THE PROCESS: FIVE STEPS THAT MAKE A FILM

As with major motion pictures, the process of producing a commercial video follows certain steps. These are development, pre-production, production, post-production

and distribution. Let’s go through them briefly here so you understand the difference between the terms.

Development

The development stage involves bringing together all the concepts and ideas and combining them into a finished screenplay. From this great script, and I say great script because someone has to believe in it enough to shout “This is a great script”,

we move forward what is known as “Shopping the script”. This involves pitching the production idea to funding bodies, both provincial, federal and private along with mefforts to attract a broadcaster. Assuming we have the funding in place now move
to the next step.

Pre-production

Pre-production is the working out of all the details that must fit within the established budget. When and where will the film be shot? What’s the best order and way to shoot? How much film or tape is needed? What will be the established ratio of footage

shot to footage used in the production? These questions must be answered. This is also the time to arrange for casting sessions to find the right (talent), actors for the different roles, hire the crew, rent the camera and lighting equipment, arrange for transportation and meals, as well as build and dress the set. These and additional
details, are all part of breaking down the script for shooting and need to be finalized before any film or tape is shot.

Production

The production phase is the actual shooting of the show within the allotted time frame.

With good pre-production, this phase should come off smoothly, especially if contingency plans have been made to accommodate some script changes due to unforeseen circumstances. It is in production where all the best plans that have been laid often go
astray. For example, your lead actor gets sick, the camera starts malfunctioning, The weather changes, You have two more days of shooting but the location is only available for one more day, etc. etc. On a feature film this production stage lasts around 3 months.
A made for TV Movie would be around 5 weeks.

Post-production

This is where the show is put together in a chronological order through the editing process that generally follows the written script. In some cases editing can improve on the written script. Audio levels of on-camera dialogue recorded on location are evened out. Sound
effects are added, this is known as (foley) All of the shots have to be colour corrected to fit

next to each other in the final print. Background music is added. Video graphics are inserted along with titles plus cast and crew list. All these elements are mixed together into the end product, the video or as they say in Hollywood, “The Picture”

Distribution

If the show is aimed at television, you may already have the broadcaster in hand who is waiting for delivery. If the production is made for a theatrical release in theatres, after its run on the big screen, it goes into video sales. Did you ever see a catchy looking video jacket with some name stars in your local video store and wonder why you hadn’t seen any publicity

or watched this film in the theater?? Well, If the film was turkey, it will often go quickly to video before the bad word of mouth gets out from its theatrical showing. This is the only way the producer can have a shot at making his or her production costs back.

There is another side to producing films and videos that you will not see in your local theatre. This area refers to “non-theatrical” films. Here we would include: educational films for schools. television commercials, documentaries, and corporate and promotional videos. A
number of producers make a good living producing this kind of product. At my last count I had produced, photographed and directed over 40 corporate videos. The business is certainly
there if you want to go after it.