5 Stages of Filmmaking (MMM #15)

Hey all,

Madeline here with the next entry in The Movie Minute. Today’s topic will be the different stages of the filmmaking process! Whether a big blockbuster or a small indie short film, every project goes through five stages: development, preproduction, production, postproduction, and distribution.

Every film starts with an idea. But getting an idea from the mind to the screen requires a thorough plan. Therefore it’s vital that when making a film, especially after the initial development phase, there should be a clear and thorough plan to make cinematic ideas come to life. So without further ado, here are the 5 phases of filmmaking:

Development

The very first step starts with formulating a story. The screenwriter is the one in charge of turning the story into a script for the film to be based on. Sometimes it can be an original story, or adapted from a book, news article, TV show, or even another film, provided that permission is obtained from the original authors. In many cases, the screenwriter might also serve as director. During this phase there is also the requirement to obtain financing and establish a budget for the project. To make this possible, the filmmakers must pitch the film to potential producers. There exist a wide variety of production companies, many owned by filmmakers themselves. Major film studios will often finance movies as well, but they are often quite selective about which projects they will produce, and might issue mandates such as changes to the script or casting a specific actor in a lead role. On the other hand, many smaller productions are also financed by crowdfunding campaigns through platforms such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Also, a fun fact: when a movie wins the Oscar for Best Picture, the recipients of that award are the producers of the film, which may or may not include directors, screenwriters, or even lead actors. This is because the producers are seen as the people who made the film possible.

Preproduction

Before the camera can get rolling, the script needs to be made into a complete state, and financing must be secured. Once all that has been taken care of, it’s time to move into preproduction. Important parts of this process include assembling cast and crew, securing locations and equipment, and coming up with a plan and schedule for the production. This phase will also include preparations for the cast such as table reads of the script, or formulating questions and other preparations for interviews. Be sure that locations, scheduling, location prep, and anything else are done in time- don’t want anything to go wrong last minute before the shoot!

Production

Now it’s time to start shooting! On the first day of the shoot, different cast and crew members may have their own call times, but it’s important that everyone arrives on set ahead of time, that way the shooting of scenes can get started promptly. Once everything’s ready to go, and all cast and crew are in place the phrase “Quiet on the set!” is often said, camera and sound are checked, a slate is clapped in front of the camera to mark sound and camera sync, before the director says “Action!” The camera rolls as the actors perform their scenes, or the interviews for a documentary are conducted. Once that is done, the director shouts “Cut!” Shooting days are often long, so it’s important to allow the cast and crew to have regular breaks every now and then, especially to have time for meal breaks. Once all of the shooting for the day has been completed, with the last shot of the day being known as the “martini shot”, it’s a wrap! A DIT makes sure all the shot footage is securely stored and backed up to prepare equipment for the next day of shooting.

Postproduction

Once production has wrapped, it’s time to take all the raw footage and compile it into one finished product. That’s where the postproduction phase comes in, which includes editing, sound mixing, syncing, color grading, visual effects, etc. Often, the director will work closely with the editor to make sure everything is in order, and to determine which shots will work best as the footage is assembled to make a story timeline. However, the success of the editing process can depend heavily on the aspects of production and how well principal photography has been handled.

“We’ll fix it in post” is one of the sayings that editors despise when things and problems that are to be solved and addressed during the production phase are instead outsourced to the post team, as this can make things more tedious for editors, and not all things can be “fixed in post”.

Distribution

Now that the film’s been made, how will it be shared with the world? Most major film productions are distributed by major studios to cinemas, and more recently, streaming services (some of them also financing or producing the film as well). After a theatrical release window of around 45 days or so, the film is often released for digital purchase and rental, before a home video release (be sure to see the MMM article on home video as well!). Smaller projects may also be uploaded to platforms such as YouTube and Vimeo. In addition, many projects are submitted to various film festivals, often in a “for your consideration” package, with the most famous film festivals including Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Sundance, and TIFF, and eventually major awards ceremonies such as the Academy Awards (Oscars) and the Golden Globes. Of course, in order for your project to have significant traction, it has to be marketed somehow. Many studios spend millions on marketing alone through platforms such as television, radio, and the Internet. But even smaller projects can get a large audience, especially if the project is shared via word-of-mouth!

Overall, making quality cinematic projects involves a long and thorough process to keep everything organized and in order as production rolls along. While it may seem tedious at first, the process serves as an effective guide and framework that can apply to any film production, no matter the subject or the scale. Whether you’re beginning as an amateur director of a short film or making your latest Hollywood blockbuster, these five phases exist to keep your production on a smooth and straightforward path to becoming an experience that will wow audiences.

That’s all for this entry in the Movie Minute. Stay tuned for the next entry, and I’ll see you all in two weeks! -Madeline

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