So, You're Thinking About Filmmaking?

Essentials You Need to Know + Free Resources!

The great thing about filmmaking is that it is a team sport. It requires a crew of specialists working together under a film producer and director’s guidance to create a finished work. There is a job for just about everyone. The question is where do you see yourself? Let’s profile some general areas of interest.

 

5 Phases of Production

The best way to look at this might be through the 5 phases of production which are Development, Pre-production, Production, Post-production, and Distribution.

 

 

 

Development and Pre-production

Development is the stage where the project is created and planned. In this phase, a small group of creatives and executives craft the story and associated budget. When the project is financed, it will move into the pre-production phase with an emphasis on shooting dates and the time frames for the project to be finished.

 

Pre-production is the planning stage required right before filming. In this stage scripts are finalized, budgets are adjusted, actors are cast, locations scouted, the crew employed, shooting schedules finalized, sets are designed and built, costumes made and fitted, and everything to do with the shoot is planned and tested

 

 

Some Roles in Development and Pre-production

* Casting

* Scriptwriting

* Location scouting

* Wardrobe

* Set design

* Props

* Storyboards / Concept Art

* Pre-visualization

 

Does your skill set involve any of these areas? Some questions to ask:

 

Are you an actor with experience? What kind of projects have you worked on?

Writers, do you have good storytelling and/or film experience? Can you convert a story into script formatting?

 

Do you have any experience building sets for the stage? Can you build realistic-looking, sturdy props? Craftspeople, this might be something up your alley.

 

Are you an artist with some comic book experience?  Can handle storyboarding?   Sci-Fi and Fantasy films need concept artists to help sell the idea. Do you have the skills to do this? Animators, can you create how shots would look using sketches or rough models for pre-visualization?

 

 

 

Production

Production is the actual filming process. The creative minds finally see their ideas captured on film, each day following the filming schedule. Production is usually the shortest of the five phases, even though this is where most of the budget is allotted.

 

 

Some Roles in Production

* Director

* Cameraman & Lighting

* Costume

* Hair and Makeup

 

Does your skill set involve any of these areas? Some questions to ask:

 

Can you manage a team with actors? Can you articulate what is needed to get a good performance for a scene?

 

Do you have photography experience? What is your knowledge of composition, shot types, and motion? Have you shot a short film or music video? Are you experienced with lighting a scene?

 

Do you have any experience with costumes, or hair and makeup? Cosplay and stylists might want to look into this area.

 

 

 

Post-production

Post-production is what is required to complete your project after filming. This is where the footage is edited, the sound is mixed, visual effects are added, a soundtrack is composed, titles are created, and the project is completed and prepared for distribution.

 

Some Roles in Post-production

* Editor

* Music

* Visual Effects

* Titles / Motion Graphics

 

Does your skill set involve any of these areas? Some questions to ask:

 

Do you know to edit effectively? Have you worked with Avid, Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere?  How is your knowledge of film transitions?

 

Have you ever created music for film? What do you know about music genres?

Musicians, this could be a great side gig.

 

What do you know about green screen? Have you done any photo manipulation or film compositing? How well do you know After Effects? Can you create realistic 3D models?

 

 

Distribution

Distribution is the final stage in a project for producers looking to make a return on investment. This can be from cinema distribution, selling to a TV network or streaming service, or releasing direct to DVD.

 

Portfolio

When you are ready, it is very important to be able to show off your work should a job arise. Having a portfolio site is a good idea.  Even using a free platform is better than nothing like YouTube, Soundcloud, Blogger or whichever platform can best showcase your work.

 

Don’t forget to check out the competition to honestly assess where you stand. More to come.

Click here for a free PDF of Filmmaking Resources to get you up to speed.

 Check out our follow up: Is Film School Really Necessary?

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