How Are Movies Made? An Introduction to Movie-Making

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Basic Stages

The basic stages of making a movie or video remain the same whatever the size of the budget or cast.

Basic Stages

Pre-Production

Production

Post-Production

Distribution & Exhibition

Pre-Production

Concept, Screenwriting, Storyboarding

Filming preparations, cast and crew are hired, locations selected, costumes designed, and sets built.

Also includes Development (funding).

Production

Production is the actual shooting of a movie or video.

Includes the crafts of acting, cinematography, directing, and lighting.

Post-Production

Raw film or video is edited or assembled into an order that conveys a story.

Final sound mix –music, sound effects, etc.– is created.

Distribution and Exhibition

Printing Theater Copies from Original Film Master, Theater Booking, Marketing

Who will see your program?How will they see it?When will they see it?

Film & TV Production Roles &

DepartmentsKey Creative Team Art

Production Hair & Make-up

Location Wardrobe

Camera Post-Production

Sound Visual Effects

Grip Post-Sound & Music

Electrical Other Production

Executive Producer

Executive Producers are responsible for the overall quality control of productions.

Not involved in the technical aspects of the filmmaking process, but has played a crucial financial or creative role.

Producer

Involved throughout all phases of the film- making process from development to completion of a project.

Initiates, coordinates, supervises, and controls matters such as hiring key personnel, and arranging distribution.

Director

Responsible for overseeing the creative aspects of a film, including controlling the content and flow of the film's plot, directing the performances of actors, selecting the locations in which the film will be shot, and managing technical details such as the positioning of cameras, the use of lighting, and the timing and content of the film's soundtrack.

Screenwriter

The Screenwriter, or Scriptwriter, writes the original or adapted screenplay. Responsible for researching the story, developing the narrative, writing the screenplay, and delivering it to the Producer(s). They are almost always freelancers or they are commissioned by a Producer.

Line Producer

Prepares all the financial details –budget— of a film’s shooting script.

They manage the day-to-day physical aspects of the production.

Production Manager

Responsibility to help make sure filming stays on schedule and within its budget.

Supervises the physical aspects of the production including personnel, technology, budget and schedling (not the creative aspects).

Production Coordinator

The PC is the information nexus of the production, responsible for organizing all the logistics from hiring crew, renting equipment, and booking talent.

The PC is an integral part of film production.

Post-Production Supervisor

Responsible for the post-production process, during which they maintain clarity of information and good channels of communication between the Producer, Editor, Supervising Sound Editor, the Facilities Companies (such as film labs, CGI studios and Negative Cutters) and the Production Accountant.

1st Assistant Director

(1st AD) – Assists the Production Manager and Director. Oversees day-to-day management of the cast and crew scheduling, equipment, script, and the set. Ensures filming comes on on-schedule while maintaining a working environment in which the director, actors and crew can be focused on their work.

2nd Assistant Director

(2nd AD) – Chief assistant of the 1st AD.

Responsible for creating Call Sheets that let the crew know the schedule and important details about the shooting day.

Production Assistant

Referred to as PA’s or Runners, assist in the production office or in various departments with general tasks.

Script Supervisor

Keeps track of what parts of the script have been filmed and makes notes of any deviations between what was actually filmed and what appeared in the script. The Script Supervisor works very closely with the Director on set. Also called “Continuity.”

Stunt Coordinator

Where the film requires a stunt, and involves the use of stunt performers, the Stunt Coordinator will arrange the casting and performance of the stunt, working closely with the Director.

Location Manager

Responsible for finding and securing locations to be used for the production as well as coordinating the logistics, permits and costs involved.

Cinematographer

Also called “Director of Photography,” or DP.

The DP is the chief of the camera and lighting crew of the film. Not to be confused with the Director. Makes decisions on lighting and framing of scenes in conjunction with the Director.

Camera Operator

Operates the camera at the direction of the Cinematographer (Director of Photography) or the Film Director to capture the scenes on film.Generally, a Cinematographer (Director of Photography) does not operate the camera, but sometimes these jobs are combined.

First Asst. Camera

(1st AC) - “Focus Puller” - Responsible for keeping the camera in focus as it is shooting.

Second Asst. Camera

(2nd AC) - “Clapper Loader” - Operates the clapperboard at the beginning of each take and loads the raw film stock into the camera magazines between takes.Also in charge of overseeing the meticulously kept notebooks that record when the film stock is received, used, and sent to the lab for processing.

Other Camera Crew Jobs

LoaderCamera Production AssistantDigital Imaging TechnicianData WranglerSteadicam OperatorMotion Control Technician/Operator

Production Sound Mixer

“Sound Recordist” - Head of the sound department on set, responsible for recording all sound during filming. This involves the choice and deployment of microphones, operation of a sound recording device, and sometimes the mixing of audio signals in real time.

BoomOperator

“Boom Swinger” – Responsible for microphone placement and movement during filming.

GripDepartment

Grips are trained lighting and rigging technicians. They are concerned with the “mechanical” side of things. Main responsibility is to work closely with the Electrical department to put in lighting set-ups required for a shot.

Key Grip

Best Boy (Grip)

Dolly Grip

ElectricalDepartment

Gaffer

Best Boy (Electrical)

Lighting Technician

Production Designer

“Creative Director” - Responsible for creating the physical, visual appearance of the film — settings, costumes, character makeup. Works closely with the Director and the Cinematographer to achieve the look of the film.

Art Director

Reports to the Production Designer.

Oversees the artists and craftspeople, such as the Set Designers, Graphic Artists, and Illustrators who give form to the production design as it develops.

Set Designer

The Set Designer is the draftsman, often an architect, who realizes the structures or interior spaces called for by the Production Designer.

Set Decorator

In charge of the decorating of a film set, which includes the furnishings and all the other objects that will be seen in the film.

Other Art Dept. Jobs –Set Design

IllustratorBuyerSet Dresser

Other ArtDept. Jobs -Props

Props MasterProp BuilderStandby PropsArmorer/Weapons Master

Other Art Dept. Jobs –Construction

Construction CoordinatorHead CarpenterKey ScenicGreensman

Make-upArtist

Work with make-up, hair, prosthetics and special effects to create the characters’ look for anyone appearing on screen. Their role is to manipulate an Actor's on-screen appearance whether it makes them look more youthful, larger, older, or in some cases monstrous.

Costume Designer

Responsible for all the clothing and costumes worn by the cast.Also responsible for designing, planning, and organizing the construction of the garments down to the fabric, colors, and sizes.

Costume Supervisor

Works closely with the Costume Designer.

Supervises creation or sourcing of garments, hiring of support staff, budget, paperwork, and department logistics.

Other Costume Dept. Jobs

Key CostumerCostume StandbyArt FinisherCostume BuyerCutter/Fitter

Film Editor

Assembles the various shots into a coherent film, working closely with the Director.

There are usually several Assistant Editors.

Other Post- Production Jobs

Assistant EditorNegative CutterColoristTelecine Colorist

Visual Effects Supervisor

In charge of the Visual Effect department.Helps design moving set elements and props that will safely break, explode, burn, collapse and implode without destroying the film set. Also responsible for overseeing the reproduction of weather conditions and other on-camera magic.

Special Effects Assistant

Builds set pieces like breakaway furniture and cities in miniature, lighting pyrotechnics, and setting up rigging equipment for stunts.

Can also assist in prosthetic makeup.

Compositor

Responsible for compositing images from different sources such as video, film, computer generated 3-D imagery, 2-D animations, matte paintings, photographs, and text.

Other Visual Effects Jobs

Visual Effects EditorRotoscope Artists/Paint ArtistsMatte Painter

Sound Designer

In charge of the post-production sound of a movie.

Dialog Editor

Responsible for assembling and editing all the dialog in the soundtrack.

Sound Editor

Responsible for assembling and editing all the sound effects in the soundtrack.

Other Sound Dept. Jobs

Re-recording MixerMusic SupervisorComposerFoley Artist

Casting Director

Works closely with the Director and Producer to suggest actors for the characters of the film.

This usually involves inviting potential Actors to read an excerpt from the script for an audition.

Additional FilmCredits

Stills PhotographerLegal CounselAccountantInsurance BrokerSystem Administrator