The Production Flow of Movies

The Idea Where / Who does it come from? 1)Original Idea 2)Adapted Idea

Original Film treatment Short summary of idea and major plot points Trying to sell the movie!

Existing Material Adaptation – Taking the book, short story, play and making it into a film – New genre

Financing the Project Production Companies – Studios Independent – Studios – Private financing

Budget Examples Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End - $300 Million Avatar - $270 Million The Dark Knight Rises - $250 Million

Super-Size Me - $65,000 Saw - $1.2 Million Napoleon Dynamite - $400,000

“Most Profitable”? Paranormal Activity – Made for $15,000 – Made $197 Million

Script Development Draft Revisions Final draft Blue Valentine – 12 years

Pre-Production Casting – Who would fit the role? – Who do you want? – Who can you afford? – Who is able? Storyboarding – Visualizing the script Planning! – Lighting – Special effects – Shooting schedule – Weather? Availability?

Production Filming the movie – What order? Characters have to age or gain weight or vice versa – Availability of actors – Availability of sets Dailies – All the scenes shot in a day reviewed Good enough? What to redo?

Post-Production Editing – Rough cut Digital effects – Avatar! Final cut

Selling the Film Trailers Marketing / Media

Screenings – Festivals – Limited release – Mass release When to release? – Award season

Spiderman?

Mass Premier Premier Reviews – Formal / informal – Word of mouth

Additional DVD production – This is often THE goal – Extras – Unrated editions – Director’s cut

Cross-Marketing Video game Toys / Happy Meals Sequels