Film Production Phases | How a Film Is Made
Even with film school and a handful of internships under my belt, none of it fully prepared me for what working on a professional film production would be like.
It wasn’t until I started working as a coordinator that I saw the extensiveness of making a film. So I thought it would be helpful to lay out an overview of the whole production process-- from pre-production all the way through post. This is the process you go through when making a short film or commercial at a production company, so hopefully it gives you some insight into the steps and processes of film production.
Let’s start with the basics, production can be broken down into three main categories: pre-production, shooting production, and post-production. Within each of these categories are a number of steps we’ll need to take in order to progress to the next phase and keep the momentum of the film going. So let’s take a look at what each phase requires.
Pre-Production - This is where the magic starts. It all begins with a script, which is then broken down into a tangible production plan and prepped for shooting. Pre-pro tends to be the longest phase of production because there’s so much planning to get through before we can actually start shooting.
Although it’s a very intricate phase, it’s also oodles of fun. Here is where we lay the foundation for the rest of the film and start to piece together how everything will come to life. During pre-pro, you’ll also start to assemble the team who will take part in creating the film.
Below is a quick outline of the steps you’d be going through in pre-pro:
Lock your Script
Determine the end goal for the film (distribution plan)
Figure out financing
Create an estimate and budget
Create a schedule / production plan
Engage + bid potential partners
Plan logistics of shoot (e.i. storyboarding, casting, locations, art direction, set designs + builds, wardrobe, rehearsals, legal prep, etc.)
Production - The physical shoot. Now that we have all our ducks in a row, it’s time to get shooting. Again, depending on the length and intricacy of the film, the shoot could last between 1 or multiple days. If you’re producing the film and if you did your due diligence during pre-pro, the shoot should be relatively simple on your end. Below are some of the top line responsibilities you might have on-set:
Work closely with the line producer, the director, and the clients (if applicable) to capture the right setups, actions, and performances.
Keep track of the shooting schedule and timing. Make sure your as close to on schedule with the shoot as possible.
Make any final calls on wardrobe, makeup, props, etc.
Receive dailies for review, backup, and conform.
Make sure you’re getting coverage for every shot/ scene.
Be aware- a good portion of the day is placed on setting or resetting a scene.
Post Production - Where the magic really happens. At this point, you’ve shot your film and now have tangible footage to assemble and work with. This phase (in my opinion) is the most fun because you actually start to see the film come to life in it’s haphazard finished form.
During pre-pro, you should have already locked down an editor, MGFX artist, VFX artist, music composer (if applicable) and audio mixer. All the RAW footage should now be with your editor for her/him to ingest, breakdown, and string together into a rough edit.
Here’s what to expect during post-production:
Assemble a rough edit based on the initial script.
Rework and refine the edit. Trim any excess, rearrange shots or scenes, and potentially create different versions of the film to see what works best.
Lock the edit/ final picture version.
Send to telecine / color correction.
Motion Graphics (MGFX) - build any comps, animations, titles, or other mixed media assets to place in the film. This should be done in tandem with editorial.
VFX- conform the film into a 3D visual effects program for any clean up or special effects needs.
Audio Mix - balance the levels of audio and dialogue, add sound design/ sound effects, and add final music to fit seamlessly with the locked picture.
Put everything together in the visual effects program and export final specs. QC (watch down) your final films to make sure they’re all accurate.
Deliver/ ship final film versions to designated distributors for review and release.
Of course, this is just an overview that barely scratches the surface of what goes on during production, but it does give you an idea of how the process works. Depending on your film and it’s specific needs, some of these phases might take longer than others, or sometimes you might not need to do every single thing on the list. As you can imagine, the longer or more intricate the film is-- multiple locations, characters, actions, etc.-- the more time and resources you’ll need to get everything together.
In the next few posts, we’ll be going through each phase of production in detail, starting with pre-production. Let me know in the comments below what part of the process you’re most interested in learning about and if you found this outline helpful. And don’t forget to check out the next blog, Pre-Production Part 1, for a fully detailed outline of the pre-pro process.
Catch ya in the next one!