Pre Production Theory Assignment
A professional production for a film includes many components, such as a script, storyboard, script breakdown, budget, risk assessment, clearances and any legal considerations such as insurance and the acquisition of pre-existing sound effects or footage from creative commons or public domain. This stage of film-making is known as pre-production, all of this takes place before the actual production of the film. Pre-production is important to making a successful film as it includes important documents without which a film could not be made such as a script and budget.
Films Scripts
Film scripts are essential to film-making. Film scripts are written by a screenwriter and then sent into a production company who review it and decide whether or not they will invest the money into filming it. Screenwriters use scripts to give an overview of a films overall plot and character interactions. Scripts usually come in several drafts, this is because changes to scripts occur often at various stages. If a production company decides to invest the money into making the script into a film they then take the opportunity to make changes to the script, sometimes big or sometimes small depending on the quality of the content and the possible budget issues that may arise. A script must be formatted professionally and to industry standard for a production company to even consider funding a film. Proper formatting includes having characters names in capitals all the way through the scripts, all text formatted to size 11 in the correct font.
Below is a script written at professional standard for a professional production.
Storyboards
Storyboards are vital in the production process. Storyboards are used to show how each shot in a scene will take place. This means that the director and cameramen have a clear idea of what is needed for each shot. Storyboards also help to show the actors where they are meant to be positioned and what they're supposed to be doing. Storyboards also include shot information such as the shot type and duration.
Below is a professional storyboard from a successful film production.
Script Breakdown
A script breakdown is an list of things included in the script that a director would have o obtain. The list of assets included in a script breakdown are, props, actors, cameramen, locations etc. Script breakdowns are used in all professional film productions, they're very useful for film-makers as they give an entire summary of all the things needed for the filming to occur.
Below is an example of a professional script breakdown.
Budget
Film budgets are created in order to give an approximate cost for all of the equipment cast, crew, locations etc. The budget will also include the cost of screenplay, producers, director, cast, production costs, VFX and music. As a rule producers are generally to allowed to exceed the budget.
Below is an example of a professional film budget sheet.
Risk Assessment
Risk assessments are forms which are given to the cast and crew of a film production. They detail all things that could possibly go wrong on the film set and the severity of the incident. These are given to the cast and crew to lessen the chances of such an incident occurring. Risk assessments are given out on all films productions as it is standard film practice to avoid accidents.
Below is an example of a film risk assessment.
Clearances
Clearances are forms handed out to all actors on the film, they are used to show that the actor has given their permission for their image to used in the film. Clearances are also used for locations in the film and other things tat appear in the film that would require permission.
Below is an example of a clearance used for filming.
Legal Considerations:
During film productions there are various legal considerations to take into account such as copyright (music, sounds etc). Sounds for a film should either be taken from creative commons, public domain or an original artist can be paid for the rights to use a song or sound in the film. Alternatively original sounds or music can be composed for the film, this is common in professional film production, mosts films will have their own foley artists and music composers. Insurance must also be taken out on equipment rented in case an accident occurs. Since filming equipment is expensive if an accident occurs and no insurance is on the equipment the company will be charged for the cost of the equipment. When making a film copyright must be taken into account. Copyright is the law that any persons creation is from the moment of its creation their property copyright prevent other people using this property without permission from the author. Using an authors property without permission is known as plagiarism which goes against copyright law. Plagiarising someones work can result in a fine or anything up to a prison sentence as under copyright law using someones creation without their expressed consent is theft.
