Filmmaking Is the process of making a film, from an initial story idea or commission, through scriptwriting, shooting, editing, directing and distribution to an audience. Typically, it involves a large number of people, and takes from a few months to several years to complete. Filmmaking takes place all over the world in a huge range of economic, social, and political contexts, and using a variety of technologies and techniques.

even further into 5 Stages Filmmaking is broken up even further into 5 Stages Development Pre-Production Production Post-Production Sales and Distribution

Development It all starts out with the project's producer finds a story, which may come from a book, play, another film, a true story, original idea, etc.

Films come from Stories

After identifying a theme or underlying message, the producer works with writers to prepare a synopsis. Next they produce a step outline, which breaks the story down into one- paragraph scenes that concentrate on dramatic structure.

From Story to Outline

Then, they prepare a treatment, a 25 to 30 page description of the story, its mood, and characters. This usually has little dialogue and stage direction, but often contains drawings that help visualize key points. The producer and screenwriter prepare a film pitch, and present it to potential financiers.

Presenting Idea

If the pitch is successful, the film receives a "green light", meaning someone offers financial backing: typically a major film studio, film council, or independent investor.

The Green Light is given to start the Movie

By this stage, the film should have a clearly defined marketing strategy and target audience. `

Target Audience

2. Pre-Production Preparations are made for the shoot, in which cast and crew are hired, locations are selected, and sets are built. In pre-production, every step of actually creating the film is carefully designed and planned.

Locations are Scouted

The production company is created and a production office established The production company is created and a production office established. The production is storyboarded and visualized with the help of illustrators and concept artists. A production budget is drawn up to plan expenditures for the film. For major productions, insurance is procured to protect against accidents.

Production Company Selected

Script is Created The script includes: Time of Day Location Time Period Is it Interior or Exterior Location? Stage Directions “What are actors doing?” Characters’ dialogue

Storyboard Includes pictures/drawings of each shot of the project Underneath each picture, it includes a description of the action in the scene. Also, under each drawing there is a focus on what type of shot it is. For example: CU, MCU, LS, MS, and ECU Recap: Drawing, description, and shot.

3. Production The raw elements for the finished film are recorded. In production, the video/film is created and shot. More crew will be recruited at this stage, such as the property master, script supervisor, assistant directors, stills photographer, picture editor, and sound editors.

More Crew Members Hired

A typical day's shooting begins with the crew arriving on the set/location by their call time. Actors usually have their own separate call times. Since set construction, dressing and lighting many hours or even days, they are often set up in advance. The grip, electric and production design crews are typically a step ahead of the camera and sound departments: for efficiency's sake, while a scene is being filmed, they are already preparing the next one.

Actors Come in at Different Times

Production Procedures The assistant director calls “picture is up!” to inform everyone that a take is about to be recorded, and then “quiet, everyone!” Once everyone is ready to shoot, he calls "roll sound" (if the take involves sound), and the production sound mixer will start their equipment, record a verbal slate of the take's information, and announce "sound speed" when they are ready.

Directors and Actors work Together

3. The AD follows with "roll camera", answered by "speed 3. The AD follows with "roll camera", answered by "speed!" by the camera operator once the camera is recording. 4. The clapper, who is already in front of the camera with the clapperboard, calls "marker!" and slaps it shut. 5. If the take involves extras or background action, the AD will cue them ("action background!"), and last is the director, telling the actors "action!".

The Slate/Clapper

6. A take is over when the director calls "cut 6. A take is over when the director calls "cut!", and camera and sound stop recording. The script supervisor will note any continuity issues and the sound and camera teams log technical notes for the take on their respective report sheets. If the director decides additional takes are required, the whole process repeats.

Director Looks at Dailies

Once satisfied, the crew moves on to the next camera angle or "setup," until the whole scene is "covered." 7. When shooting is finished for the scene, the assistant director declares a "wrap" or "moving on," and the crew will "strike," or dismantle, the set for that scene.

After the Shoot Later on, the director, producer, other department heads, and, sometimes, the cast, may gather to watch that day or yesterday's footage, called dailies, and review their work. With workdays often lasting 14 or 18 hours in remote locations, film production tends to create a team spirit. 5. When the entire film is in the can, or in the completion of the production phase, it is customary for the production office to arrange a wrap party, to thank all the cast and crew for their efforts.

Wrap Party

4. Post-Production The film is edited; production sound (dialogue) is concurrently (but separately) edited, music tracks (and songs) are composed, performed and recorded. If a film is sought to have a score; sound effects are designed and recorded; and any other computer-graphic 'visual' effects are digitally added, all sound elements are mixed into "stems" then the stems are mixed then married to picture and the film is fully completed ("locked").

Sound Mixing

Video Workflow In the video workflow, the original camera negative is developed and telecined to video for editing with computer editing software. A timecode is recorded onto video tape to locate the position of picture frames. Production sound is also synced up to the video picture frames during this process.

Telecined

Following the 10 Step Editing Process Rough Cut 1. Plan 2. Gather Media (Text, Animation) 3. Build Story (According to Script and Storyboard) 4. Organize (According to what works better) 5. Trimming (E.I. Roll, Ripple, Razor Blade, Slip, and Slide Edits) POLISHING: 6. Transitions (Wipe, Cross Dissolve, Fade to Color) 7. Text and Video Effects 8. Add Additional Audio (SFX) 9. Output/Export/Share (Process of getting clips from timeline to a self-contained video file) 10. Archive (DVD, Blu-Ray, Flash Drive, Hard Drive, & Cloud)

Once the picture is locked, the film is passed into the hands of the postproduction supervising sound editor of the sound department to build up the sound track. The voice recordings are synchronized and the final sound mix is created by the re- recording mixer. The sound mix combines dialogue, sound effects, ADR, walla, Foleys and music.

Foley Artist

The final cut is printed to film and copied for distribution at theatres. Finally the film is previewed, normally by the target audience, and any feedback may result in further shooting or edits to the film. There are two ways that film can be put together. One way is linear editing and the other is non-linear editing.

Composer

Linear Editing Linear editing uses the film as it is in a continuous film. All of the parts of the film are already in order and need not be moved or any such thing. Some examples are Moviola, with Video tape Machines and flatbed editors.

Moviola Moviola is a device that allows a film editor to view film while editing. It was the first machine for motion picture editing

Flatbed Editor flatbed editor is a type of machine used to edit film for a motion picture. Picture and sound rolls load onto separate motorized wheels, called "plates." Each set of plates moves forward or backward separately, or locked together to maintain synchronization between picture and sound.

Flatbed Editor

Non-Linear Editing Conversely, non-linear editing is not subject to using the film in the order it is taped. Scenes can be moved around or even removed Some non-linear editing programs are: Final Cut Pro, Avid Media Composer, Adobe Premier, Sony Vegas, iMovie, Windows Movie Maker etc.

Avid Media Composer

Avid Media Composer

Final Cut Pro

Final Cut Pro

5. Sales and distribution The film is screened for potential buyers (distributors), is picked up and reaches its cinema and/or home media audience. This is the final stage, where the film is released to cinemas or, occasionally, to consumer media (DVD, VCD, VHS, Blu-ray) or direct download from a provider. The film is duplicated as required for distribution to cinemas.

World Distribution

Press kits, posters, and other advertising materials are published and the film is advertised. Film companies usually release a film with a launch party, press releases, interviews with the press, press preview screenings, and film festival screenings. Most films have a website. The film plays at selected cinemas and the DVD typically is released a few months later. The distribution rights for the film and DVD are also usually sold for worldwide distribution. The distributor and the production company share profits.

Blu-ray Discs

DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs)

The Press, Screenings, and Awards

Independent Filmmaking Filmmaking also takes place outside of the mainstream and is commonly called independent filmmaking. Since the introduction of DV technology, the means of production have become more democratized. Filmmakers can conceivably shoot and edit a film, create and edit the sound and music, and mix the final cut on a home computer.

Independent Filmmaking Festivals

However, while the means of production may be democratized, financing, traditional distribution, and marketing remain difficult to accomplish outside the traditional system. In the past, most independent filmmakers have relied on film festivals to get their films noticed and sold for distribution.

Small Productions Little Money

However, the Internet has allowed for relatively inexpensive distribution of independent films. As a result several companies have emerged to assist filmmakers in getting independent movies seen and sold via mainstream internet marketplaces, oftentimes adjacent to popular Hollywood titles. With digital self distribution, independent filmmakers who fail to garner a traditional distribution deal now have the ability to reach global audiences.