try to reach an audience and find a distributor by
submitting their film for a film festival. Filmmakers like Steven Soderbergh and
Quentin Tarantino have gone from obscurity to fame thanks to film festival success.

Getting a film or digital media made doesn’t guarantee its distribution however it is
imperative for filmmakers, because distribution is required for a film to make a profit.
The better distribution a film or digital media receives the more it can hope to make.

Any filmmaker needs to have reasonable expectations with distribution. They can
and should love their film, but they should also know that it might not get released
right away. If a studio isn’t pleased with the final cut of a film or digital media, they
might demand reshoots or delay the film. Films that have a long period between
post-production and release are known as “sitting on the shelf.” To keep this from
occurring, there needs to be guidance and care with every part of the filmmaking
process, leading up to successful distribution.

Final Thoughts
They call it “show business,” for a good reason. While creativity is always important,
the people involved in film production need to have good business sense. It can cost
hundreds of thousands of dollars to make even modestly budgeted feature films and
digital media.

Reading about these five phases can help you prepare, but you should never take for
granted how much effort you will need to put in. Every day can present new
challenges, and filmmakers who’ve been at this for decades can tell you that every
film project is different. As long as people are able to see these sacrifices and
processes as worthwhile, filmmaking and digital media production will continue to
be a thriving artform.

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