Production cycle

Pre-Production:
• Script development to ensure that the script is completed to its best ability.
• Setting the budget.
• Hiring department heads for things like production design.
• A shooting schedule would be drawn up which is likely to plan just a couple of minutes shooting over a 12 hour day.
• A Location Manager will begin to look for locations which might be suitable for the film and consider what changes might be needed and what permission might need to be negotiated. This can sometimes be expensive.
  • A Casting Director would be appointed and stars will be approached, agents contacted, screen tests and auditions held in a hired space over a period of time.
• Equipment will be hired such as cameras and lighting, vehicles would be arranged for transport.
• A Music Director would begin to organise and experiment with a score.

This research has been beneficial because it has developed my knowledge of a professional film, during this part of the production chain, whilst I have also understand what sort of targets we should be aiming for.


What should the production stage involve?
Multiple takes of the shot e.g. from different angles to see the change in perceptions and visual meanings.

If there is no locations suitable available, set designers will make it look authentic for the historic period.

 

The rushes will be reviewed, which gives the director and producers a chance to see whether they were successful.

CGI will begin for special effects sequences.

It should provide the audience with media products they desire and should provide them with gratifications that they expect.

This has again been influential because we understood that we should try out different angles and shots to recognise which ones are the most effective and it has enabled us to understand this stage more. Additionally, we have realised that we should always apply and consider theories, such as: Propp's and Todorov's theory and the 'Uses and Gratification' theory. For example, we included an anti-hero and followed the five stages of Todorov's narrative discovery.

Post Production:

·         The footage will be edited many times, until the final footage is complete.

·         The sound post-production would re-record the dialogue and use Foley sound recording to complete the diegetic sounds.

·         Music would be added and all of the sound will be mixed.

·         Major US productions would preview the movie to see audience responses.

·         A distribution deal will be arranged, likely involving Universal distribution for mainstream films or a smaller distributor, for example Arrow films, to distribute mostly independent productions. However, the distributer can often depend on what sort of genres it often converges with.

·         A marketing strategy will be devised with an outside agency targeting the anticipated audience. This will include a cross media of posters, trailers, DVD covers, radio advertising giving a sense of synergy which is appropriate for certain demographics. For example, trailers are better for the younger demographics, whereas radio advertising would be more influential and beneficial for older demographics.

·         A premiere and a saturation run would be arranged for a bigger film, while a smaller film may be exhibited at a film festival to gain reviews and publicity, and maybe nominations or awards before it is released in the cinema.

·         Vertical integration of the company controlling, marketing and exhibition of films.

This research was effective as it developed my individual knowledge ready for the other sections of my exam at the end of the year and has also increased my understanding of the marketing and distribution stage. Nevertheless, most of this does not apply to our opening production.