PRE-PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS UNIT 4

unit 4 pre production powerpoint

UNIT 4: PRE-PRODUCTION PORTFOLIO 

ASSIGNMENT 1: PRE-PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS

The requirement of a moving image production

Financing

Film finance is an aspect of film production that occurs during the development stage prior to pre-production, which determines the potential value of a proposed film. Financing is crucial because filmmaking is an expensive business, especially a Hollywood film. is important for a production for the company to manage their money.

the producer must secure enough funding to make the film at the highest possible standards. To obtain the investment needed to make the film, the producer must travel to potential investors and successfully pitch his project. They will then draw up contracts to seal financing deals between the producer and investors or financiers. there are also departments of banks that specialise in film finance and offer film production loans.

The company would have to consider the types of things that will need to be effectively financed. The cast and crew need to be paid, The facilities may need to be hired, The equipment must be purchased or hired such as cameras and lighting, Props and costumes must be created and provided and transport between the production’s locations must be considered.

Public Funding

This refers to funding that is provided by a publicly funded agency, scubas the National Lottery, or funded via grants provided to support the arts from the Department of Culture.

The BFI is the largest public film fund in the UK, they invest over £26 Millions of lottery funds to support the development of film production within the UK. In order to be funded by the BFI, you need to apply online and pitch your idea, they will then review all applications and choose the best.

Advantages of this scheme is that they allow filmmakers to be granted funding relatively easily based more on their ideas as oppose to their credentials as they fund smaller scale films.

Disadvantages is that they have to choose out of many applications who to allocate their limited funding to, so it will be difficult to be chosen and your ideas will have to be the best. BFI (British Film Industry)

Private Funding

Private funding is funding accrued from investors. Therefore the film production often has to be seen as financially attractive, this means the ability to make a profit. Examples include;

Equity based financing is simply having investors contribute money to the production in exchange for a percentage ownership interest in the film and the profits derived from the exploitation of the film. When dealing with investors, the main thing is to be upfront with them regarding the production.

Crowdfunding is a financing method that involves funding a project with small donations via private donations, rather than seeking substantial sums from a small number of investors. The funding campaign and transactions are typically conducted online through dedicated crowdfunding sites often in conjunction with social networking sites. You can do crowd funding simply by putting your idea on a website such as “IndieGoGo.com”. 

Advantages of this are that if people like your idea, then you will find it easy to raise funds and are able to reach out to more people as oppose to one organisation. 

Disadvantages of this are that if no one likes or sees your idea, you will not get funded, and so you will be left unable to produce your movie.

An example of this would be when Oscar winning directors The Coen Brothers struggled to raise $750,000 for their first film ‘Blood Simple’ (1984). They ultimately locked in about 65 private investors, being entrepreneurs, doctors and small business owners, with most of them contributing $5,000 to $10,000. The film grossed just under $4,000,000 at the box office.

Timescales

The effective management of time is essential to a pre-production.

Cast and crew will often have other commitments in their schedules, therefore planning must carefully consider when all the required components are available at any given time. Realistic schedules for production and post production must be accurately thought through, if shooting overruns this can impact not only cast and crew availability but also budgets.

Titanic

Original release date: July 2, 1997

Eventual release date: December 19, 1997

James Cameron's retelling of the Titanic story was itself – in production, its own kind of disaster. Members of cast and crew were taken ill after spending day after day submerged in water. Cameron himself was cited as the source of much on-set tension, with star Kate Winslet admitting that she was terrified of the director. Another mysterious occurrence would be when the lobster chowder was laced with the drug PCP, leading to 50 members of cast and crew being hospitalised. With all these incidents, it's no surprise that the film was delayed a few months, Titanic proved to be one of the World's most enduring hits, and one of the most successful movies ever made.

Facilities

It is important to carefully plan out pre-production since problems might occur when planning does not take place, such as going over budget. Any creative media production will involve the use of equipment and facilities to capture, record, edit and manipulate the raw material into the finished product. Footage and audio will need equipment and perhaps studios to record and capture the sounds and images that are required. 

Computer software is at the heart of the production and post-production process that is used to create all digital media products. Professional production companies will either use their own equipment and facilities or hire what they need for a specific production from facility houses. They might even outsource some of the work, such as postproduction special effects, to a specialist company.

A key element of pre-production is the consideration of what materials and equipment will be required in order to successfully produce the film.

Production companies generally take equipment on rental basis. You can rent camera equipment for certain span of time i.e. mostly per day basis at an affordable price according to the budget. Depending upon the classification of camera types, customers mainly demand: Canon and Sony DSLR’s since it has the highest demanding product of the buyers for its high resolution, focused lens and camera quality. More various film equipment for rental includes, lenses, light packages, microphones, monitors, media and storage, batteries and stabilisers and many more. There are many places to purchase or rent camera equipment, such as shops the specialise in cameras and online companies. Depending on the scene, different cameras, lighting and lenses might be needed for certain shots and days of shooting, this can be expensive for the production company.  

Production designers are responsible for the visual concept of a film, television or theatre production. They identify a design style for sets, locations, graphics, props, lighting, camera angles and costumes, while working closely with the director and producer. Once the concept is decided, designers usually appoint and manage an art department, which includes a design and construction team. Depending on the scene, certain props and set design is required at given times.

The post-production phase of creating a film usually takes longer than the actual shooting of the film and can take several months to complete because it includes the complete film editing, colour correction software, and the addition of music and sound such as Foley. Through post-production it is possible to change the intention of the movie through the use of colour grading tools and the addition of music and sound, the atmosphere of the movie can be heavily influenced. For instance, a blue-tinted movie is associated with a cold atmosphere and the choice of music and sound increases the effect of the shown scenes to the audience. 

Locations

It is important to check out appropriate locations during the pre-production phase. This can save lots of time and money during the production stage. Having crew, talent and equipment out on location can be very expensive and so you need to maximise the amount of material that you can produce in the shortest time possible. You also need to ensure that the locations are suitable for your purpose, that you can obtain permission, if necessary, to work at the location, and that you are aware of any risks and health and safety issues that may be present. You will also need to secure permission from any people who might feature in your product (for example, people working at a location that you intend to use). A location reconnaissance (or recce) is a visit to a potential production location that is carried out during pre-production to ascertain its suitability. The information that you bring back from the recce will inform the production schedule as you will be able to find out about distance, access, power supply, potential problems over weather, health and safety issues and any costs associated with using that particular location. Details from the recce should be recorded on a location visit sheet and attached to your production schedule so that all members of the production team are aware of the information that has been gathered. 

Personnel 

Careful consideration must be given to match peoples skills with jobs allocated Sourcing the right personnel for a media production is another important aspect of the pre-production process and you will need to ensure that the production team is the right size for the job and that each member has the right balance of knowledge, skills and experience to undertake the specific role that is needed.

Any film must clearly identify the personnel required, this is not just cast and crew, but also any extras needed, or the advice of experts or specialists who may be working to ensure accuracy/smooth shooting.

The producer is responsible for managing the production from start to finish. They develop the project from the initial idea, makes sure the script is finalised, arranges the financing and manages the production team. The producer also coordinates the filmmaking process to ensure that everyone involved in the project is working on schedule and on budget.

The director is primarily responsible for overseeing the shooting and assembly of a film. he or she would not be able to make the film without the help of numerous other artists and technicians. A director works at the centre of film production, but is inextricably linked with dozens of other people.

The screenwriter provides more than just dialogue for the actors. He or she shapes the sequence of events in a film to ensure that one scene transitions to the next so that the story will unfold logically and in an interesting way.

The production designer is the first artist to translate the script into visual form. He or she creates a series of storyboards that serve as the film's first draft. Storyboards serve as the visual guide throughout the production and will be a template to follow during the editing process. 

The art director is responsible for the film's settings such as the buildings, landscapes and interiors that provide the physical context for the characters. This person is responsible for acquiring props and decorating sets

The costume designer designed the clothes, Costumes convey a great deal about the film's time period and the characters who wear them, including their economic status, occupation and attitude toward themselves.

The cinematographer is responsible for capturing the script on film. When the director wants a shot to achieve certain visual or atmospheric qualities, the cinematographer achieves it through the choice of lighting, film stock and careful manipulation of the camera.

The editor organises the footage and arranges individual shots into one continuous sequence. even in a single scene, dozens of different shots have to be chosen. It is the editor's choices about which shots to use, and the order in which to place them.

Actors are responsible for portraying the characters in a film, they work closely with the director and cinematographer. Considering an actor's role within this larger context also suggests that his or her job is much more difficult than just appearing on the set and reciting lines.

Additional Material 

All media products require raw material for the actual content of the film. This material can be gathered and generated in various ways. Some will be original material which is produced by the production company. Such as undertaking a series of test shoots or recordings. This can help with further developing ideas during the pre-production stage, helps decide what original material will be included in the final product and what is the best way to get the effect desired. An alternative to this is using existing archive material, such as photographs or film footage, material from a sound or photographic library or sourced from the Internet, or some existing music or graphics. Additional material that needs to be considered for pre production includes scripts and storyboards, props and costumes and assets which as purchases or produced for production that carries value.

Codes and Regulations

One of the reasons that media companies undertake pre-production work is to make sure that what they are planning to produce adheres to the relevant codes of practice. laws and regulations that govern and control their industry. A Code of practice can be a document that complements occupational health and safety laws and regulations to provide detailed practical guidance on how to comply with legal obligations. 

Some of the legal issues that you must consider during pre-production, includes obtaining permission to use any copyright material, the health and safety considerations that you should be aware of before production can begin, and gaining permission from people who may appear in your work. 

It is important for extensive health and safety procedures so accidents can be prevented. The way to stay safe is to look at each shooting set up or location individually and think of what exactly could go wrong. This is called a risk assessment, this involves Identifying all the hazards, Evaluate the risks and Identify measures to control the risks. There are easy solutions to prevent hazards. To avoid tripping, Move or tape down cables and objects that could be tripped over. Lifting hazards can be resolved by carefully lifting heavy or dangerous things, or ask someone to help you. When a camera operator or cast member is walking during a shot, make sure they are comfortable with their route and there is nothing that could cause problems (a camera operator who needs to walk backwards for a shot should have an assistant to guide them and/or check their route).

Copyright is an automatic right that protects a piece of written or recorded work from being copied or used by anyone else without the copyright owner’s permission. Copyright owners can choose to grant permission or license others to use their work, usually for a fee, while retaining ownership over the rights themselves. Like other forms of intellectual property, copyright can be bought and sold. You will need to write to the copyright holder and ask for permission to use the material. You will often have to make a payment for the right to use the material. It is important that all relevant clearances for copyrighted materials must be obtained and documented.

The Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT) is the UK trade association for independent content producers in feature film, television, animation, children's and digital media. Pact helps to shape the best possible regulatory and legislative environment for the independent production sector to grow domestically and internationally. Pact is highly influential in shaping the current production business environment, giving independent UK producers their intellectual property rights. Pact is socially responsible and seeks to influence the wider industry to commit to diversity on and off the screen. 

The Proposal

When completing pre-production, it is vital to follow industry accepted formats. The first process in film production is generally the writing of a proposal, a film proposal is to attract key cast and crew. The proposal is a visual representation of how your film is going to look and the vision as a completed end-product. You use it to excite key crew and cast to come onboard your project.

the proposal sums up the premise of your film. 

A film proposal contains a brief synopsis, key character information, sums up the structure of the narrative and considers a target audience. Proposals are used as a basis with which to formulate ideas over a project, and then ultimately to ‘pitch’ the concept to prospective investors.

The introduction or synopsis is the most critical element of your film proposal. It tells how compelling the project is and reveals how passionate the filmmaker is. If your synopsis is dynamic and is strategically placed, it will remain active in the reader’s mind.

The structure is a visual industry and the person reading the film proposal needs to visualise the story, this includes a brief summary of each scene that includes pictures. Many screenplays are organised into a 3-act structure. The Set Up, classically 30 minutes long us where the situation and characters and conflict are introduced. The Conflict, often an hour long, is where the conflict begins and expands until it reaches a crisis. The Resolution, the conflict rises to one more crisis and is then resolved. The characters and the actors playing them are described in detail and why their experience is important to the film.

The Film treatment is also part of the film proposal, it should read like a short story and be written in the present tense. The film treatment presents the entire film including the ending, and use some key scenes and dialogue from the screenplay it is based on. It is more detailed than the synopsis and may include details of directorial style that an outline omits. 

The proposal includes brief biographies of the key crew (e.g. Producer, Director, Writer, Director of Photography, Sound Editor, etc.). This also includes their background information, such as their experience in film and why they are beneficial to the project. The stronger the crew is, the more likely the project will be funded.Material is also included inside the proposal, Documents such as A mood board and a Storyboard. Target Audience and an Abbreviated Budget is also considered.

Master scene script

Once the proposal is complete a script can be written. The accepted formatting for film scripting is done in what is known as the master scene script. Prospective studios will not even read scripts that are not produced in this format

A master scene scrip is the standard and accepted format for film production. It is designed to offer a straightforward and accessible format for producers to show to investors. It offers a mix of description and dialogue to allow the reader to easily follow the story. 

It is split into scene headings, narrative description, and dialogue blocks.

Industry standards are a set of criteria within an industry relating to the standard functioning and carrying out of operations in their respective fields of production. In other words, it is the generally accepted requirements followed by the members of an industry.

A location in a screenplay is described by the screenwriter to the reader so that they instantly understand the most important three pieces of information about it. Whether it's inside or outside, Where the scene takes place and the Time of day. These elements form the Scene Heading otherwise known as the Slug line.

Narrative description is the telling of the story as it unfolds on screen. It begins directly below the scene heading. The writing should be lean and visual and it should have enough flair to engage readers. Unlike a novel, everything in a screenplay must be recorded in terms of picture and sound. Therefore, narrative description should never include anything that cannot be seen or heard. For example, you cannot describe a character's feelings. To convey a character's feelings, thoughts, and memories they must be externalised in some way. This can be through action, dialogue or flashback scenes. It is a customary assumption in the movie industry that 1 page equals 1 minute of time on screen. The average film is 120 minutes; Therefore, the script should be 120 pages in length.

The Slug line. Each introduction of a scene appears on a single line called the slug line which contains the location information and time of day. Almost all slug lines begin with INT. (interior) or EXT. (exterior).

The Shot. A shot focuses the reader's attention on something specific within the scene, such as a person or object. Such as POV.

The Action Element. This sets the scene, describes the setting, and allows to introduce the characters. Action is written in real time. all major sound effects should be capitalised.

Character Name. This appears capitalised. On introduction only, the name should also include a specific age and gender. This information is critical for not only comprehension of the story, but casting and budgeting as well.

The Dialogue. The dialogue reflects the personality of each character and give an insight into them. The dialogue should sound real and conversational. 

Parenthetical. Parenthetical’s (or "wrylies") appear left within brackets beneath the character name and are used to express an attitude for the actor who is speaking. 

Parenthetical’s should be short, to the point and descriptive.

The Transition Element. Scene transitions such as CUT TO: and DISSOLVE TO. Transitions should be omitted if the film is rapidly cutting between scenes. Transitions are primarily used to denote a major shift in time or location.

Scripting: shooting script

Shooting scripts are scripts used during production to shoot the movie. They are written with much more detail than spec scripts and may include, among other things, scene numbers, editing transitions, and camera angles. Since shooting scripts are used in production, they are formatted to include any helpful information that the director may request. They are not used for selling purposes. Shooting scripts can be difficult to read and will turn off prospective investors. This approach is used when the script is going directly into production.   

In broad terms, the main difference between the screenplay and the shooting script is that the screenplay is a selling tool, whereas the shooting script is a production tool. Techniques are included to help the crew shoot on set – these can include camera composition/movement, and editing. When a screenplay is approved for production, the scenes are assigned numbers. These remain constant through any revisions (which are printed on coloured paper) The numbers are included in the script alongside the scene headers. The numbers provide a convenient way for the various production departments to reference individual scenes.

Storyboarding

Once a script is completed, this is converted into a storyboard. A storyboard is a graphic representation of how the film will unfold. It evaluates a screenplay and pictures it in separate shots. They’re visually translated into a series of panels with illustrations or pictures representing each shot, with illustrated notes about what's going on in the scene and what's being said in the script during that particular shot.

It helps film directors and cinematographers visualise the scenes and find potential problems before they occur. Besides this, storyboards also help estimate the cost of the overall production and saves time. Some directors such as Alfred Hitchcock were famous for storyboarding in great depth, visualising the film extensively prior to shooting on set.

Shooting schedule 

A shooting schedule is created with the information from the starboard and shooting script. A shooting schedule breaks down everything planned for each day of the shoot. organised into the most logical and efficient order. A shooting schedule focuses on shots and hours and is essential for a smooth and efficient shoot, which cuts down on time, hence budget and allows plenty of coverage to be shot. 

The shooting schedule is normally created and managed by the assistant director, who reports to the production manager managing the production schedule. Both schedules represent a timeline stating where and when production resources are used. 

Other paperwork

Pre-Production is a detailed and time consuming process all film productions have to go through before shooting a film. Pre-production is vital to all members of the crew. It ensures that the entire crew knows exactly what’s going on. If they need to know why they’re shooting in a certain way, or in a certain location. Different types of paper work is used in pre-production to collect together key information, such as a Location release form which formalises permissions to use locations owned by other people. A Location scouting template collects relevant information about shooting locations. A risk assessment is filled out with the information of potential hazards and risks related to shooting. Sound templates chart what sound is used, for how long and is which scene. Copyright clearances collate any rights issues that have been actioned.

The functions of pre-production

Pre production is the process of fixing some of the elements involved in a film, play, or other performance. Pre-production is critically important because it is the cheapest part of any production. You have the time to move slowly if you want, This encourages collaboration, revision, development and improvements in pre production. This allows ideas to be revised, amended and improved. Scripts for example can go through drafts and redrafts. Script editors can be utilised to identify potential problems with scripts. Multiple writers may write on one project. Visual ideas may be adopted then dropped, such as costumes and set design. Locations may be considered and discounted.

One of the most crucial parts of any film regardless of its length is pre production. This involves a concept, writing a script and storyboarding, or showing the client the potential end product.

A well planned pre production allows a video project to run smoothly from start to finish.

A well planned pre production encourages collaboration, revision, development and improvement, for example: The creative team comes up with a concept and executes it. The company makes sure it can be obtained within the budget. Potential ideas are revised and the writer develops the ideas to a readable script including camera shots or visual direction for the actors. The production team reviews the scripts internally to make any suggestions to further enhance the material, the encourages collaboration between the company and the writer. The writer then takes the feedback and add’s or simplifies if necessary.

The drafting process is when a script is roughly priced together with the writers notes and potential ideas. 

A pre production should be well thought out and effectively planned, since it is vital to all members of the crew It ensures that the entire crew knows exactly what’s going on. If they need to know why we’re shooting in a certain way, or why we’re shooting in a certain place, they can see the entire process. Pre-production will help with the overall quality of the production by organising it. If a film is well planned the company will not over the budget and the production can be released on time.

The drafting process includes Using the outline as a map, the script draft is written scene by scene, including the dialogue and descriptive action. The first ten pages of a screenplay are the most critical. The reader or producer will give a screenplay ten pages to pull them in. If the script has interesting characters and the proper structure elements, they’ll likely continue reading. If not, it isn’t used.

The drafting process takes a while and is improved many times. Hollywood films all go through the drafting process 

Budgets and timescales can be amended based on the requirements of the project, such as the film Avatar, The film was originally planned to start filming in 1997 but James Cameron’s Avatar took 10 years to make because he wanted to wait for the technology to be accessible to use after creating titanic. Avatar's script and its cost amounted to an obscene 400 million dollars. For the 90's that was a lot of money and no studio including 20th century Fox was willing to touch this project, shelving it for the time being. 

The purpose of pre-production

As well as assisting in the success of a project, a robust pre-production has some specific practical purposes relating to legal and ethical responsibility. One of the reasons that media companies undertake pre-production work is to make sure that what they are planning to produce adheres to the relevant codes of practice, laws and regulations that govern and control their industry. 

Before filming, the company would have to make sure that Health and Safety procedures and paperwork are in place.

Permissions for the use of copyrighted material and privately owned locations and contract permissions for those appearing in work. Public liability is another legal requirement for companies and organisations who are involved in creative media production, particularly when they are recording on location where members of the public may be at risk from the production activities Permissions must be approved for filming in any public spaces, this is called street filming. 

The legal and ethical responsibilities and requirements in industry demands a pre-production for a film is robust, efficient and thorough in order to be a success. If pre-production doesn’t have these documents and materials, the company could face potential problems. 

 Film productions often include a large list of cast and crew involvement. Effective pre-production and thorough and organised records allow sharing of information across relevant parties effectively, to ensure all involved are working together efficiently.

The BBFC is the UK’s regulator of film and video, providing age ratings to film materials. They are a designated body and have legal powers to rate and sometimes cut or even reject works. All decisions are based on public consultation and our Guidelines, which form a contract between the public, the film industry and the BBFC. They are updated every four years following a major public consultation. Film productions will have target audience’s/distribution platforms in mind, therefore careful pre-production decisions may by influenced by target audiences/envisaged certificate requirements.