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CVMB2223
AUDIO VIDEO
PRODUCTION
CHAPTER 2
C R E AT I V E P R O C E S S E S & P R O D U C T I O N
PIPELINE
PA R T 1
Prepared by :
Masyura Ahmad Faudzi
Dr. Nazrita Ibrahim
Updated (2019,2022) : Ts. T.J. Iskandar Abd. Aziz
OBJECTIVES

• At the end of this session, you should be able to :

– Describe the production approach to film making
– Identify and briefly describe the three (3) basic phases of production
pipeline
– Describe the concept of pitching, screenwriting, storyboarding, animatics,
casting, scheduling, funding and budgeting in the Pre-Production Phase
– Describe the concept of production phase
– Describe the concept of post-production

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PRODUCTION APPROACH

• What is the program’s main purpose?

– Entertain, amuse, excite or intrigue?
– Are specific methods being demonstrated?
– Is the goal to persuade the audience?
• Who is the program being made for?
– Individual or group?
– Age group?
– What is the most effective production method?
– General public or specific group?
PRODUCTION APPROACH

• How will the production be seen?

– Viewed online or large screen?
• What is the final product?
– Projected theatrical release? Corporate/educational use?
• What peripheral product will you be creating?
– DVD? Email-able trailers? Blu-ray?
• What equipment that you already own or you have access to?
– What do you need beside that?
• How much money and time that you want to spend?
VIDEO/FILM PRODUCTION PIPELINE

• Refers to the process or approach that we take to produce or create a film/video.

• Since many activities involves in producing a film/video, these activities need to be planned and
arranged properly.
• Different production company/house adopts different forms and variations of production
process, but the basic stages include:

Pre - Post-
Production
Production Production

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 VIDEO/FILM PRODUCTION PIPELINE

Preparation

Production

Post-Production
Pre-production
Pitching Screenwriting Direction Processing and printing of
Screenplay Storyboarding Camera operation film
Concept Art Lighting Film trailer
Animatics Sound recording Transferring film to video
Casting Acting Visual effects
Set/Costume/Properties 3D Modeling and Animation Sound effects
(props) design for CGI Synchronizing and assembling
Location scouting picture and sound
Funding and Budgeting Creating a rough cut
Assembling a crew Creating an online edit
Scheduling Creating release prints
Ethics and copyright Distributing and marketing

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PITCHING

Definition of Content of
pitching pitching

PITCHING
101 Objectives of
Target listener
pitching
PITCHING

A short presentation Definition of Content of

pitching pitching

PITCHING
101 Objectives of
Target listener
pitching
PITCHING

Definition of Content of
pitching pitching

PITCHING
101 Objectives of
Potential investor Target listener
pitching
People around you
PITCHING

Concise outline of the plot

Definition of Content of Genre of film
pitching pitching Description
Protagonist

PITCHING
101 Objectives of
Target listener
pitching
PITCHING

Definition of Content of
pitching pitching

PITCHING To improve idea

101 Objectives of To get casting idea
Target listener To believe in your idea
pitching
To compare to other
movie
PRE-PRODUCTION PHASE
• Encompasses tasks that
need to be done PRE-PRODUCTION
BEFORE the Screenwriting
shooting/recording Storyboarding
takes place. Concept Art
• Known as the Planning Animatics
or Ideation phase –the Casting
most important phase Set/Costume/Properties (props) design
in video/film production. Location scouting
• Determine the look and Funding and Budgeting
quality of the final Assembling a crew
video/film. Scheduling
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PRE-PRODUCTION PHASE

Story Development Pre-Visualisation Design Management

• Screenwriting • Concept art • Set Design • Casting
• Screenplay • Storyboarding • Costume Design • Assembling a crew
• Animatics • Props Design • Scheduling
• Location Scouting • Funding and Budgeting

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PRE-PRODUCTION PHASE: SCREENWRITING

• Screenwriting: A writer creates a story to be filmed.

– Playwriting/Stage writing:A writer creates a story to be performed on the stage.

• Need to have a good storyline.

– Scripted / unscripted
– Structured / unstructured

• Need to be able to tell what the story is about, the dialogue and action involve,
and how the situation/action is going to be filmed.
• Documentary: Even if you don't know what your interviewees will say or
what footage you might shoot, writing a script help predicting how your final
video to look like.

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PRE-PRODUCTION PHASE: SCREENWRITING

• Requires research
– Historical facts
– How to perform certain task
– Documentary:
• Getting to know your subject
• Help to formulate interview questions
• Finding supporting footage
– Understanding cultural value
– Understanding metaphor or image or things that symbolise a situation or an event

• The deliverable of screenwriting stage is a screenplay/script.

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PRE-PRODUCTION PHASE: SCREENWRITING

• Script: The script is a tool that the actor and rest of the crew use
while on set at a particular location.
– The “spec” script
– The “shooting” script
• Screenplay: script written to be played on screen
• The word script and screenplay are usually used interchangeably.

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PRE-PRODUCTION PHASE: SCREENWRITING

• The “Spec” (Speculation) Script is the version of a screenplay that writers

distribute to producers in the hope that it will be “optioned” (i.e. considered
for production). It primarily contains:
– Slug-Line (brief description of the setting)
– Business/action line (descriptions of characters/action)
– Dialog (the lines intended to be spoken by the actors)
• The Shooting Script is a much more detailed version of the spec script that
includes numbered scenes, specific camera angles and other technical
information.
– Contain the extra layer with everything that was left out of the script.

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PRE-PRODUCTION PHASE: SCREENWRITING

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SCREENPLAY

• A written version of the movie by • Why?

screenwriters – To tell a story
• It contains: – To act as the blueprint of the movie
– Movement • Time
– Expression • Actors

– Action • Emotion
• Location
– Dialogues
• Etc
SCREENPLAY
SCREENPLAY Slugline/ Scene
time Heading

outdoor

character Voice over

Action
dialogue

dialogue
SCREENPLAY – WRITING A
SCREENPLAY
Open ended
• To write a story, you need: Split stories between different protagonist
Scramble time, telling stories out of order
– Protagonist Etc.
– Goal
– Obstacle
• How to organize it – 3 Act Structure (Guidelines)
– Act 1 – the beginning / introduce the hero
It can also be
– Act II – the middle / torture the hero
– Act III – the end / save the hero
SCRIPT – ASK YOURSELF..

• Why do I want to tell this story?

• Why I am the best person to tell this story?
• What is my emotional connection to this story?
• Am I willing to dedicate my time to this project?
• How long is the final product?
• When and where is the film set?
• How many actors and crew do I need?
• Can I afford to make this movie?
PRE-PRODUCTION PHASE:
SCREENWRITING
• Bear in mind that when you are writing a script, you are not just writing for dialogue.
• Based on the story, need to plan for the following as well:
– Action/performance (actor)
– Lighting
– Camera shot
– Music (if necessary)
– Effects (digitally – CGI, practically (using real props) or combination of both)
– Environment
– Character internalization (look, personality, background)

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PRE-PRODUCTION PHASE: CONCEPT ART

• Concept Art: (artist/screenwriter/director) impression on how certain things related to the

film/video should look like.

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PRE-PRODUCTION PHASE: STORYBOARDING

• Storyboarding: A storyboard is a series of drawings intended to represent how

the film will be shot, including how each frame will be composed and how
subject and camera motion will occur.
• Provides visual layout of the key events as they are to be seen through the
camera lens.
• Serves as a guide for everyone working on the production.
• Need to understand what is the IDEA that you want to highlight in the shot,
and then highlight it..!
• Vary from simple to a very detailed ones (scene based).
• https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/storyboard-examples-film/

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• Spiderman 2

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PRE-PRODUCTION
PHASE:
STORYBOARDING

• Idea/storyboard
pitching – letting the
whole team know
about the story.

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PRE-PRODUCTION PHASE: ANIMATICS

• Collection of moving images taken from storyboard

used to preview scenes of live-action films before they
are shot (moving storyboard).
• Animatics bring a film storyboard to life by combining,
and synchronising a storyboard with its sound track
(dialogue/scratch voice, background music)
• Simple camera movement such as zooming and
tracking are also included in animatics.
• Gives early view of the whole film and acts as a guide
or a reference during the production stage.
• Might be done on selected scene, particularly the ones
that is complex to produce on a technical level.

'Despicable me 2' Animatics

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PRE-PRODUCTION PHASE: SET/COSTUME/PROPS DESIGN
• Set Design: Design and constructing sets where the film will be shot.
• Costume Design: Choosing or designing the clothing/costumes that the
actors wear.
• Properties (“Props”): Choosing or designing the tools and objects used in
the film.

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PRE-PRODUCTION PHASE: LOCATION SCOUTING

• Location Scouting: Choosing the locations where the

film will be shot.
• Need to consider the following when scouting for
location:
– cost – rental, lodging for crew, permit
– accessibility – whole building or part of it? can you filming
at night?
– distance from this location and the rest of your shoot –
traveling crew from location to another can be expensive
(with equipment)
– have access to resources – power supply, basic necessity
– Suitable light and sound level – too dark? too bright? too
noisy?
– Can you fake it?
– can you modify the set?
– Can you trick the audience into believing that you shot
your video/film at specific location.
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PRE-PRODUCTION PHASE: LOCATION SCOUTING

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PRE-PRODUCTION PHASE: CASTING

• Choosing actors to play roles.

• Based on character design description in screenplay.

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PRE-PRODUCTION PHASE: ASSEMBLING A CREW

• A crew is the group of workers on a film set who are responsible for facilitating production (as
opposed to acting).
– Someone to operate the camera
– Manage the lighting
– Manage audio recording (dialogue)
– Assistant to do everything (not related to filming ☺)

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PRE-PRODUCTION PHASE: SCHEDULING

• Scheduling: Coordinating all aspects

necessary to the production.
• A breakdown sheet can be used to
keep track what is needed during
shooting a specific scene.

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PRE-PRODUCTION PHASE: FUNDING AND BUDGETING
• Need to get someone to fund the
production. Either production
companies or independent investors
(for independent films).
• Need to convince the investor that
the story will sell. (need to provide
spec script, pilot episode, cast detail,
or even the credibility of the film crew
– who is the director?).
• Budgeting – expenses needed to carry
out the production
“Starship Troopers” director Paul
Verhoeven was having trouble
convincing the studio that it was
possible to create realistic giant
bugs. To ease their minds,
Verhoeven and effects supervisor
Phil Tippett spent six months
producing a 2-minute “bug test.”
The short, a simple scene of a
futuristic soldier being chased and
killed by two giant bugs, convinced
the studio to green-light the
picture.
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VIDEO/FILM PRODUCTION PIPELINE
Screenwriting Direction Processing and printing

Production
Pre-production

Post-Production
Storyboarding Camera operation of film
Concept Art Lighting Transferring film to video
Animatics Sound recording Visual effects
Casting Acting Sound effects
Set/Costume/Properties 3D Modeling and Synchronizing and
(props) design Animation for CGI assembling picture and
sound
Location scouting
Creating a rough cut
Funding and Budgeting
Creating an online edit
Assembling a crew
Creating release prints
Scheduling

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PRODUCTION PHASE
• Encompasses tasks that need to be done DURING the shooting/recording.
• The aim of this phase is to capture the sound and image necessary to tell the
story.
• Some aspect of production include:
– Direction
– Camera operation
– Lighting
– Sound recording
– Acting
– 3D Modeling and Animation for CGI

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PRODUCTION PHASE
• Direction: to direct the production
– Director who oversees all aspect of the production
– Assistant director
– Second assistant director
• Camera operation: oversees camera operation (cinematography)
• Lighting – oversees lighting design (cinematography)
• Sound recording
• Acting
• 3D Modeling and Animation for CGI

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PRODUCTION PHASE
Sound recording
• In traditional film production, sound is recorded separately from the image. This is known as “double
system” sound recording. There are at least four soundtracks in any feature length narrative film:
1 – the dialog track.
2 – the room tone track
3 – the music track.
4 – the sound effects track.
• Room tone is recorded silence. A minute of recording the sound of silence in a particular setting.
• Why? all recordings have a low level of “noise” in the background and, during the editing process it is
sometimes necessary to fill in gaps so that there is not an abrupt change in the tone of the background
noise.

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VIDEO/FILM PRODUCTION PIPELINE
Screenwriting Direction Processing and printing

Production
Pre-production

Post-Production
Storyboarding Camera operation of film
Concept Art Lighting Transferring film to video
Animatics Sound recording Visual effects
Casting Acting Sound effects
Set/Costume/Properties 3D Modeling and Synchronizing and
(props) design Animation for CGI assembling picture and
sound
Location scouting
Creating a rough cut
Funding and Budgeting
Creating an online edit
Assembling a crew
Creating release prints
Scheduling

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POST-PRODUCTION PHASE
• Encompasses all works that need to be done AFTER the shooting/recording
takes place, but before it is released in its final form.
• Some aspect of post-production include:
Processing and printing of film
Transferring film to video
Visual effects
Sound effects
Synchronizing and assembling picture and sound
Creating a rough cut
Creating an online edit
Creating release prints

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POST-PRODUCTION PHASE
Processing, printing and transferring film to video
• The first few steps of postproduction are routine, requiring more technical knowledge
than creative decision making.
– Processing: Developing the camera negative.
– Printing: Creating dailies* on DVD or a work print for the director and crew to see
– Transferring: Film transfer or “Telecine” to video for editing
• At the end of each day, that day's footage is developed, synced to sound, and printed
on film in a batch (or telecined onto video tape or disk) for viewing the next day by
the director, some members of the film crew, and some actors.
• Dailies serve as an indication of how the filming and the actors' performances are
progressing.

*Dailies - raw, unedited footage shot during the production of a motion picture
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https://nofilmschool.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_superwide/public/stagesofpostproductioncinemainfographic2.png?itok=4xjrL6tv
POST-PRODUCTION PHASE

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POST-PRODUCTION PHASE
Visual Effects
• Involve the integration of live-action footage and computer
generated imagery to create environments , events or objects
which look realistic, but would be dangerous, expensive, impractical,
or impossible to capture on film.

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POST-PRODUCTION PHASE

• Sound effect
– For the most part, sound effects are obtained separately by a “foley” artist
who coordinates sound effects in synchronization with the onscreen action
through a process known as “looping” – where a portion of the film is
repeatedly played to perfect the timing of the sound effects.
– Alternatively, for low-budget productions, libraries of prerecorded sound
effects can be used.

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POST-PRODUCTION PHASE
• Synchronisation: Synchronising picture and sound

• Assembling: the editor assembles a rough cut for timing and to make sure all
necessary footage is present.
– Rough Cut: Places the film in rough sequence from beginning to end according to the
screenplay. Dialog is in place, but sound effects, and music are incomplete.
– Online Edit: All of the final editing decisions and the final soundtrack mix are complete. The
film is ready for final output.
• Getting from Rough Cut to Online Edit requires creative editing.
– Editing is the arrangement of imagery and sounds into a sequence that tells the story of the film.
• Creating a release print : producing the final output following the format suitable for
distribution

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REFERENCE

• Sonja Schenk & Ben Long, The Digital Filmmaking Handbook, Fifth Edition, CENGAGE Learning, 2015.
• http://actfourscreenplays.com/screenwriting-blog/script-screenplay/
• https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/storyboard-examples-film/

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