Production
Production is the process of actually setting up and shooting the various shots needed for the project. The process is usually quick, from a few days or several months for even the largest blockbusters. As such, project shoots are famously chaotic.
Production Green-Lit - Pre-production is finished and approved and you are onto the Production phase of the project. But before you go into shooting the actual footage, the project need to have:
Completed the shooting script and storyboards.
Tested for cameras and lighting
Signed the talent cast.
Fitted costumes and tested make-up.
Secured the on and off-site shooting locations.
Started set construction.
Secured necessary props for the project.
Started rehearsals (if possible).
Distribute Script / Storyboards to Production Crew - Now that the project is in full production, it is time to review the script and storyboards one more time before the department heads (Director of Photograph, Assistant Director, etc etc) call in more crew members. These department heads will in turn take the information given to them by the director and pass it on to the crew so that everyone is on the same page in regards to the project's creative vision and how they will achieve it.
Crew Call To Set / Location - The shoot has been scheduled and the crew are called to the actual shooting location. This could be one of two places: a real-life location or a sound stage.
Location Move - The process to move all the staff and equipment to a real-life location.
Build / Dress Set - The process of building a new set or dressing an existing set specifically for the project.
On-Set Preparations - It is time to shoot and the production crew are called to the set or location. They will arrive first and will set up for the shot. The set themselves could either be on a Set built inside a sound stage or it could be on Location. Regardless, the process is the same:
Initial Light Set Up - Lighting is very critical for visual media by providing instant visual cues to the viewer in regards to the time of the shot within the story: day, night, dawn, dusk. It is also an artistic tool and a good director will have a key understanding of how lighting and shadows can compose the frames to catch the viewer's attention or point them towards something critical to the scene.
Initial Camera Set Up - Cameras are moving entities in the shooting process and it requires a lot of effort to make sure they are in the right place for each shot. There is a lot of technical work going into setting the cameras up for each shot. Also, the cameras need to be in the right place in order to reduce the number of unnecessary takes for the acting talent.
Script Revisions - It is important to note that script revisions can still be happening while the crew is setting up for the actual shoot. The Director might decide to make a change while he's on set or there might be an incident that forces a change. Regardless, revisions will still be made and the changes could either come from the Director or the Screenwriter, but usually by this point in the production it is the Director will be making the actual adjustments.
Storyboard Changes - As the script is revised, storyboards will be changed in order to give the Director a visual cue of how the changes will affect the project. Storyboards can also be changed on the fly to make sequences clearer or more exciting depending on the Director's creative vision.
Cast Call - The talent are often scheduled to arrive after the Once the initial shot set up is complete.
Director-Cast Check In - By the time the talent have arrived Director should a firm idea of what shots will be shot and also how they will be shot. He will then take the time to discuss those ideas with the talent and allow them to talk collaboratively about the upcoming shoot.
Hair / Make-Up / Wardrobe - Depending on how extensive the process is, this can happen either directly after the Director Check In for minimal hair and make-up or the talent may be called in at the same time as the rest of the crew to prepare more elaborate hair and make-up for the shoot.
Shooting - The process of actually taking shots for the film. This can be very chaotic and everyone will be working frantically to try to stay on schedule. Essentially the process happens like this:
The specific shot being taken will be announced.
The lights and cameras will be adjusted for that shot.
The Director will check the set up and then give direction to the acting talent as well as the cameraman, grips and the boom operator.
On the Director's cue, the shot will be taken. There may be a test shot as well as multiple takes until the Director is satisfied.
After the shot is taken, the Director will announce the next shot and the process will repeat itself until all the day's shot are complete or the staff run out of time.
Green-Lit for Post-Production - The production staff will repeat steps 3 through 8 will until all the shots are completed for the project.
It is worth noting that what shots are taken on any given day has no relationship to the linear nature of the story. Rather, shots will be taken according to the external factors required for each scene. For example: if much of the movie takes place in New York City and there is location shoots, the production staff will shoot all those shots at the same time, regardless of if they occur in the beginning, middle or end of the story and it is up to both the Director and Producer to identify those shots and have all the required props and costumes ready for that time period.
