Clives Pre-production theory

Pre-Production 

Step One

First thing you would need to do is figure out what kind of production it is, whether it is a film, TV or just a video for a music video for example. When planning for you film you would need to create a mind map and story board showing the ideas that you had come up with and how you might of changed them through the process of making the film. Choosing the wrong production would mess things up. Although they are all video based, not all productions would need a story board. For example, if you were planning a drama or a documentary you wouldn't need to take a picture of every shot as they would be the same shot in every box. Also what shots you would use for the particular production, Close ups, wide shot, long shot and mid shots. The 180 degree rule also needs to be involved in the shots showing its well a well though out film and not just a film that been poorly put together. 

Step Two

Next, to be able to manage thing properly and to be more professional about things you will need to create a timetable or schedule that shows when things need to be done by. This makes life much more easier. This would show professionalism and reliability to the people who may want to hire you again in the future. The usual name that is given when you give yourself a time limit is called Contingency time. This is usually beneficial as you can work out spare time that gives you time to make anything  that has gone wrong, better and then you are able to reach the deadline. The other benefit of this is you are able to minimize costs on the way.

  Schedules are made on Excel as its easy to write in the goals and easy to fill in the bars when you have a achieved the goal. As this is an easy way of writing in the goals, productivity is increased and knowing how to make a production schedule is crucial to the improvement of operation efficiency.

A good schedule needs to be flexible, making it suitable for everyone involved. 

Step Three

To work out what resources you will need do a bit of research to find out what documents are needed for the specific production. For it to function effectively you should provide the correct resources. You would need to go through the list of resources you would need, which are:

Camera and sound equipment

The document shows the equipment that is going to be used and hired out for and till. This will show organisation in your production, as you have everything ready to be used and shows how long you are planning to have the equipment for.

The best thing to show this presentably and easily is by drawing a table out on word using as many lines as you want. Another way of showing this is using Excel as the lines are already prepared for you. 

  Location/Map

This document shows the location of the place where is it going to be filmed. This shows the location a bit more than just stating where it is. It gives a much more clear insight to what it looked like when you filmed and what the surroundings were like that weren't in the shot.

To do this all you need to do is type in on Google, Google Maps. Then in the left hand corner of the screen it will show a bar where you can type in you location. Type in the location and it should give you an image of what the location looks like. Then in the bottom left hand corner of the page it says Earth. If you click on this is will change the image into a more realistic image. Before choosing the location, a location reece should of taken place seeing whether the location is suitable for the film to be filmed there. At the same time a risk assessment should be made to see it if meets the requirements. After the risk assessment is done you can include any risks that might happen on to your actors contract, so they are aware of the risk factors during the process and that they have agreed to them.

Actors

This document shows the different casts that are going to be in the film. It gives details about their address and telephone number, including the name. This way it is presented out in a way of organisation and understanding.

This can be made on Word by using the table method, using as many lines are you need.  

Step Four

The next step you would have to take is finding out the budget for the project. This is a vital part of the production as you need to know what your budget is going to be and hope that you won't go over the planned budget. This can be made by opening up Excel. Then adding the title and the products that you are going to use. For example; the camera you are going to use to film with and any extra parts connecting to that, such as the tripod and the battery pack to charge it up with if necessary, what audio recorder you used to capture the sound, what software's you used during the process of the production or any copyright used in any part of the film. All of this needs to be noted down.

  On the top line of the table you should include some of these if used:

• Quantity
• Hire Price
• How many days you used it for
• The actual price of the product

Using these will show a clear and full understanding of how much it would cost to make the short film.  

Step Five

During the process of making the film, you need to make sure that the people involved are informed with your decisions and the process of working. To communicate with the people working with the film with you, you should include a Call Sheet. This gives details on the locations, the cast, emergency details, kit movement and shooting schedule. This includes everything that needs to be known about the process of the film. Making sure everyone on your team has one of these everything should go to plan.
  Also including an email address so that the producer can message anyone at any time if there needs to be any changes to the Call sheet. Everyone should follow the shooting schedule given in the Call sheet. If everything is detailed correctly and clearly in the Call sheet, communication levels should be great.

Step Six

Having the right kind of permission for using things is important. Calling up places and emailing different people seeing if you got everything covered. Let other people look through what you used and let them see if you've used any products without realising in the film. You need to make sure that you are not using products that you do not own. This is called copyright. If you use something that have copyright or a trademark in the film you could be told you take the film down from any social networks or the internet its self. The only time when copyright does occur is after 50 years at the films been made you are then allowed to use parts from that film as it no longer has copyright. If someone dies in the film, they add an extra 20 years on top of the 50 years, making it 70 years before the copyright ends. This only occurs with UK films. Other foreign films maybe different. 

• Copying the work in any way
• Issuing copies of the work to the public
• Renting copies of the work to the public
• Performing, showing or playing the work in public
• Making changes to the work

The maximum fine is £50,000 if you get sent to court and/or 6 months imprisonment. This can be avoided when you can provide the correct documents to say you have permission to use the copyright.   

  

  Location Clearance

This is what a location clearance looks like. Location clearances are used to ask for permission to use their land or property. The person who owns the land or property will have to sign the location clearance if they are happy enough to let them film there. When this is produced it make you look more professional in what you are doing. Showing all the different consequences that could happen if you don't produce the different clearances. 

Actors Clearance

The actors contract just proves what you have told the actors to do and they accept what you have said. If they have a problem with something during the process you can prove you've said it and they signed it as they agree with it.

Script clearance

If the script is original work and the characters don't resemble an actual individual then you wouldn't need a script clearance. Real people must not be clearly identifiable and if they are you would need a script clearances for permission. If you don't want to go through the hassle of doing that just stick with fictional names and don't resemble real life individuals.

    Scripts are made on Adobe Story which you can get for free on the internet. Adobe Story would be recommended the best for a script, as it gives you the options on what kind of layout you are writing in. Whether it is an action, speech etc.    

Content clearances 

Content clearances would be used if you use:

• A product
• A logo
• Brand name
• Clips
• Images
• Font
• Text
• Design
• Famous work

If any of this is included in your film you would need a content clearance to show permission to use those things in the film. It is often easier creating a these your self. Such as the logo. Maybe someone you know maybe good at art, you may ask them to create one to avoid the hassle.

 Making sure you have all of these documents completed will make the film more of a professional standard. It will look more organised and well planned out. Showing all the time and effort you put into the production to make the successful film.