Step 1: Idea and Development
Finding the initial idea for the film is the core of the whole filmmaking process. Not every idea for a film is a good idea for a film, and indeed, most concepts won’t make it to the next level. But once you find an idea that excites you, you will need to develop it so it forms the foundation of your film. This phase of the process will help you understand exactly what you want to say and how you want to say it, and will make it easier for you to convey it to other people, on-set and off-set, thus making sure that everybody’s on the same page.
Development is where the creative juices start flowing, the story takes shape and begins to mold together. A Producer will use every resource they can grab onto until they find a story worth pursuing.
Step 2: Pre-Production
Many consider the pre-production phase the most important phase in the filmmaking process. In pre-production you plan all the logistical and creative aspects of the production, while trying to think about all possible problems and tackle them in advance. For that reason, a good, comprehensive pre-production can save you a lot of time, money and effort.Try to estimate how many days of production you’re going to need in order to get all the wanted audio and visual materials, and plan your days in the most cost-effective way possible. Budget should also be taken under account when planning the production itself and it’s important to keep track on expenses at all times.
After you have finalized your script, fully casted your film, booked all of your equipment, locked all your locations, hired the remaining crew, completed you story board and mastered your shot list, you should now be feeling pretty good because you are ready for Principle Photography.
During Production, the 1st AD will run the set and make sure everything is happening in a timely manner. The 1st AD is responsible for onset safety and making sure each department is working while monitoring how much time is needed for each respective department.The 2nd Assistant Director works directly with the 1st AD and is responsible for preparing the daily call sheets and making sure the talent reports to set. This means making sure the talent has gone through wardrobe and makeup and is camera ready.
Step 4: Post-Production
After you have completed principal photography you are now in Post Production. Time to bring in you editor, composer, sound designer, music supervisor, VFX artist, and colorist. Post production can be a long and tedious process.
The director will work closely with the editor to choose the takes they like best. A post supervisor may be hired to oversee the post process and make sure everything is happening on time.The editor will use the notes from the script supervisor to help them navigate through the sea of footage. Hopefully you will not need to schedule re-shoots or replace dialogue. An important thing to remember about the production process is that the film is what you set out to make, but the movie is what you produced.
This is the time to title the film. Although all those things may seem as “final touches”, they have a great influence on the film’s atmosphere and message.
Step 5: Distribution
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