There is more to film production than what goes on in front of the camera. The entire film production process involves a team of individuals working on different tasks that keeps the production smooth sailing. If you’re planning on learning more about filmmaking, this article can help you explore the world of film production.
The Film Production Process
Over the years, film production works have evolved but still kept the same core: producing quality content. There have been more and more production companies that have shown a passion for filmmaking. OneHouse Productions produces groundbreaking content that resonates and captivates the audience.
Learning about the film production process of successful production companies can allow you to explore their world further. The five key stages of film production are development, pre-production, film production, post-production, and film distribution.
1. Development Stage
Filmmaking always starts with script development. During this stage, filmmakers draft a script or polish a pre-existing one. The goal is to create content where characters are created, plot lines are discussed, and the entire storyline is ironed out. Overall, the script plays a vital role in the quality of the film.
2. Pre-production Phase
Pre-production requires research on the story, the cast, and the film’s location. After the development stage and finalizing initial details, a production company can create professional content. During pre-production, an entire production crew gets assigned to work on different parts of the film.
Assigning responsibilities to each production crew is part of the preparation for principal photography. This is where roles like director of photography, assistant director, and costume designer are assigned to crew members. The timeline speeds up with dozens, if not hundreds, of people, working on different aspects of the film. But the pre-production phase typically lasts a few weeks to a few months.
3. Film Production
Once the camera starts rolling, film production starts. It is important to note that pre-production and film production may overlap to stay on schedule. Sometimes to stay on schedule, additional crews get hired to take on responsibilities like supervising scripts and props. The additional crew checks to ensure the film production follows the agreed timeline.
4. Post-production
Like pre-production, post-production may overlap with film production since, during this stage, there are only a few tasks left before distribution. During post-production, the visual and audio files captured are assembled and added with visual and audio effects using a computer. Ultimately, post-production is mostly focused on editing and polishing the entire film to wrap up.
5. Film Distribution
With the post-production work done, the film is ready to be released. You might have noticed several key changes in film distribution within the last decade. Films used to be seen solely in theaters, but now you can watch films anytime and anywhere via streaming platforms. In the last few years, film distribution in theaters has been shortened compared to streaming platforms.
Film Production At Work
Every film set witnesses different daily actions, including some tasks simultaneously. And this can be described as organized chaos. Every film production crew member plays a vital role in ensuring the operation runs smoothly. Understanding some of the undertakings of a film production team can give you an idea of the importance of each role.
1. Performance Direction
There are different methods where performance direction is handled, mostly focused on directors and actors. Some directors are more particular than others and often have actors rehearse every performance for each shot. Other directors are more lenient and would swap ideas with actors, or they would let the actors work on their own.
2. Camera and Lighting Setup
Setting up the camera and proper lighting plays a major role in filmmaking. There are a lot of delicate factors to consider when setting up the camera and fixing the lighting. This can often take the production crew some time to do. Regardless, getting right and avoiding wasting a shot is extremely important.
3. Costume and HMU Preparation
One of the biggest hurdles in filmmaking is the limited time for every shot. That is why actors often arrive on set hours before shooting. Before shooting their scenes, the actors would need their hair, makeup, and costumes done. The actors get ready for filming with the help of hair and makeup (HMU) artists and costume designers.
4. Set Dressing
Setting and preparing the sets for every scene can sometimes take more than a day. A team of set designers decorates the locations of every scene to prepare for each shot. Since time is limited, the set design team works quickly and efficiently to avoid wasting a shot and missing deadlines.
5. Scene Filming
Once every piece of equipment, location, and actor is set, the director can start filming the scene. Depending on the number of shots it takes to get the perfect shot, sometimes the filming process is quicker than the preparations. Each scene can last seconds or a few minutes, varying based on the director’s working style.
6. Sound Capture
There are rarely exclusions when recording the sound during each shot. Dialogue, ambient noise, audio effects, and other sounds get recorded with visual images. Each scene’s sound and visual aspects are synced once the director calls out to start rolling.
7. Location Changes
It is not uncommon for films to shoot in several sets or locations, especially for bigger-budget films. The film production crew often starts prepping the next location even when some are still filming in another. This is a convenient way of saving time and money, a general method in filmmaking.
The Film Production Crew
Working with a competent crew is vital in film production, where time is of the essence. With the right production crew, you can produce quality content most efficiently. Each film production crew has a crucial role in producing quality films. The general public is more likely to recognize the actors, directors, and producers than the rest of the production crew.
But more people work behind the camera, making the film’s magic happen. Cinematographers, production and costume designers, HMU artists, and sound recordists play important roles in filmmaking.
The Art Of Film Production
Films are made by talented people passionate about filmmaking, and film production is a work of art. There is more to film production than simply picking up a camera and recording. The world of film production is complicated and delicate and yearns to be explored to keep creativity alive.
