Pre-Production
Pre-Production is all the initial planning stage for the project. It is when most of the main creative decisions are made in regards to the look and feel of the project. More importantly, it is when the budget and scheduling are decided as well as the cast. Good planning in Pre-Production is necessary in order to make sure that the project will a) be finished and b) be good by the end of production.
Pre-Production Greenlit – At this point in the production, there is probably already a Producer and Director tied to the project. They will be the two who will serve as the ultimate leaders for the rest of the staff.
Decide Project Heads – Here, the Producer and Director will put together a team of other major staff members to head the various departments in the production. Examples are: the First Assistant Director, Director of Photography, Production Designer, Production Accountants, Location Scout, Casting Director, etc. etc.)
Script Breakdown – This is when the script is taken and broken down into parts to make it easier for the director and producer to determine how many shots are needed, where, and how much they will cost. A breakdown consists not only of how many scenes are in the project but also how many characters, props and locations on set or on location. If there are visual effects, it will also determine where those visual effects will happen. The information will then be relayed to the appropriate department heads who will begin to work on creating the right look, location and cast.
Script Revisions, Storyboards, Production Design, Previsualization – It is the Director’s job to make creative decisions and will work on all four of these stages interchangeable until satisfied they have a good idea of how the project will come together.
Script Revisions – The Director, along with the Producer and other executive members of the project, will take the script and make notes for changes. Those changes may be handled by either any number of people: the Director, the Producer, the original screenwriter, other scriptwriters, or even specially hired story fixers. And the script will continue to be reworked not only during this stage but right through the production, including shooting.
Storyboards – The storyboards are a visual script of the project. They are like one panel comics where each panel depicts a scene of the project with the dialogue often written underneath. Previously, these panels would also be used to create simple reels or films that illustrate the overall timing of the project, but this process has recently been replaced by Previsualization.
Production Design – The process of creating the overall look of the film. It often will involve the Director and Cinematographer. Also, production design can also include designs for sets and costumes as well as lighting and basic color. In big VFX heavy films, it will also include all the design work for all the computer-generated elements in the project.
Previsualization – Previsualization is similar to Storyboards and one of the newer tools in the Director’s arsenal. Aided by computer-graphics, previsualization is basically the an artificial set up of the project’s scenes in digital space. This allows the director to consider the project’s potential camera movements, staging, and choreography without expending a lot of unnecessary resources.
Budgeting, Scheduling, Financing, Legal – It is the Producer’s job to coordinate of the logistical aspects of the project. This includes reviewing the creative directions with the Director and discussing what is or isn’t feasible within the project. Also, depending on the nature of the project, the Producer may also become evolved in the overall creative direction of the project along with the director.
Budgeting – The Producer is in charge of the project’s funds. As such, it is also their job to allocate the right amount of money for each part of the project. Budgeting also extends from Pre-Production all the way through to Post-Production and includes matters such as: actor’s contracts, equipment rentals, location fees, licenses, VFX contracts, overhead etc. etc. Much of the Budgeting will be heavily dependent on the project’s schedule.
Scheduling – The time frame in which every aspect of the project is detailed into a set time and place. Scheduling will also include what staff are needed when and how many of each as well as what locations, sets, and props are needed for the various shots in the project. Scheduling and Budgeting are closely tied together where one will affect the other depending on what happens during the Production phase.
Financing – Unless the project is small, at some point the project will need outside funds in order to continue. Funds can come from a variety of sources, however the project’s financing does need to be secured before it can continue.
Legal – There are a lot of agreements and contracts involved in any project and it is important to make sure that those agreements are clear and legal. Also note that the industry is full of various unions who all have their own rules, so it’s important to have an experienced lawyer who can help navigate through any potential legal pitfalls.
Casting – During all of the above, both the Director and the Producer will be scouting for the right talents to fit the various roles in the project. This is usually a very back and forth process with multiple considerations such as availability, audience draw, talent, etc. etc. This process will often also affect both the project’s budget and scheduling depending on which talent’s are hired and what their contract fees and availability are like.
Production Green-Lit – Once all the creative and logistical sides of the project have been sorted, the project will be submitted for approval in order to receive the financing for the next phase. This approval will most likely come from the Executive Producers or Financiers who are funding the project. If they do not approve, the Producer and Director will either be sent back into pre-production to submit again or the project could be shelved.
It is worth noting that during this process, things do not happen linear. Rather the various steps will meld into one another as everyone scrambles to try to put together the best project possible.
Having said that, it is rare for a Director to be heavily involved in the logistical side of the project unless the Director is also the Producer. However it is not rare for Producers to become heavily involved in the creative side.
