Film

Making
Presented by:
Czareen Sophia Dioquino
Grade 9 - Alpha
Film Making
• Film Making (or in an academic context, film production) is the
process of making a film. Filmmaking involves a number of discrete
stages including an initial story, idea, or commission, through
screenwriting, casting, shooting, sound recording and reproduction,
editing, and screening the finished product before an audience that
may result in a film release and exhibition. Filmmaking takes place in
many places around the world in a range of economic, social, and
political contexts, and using a variety of technologies and cinematic
techniques. Typically, it involves a large number of people, and can
take from a few months to several years to complete.
The 12 Stages..
1.The idea 7. The shoot

2.Development finance 8. Post production

3.Script development 9. Sales

4.Packaging 10. Marketing

5.Financing 11. Exhibition

6.Pre-production 12. Other windows

Stage 1. The Idea
 All films start with an idea, a moment of inspiration.
 Inspirations are all around us for example in books, newspapers an
d even something as simple as a conversation.
 Wherever and whoever the idea comes from its always the producer w
ho decides to make the magical moment into reality.
 The directors take and visualise the script. They know how to put
it onto the BIG screen!
 Next the writers define and clarify the idea, the plot, and the mai
n characters. The writers then write a treatment, a one page descri
ption of the main story and characters of the film.
 A pitch contains all the information the producer needs in order to
sell the idea to the financiers to commission a script.
 In general most film ideas come from making a film from a book or a
n idea from a newspaper, rarely a film is made from a completely fr
esh new idea.
Stage 2. development finance..
All films cost money, a lot of it.
The producer uses the treatment, pitch and persuasion to
get money for the development of a script.
Producers approach film production companies for developm
ent money but they don't always have time, they have proj
ects of their own.
Producers offer future sales and broadcast rights to the
film in return for money to develop the script.
Producers can also apply to a public funding body such as
the UK film council for a development grant.
Producers can pitch the film to a private investor In the
hope for support for the project.
 Stage 3. Script development..
With the development finance secured its down to the writer to deliv
er the product that the producer and financiers want.
First the writer produces a synopsis, he and the producer agree (or
not) on they key scenes and events in the film.
Most writers create a step outline to plan their script.
Part of the writers fee is conditional on delivery of the first draf
t, this can be the hardest part of screenwriting.
When the writer and producer are happy, the draft is sent to the fin
anciers, all of whom will have their own ideas.
When everyone Is happy, the script is locked and becomes the final d
raft, the writer is then paid.
 Stage 4. Packaging..
With the script complete, the director and producer decide how they wa
nt to film it and who they will employ to help them.
The producer and director must package the script into a full c
ommercial proposition ready for financing.
A common way to make the project more commercial is to attach w
ell known stars to the script.
Commercially successful heads of department carry considerable
clout with knowledgeable financiers.
The producer must know how much it will cost before turning the
film into a proper business proposition.
Potential investors will want to know how the producer plans to
raise the money, and how she plans to pay them back.
The producer packages the film into a viable commercial proposi
tion, now they need to see what people think of it.
 Stage 5. Financing..
Producers must secure enough funding to make the film to the
highest standard possible.
Financiers can be anywhere in the world and if the producers
want to make enough money, they must travel.
Private individuals. Production companies and public bodies
all invest in films. The producer’s lawyer draws up contract
s to seal the deals.
Producers can also make money from pre-sales, selling the ri
ghts to film before it has even been made.
There are departments of banks that specialise in film finan
ce.
Most financiers insist that a completion bond is in place be
fore they agree to invest. It is insurance for the productio
n.
When all the insurance and funding is secured, the film gets
the ‘green light’ and the producer celebrates.
 Stage 6. Pre-production..
With everything secured, the full cast and crew are hired and d
etailed preparation for the shoot begins.
When all heads of departments are hired, the shooting script is
circulated, and pre-production begins in the earnest.
The casting director, with the director and producer begins the
long process of identifying and casting the actors.
Storyboards are the blueprints for the film, where every shot i
s planned in advance by the director and DOP.
The production designer plans every aspect of how the film will
look, and hires people to design and build each part.
Effects shots are planned in much more detail than normal shot
s, and can take months to design and build.
The 1’st ad, the line producer and production manager make up t
he key logistics triangle of the production.
 Stage 7. The shoot..
Film making can be a constant struggle to keep it on sch
edule and budget.
Shooting begins, funding is released.
The camera department is responsible for getting all the footag
e that the director and editor need to tell the story.
Lighting, sound, hair and makeup must be done before the shot c
an be taken.
Actors must create an emotional world and draw the audience int
o it.
Every special effect is carefully constructed and must be filme
d with minimum risk of injury to cast and crew.
Film productions are run with military precision. If they fall
behind schedule the financiers and insurers may step in.
Step 8. Post production..
Post production usually starts during the shoot.
As the processed footage comes in, the editor assemb
les it into scenes and creates a narrative sequence
for the film.
Once the picture is locked, the sound department wor
ks on the audio track laying, creating and editing e
very sound.
Digital effects, titles and credits are added.
Picture and colour are adjusted.
Rough sound mix goes into dubbing theatre where soun
d mixer sets final levels.
After final lock the film reaches full lock and is n
ow finished and ready for duplication.
Stage 9. Sales..
The producer sells the film but not outright to the public, s
he needs a distributor.
To help sell the film to the distributor, the producer secure
s the services of a sales agent.
A trailer is made to advertise the film.
The producer and sales agent collect everything they will nee
d to sell the film to the distributors.
Producers go to great lengths to attract attention to the pro
duct.
High-profile screening at one of the top film festivals can b
e great for selling the film.
The producer can now negotiate good deals with distributors a
round the world.
 Stage 10. Marketing..
As finishing touches are being made, the distributors
plan their strategy and begin to market It.
The marketing team runs test screening to see how the
film is received from the audience.
Potential audience for the film is targeted by poster
s, cinema trailers, T.V spots and other marketing mat
erials.
T.V, newspapers and magazines all help spread word ab
out the film.
Digital media and internet has flooded the world with
information but has also made niche marketing possibl
e.
To get the audience to see the trailers, distributors
must negotiate a deal with cinemas to screen it.
 Stage 11. Exhibition..
Box office success equals finance success!
A premiere is used to launch the film to the media
and public.
The UK has more than 3,500 cinema screens, but not
all are British.
Distributors supply exhibitors with prints of the
film. The more screens that the film is shown, on
the more prints are needed.
Exhibitors take there share of the box office rece
ipts, after which the distributors recoup their ma
rketing costs.
When distributors have been paid the financiers re
cover their investments.
Stage 12. Other Windows..
‘Hospitality’ sales for hotel channels and flight en
tertainments can bring in millions.
DVD’s can make up for box office failure.
T.V is the final source of revenue. Rights are sold
separately for pay-T.V showings and terrestrial broa
dcast.
Computer games and other product licences can be ext
remely lucrative sources of additional revenue.
Once the film has made profit, producers and key cre
ative people can reap their rewards.
The final income from a film is never known. Distrib
ution continues in perpetuity, and it may even be re
-released in the future.