Focusing on the practical tools required to making your first student film, this book is a concise and accessible guide to film production. Demystifying the process of taking a film from concept through to production, author Rory Kelly covers all the key bases including: organizing your script, when and how to shoot, production budgeting, finding actors and locations, and roadmapping postproduction.
Featuring common problems and challenges producers and directors face throughout the production process and providing practical solutions, the book illustrates how to effectively create a film that can be successfully shot in a classroom or micro-budget environment. Filmmakers will be empowered to prioritize realistic goals, balance practical and creative demands, manage a budget, and schedule time to ensure concept translates to reality. Kelly brings together the creative process and practicalities of producing a student film. A concise and accessible guide written with the specific constraints of a student production in mind, this book will equip any filmmaker with the tools to produce an impactful short film.
Ideal for undergraduate and graduate students of filmmaking, amateur filmmakers, as well as students in high school, community-based, for-profit and summer filmmaking programs.
Additional downloadable online resources include a look-book with images and video clips, as well as printable budget templates, shooting schedule templates, block breakdown sheets, a digital workflow worksheet, timed shot-list forms and templates for location agreements, appearance releases, crew deal memos and call sheets.
Author(s): Rory Kelly
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 274
City: London
Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Table of Contents
Preface
Outline
Acknowledgments
1 Keep It Simple
Number of Locations
Number of Scenes
Number of Pages
Characters
Funding
Notes
2 Organize Your Script
Shooting Script
Script Breakdown
Notes
3 Decide When to Shoot What
Step 1 – List All Numbered Scenes in the Script
Step 2 – Determine Common Locations
Step 3 – Decide the Shooting Order of Locations
Step 4 – Decide the Shooting Order of Each Scene
Step 5 – Create the Final Schedule
Notes
4 Decide How to Shoot What
Coverage
Selectively Using Coverage
Haven’t Seen You in Awhile
I Almost Went After You
We’re Still Friends
Notes
5 Settle On a Look
Casting
Wardrobe
Makeup & Hair
Production Design
Lighting
Cinematography
Editing
Sound
Look Book Checklist
Note
6 Don’t Break the Bank
Accounts
Percentages
Distribution of Funds
I Production Costs
Account 1000 – Cast
Account 2000 – Production Staff
Account 2100 – Extras
Account 2200 – Art
Account 2300 – Wardrobe
Account 2400 – Makeup & Hair
Account 2500 – Grip & Electrical
Account 2700 – Camera
Account 2800 – Production Sound
Account 2900 – Transportation
Account 3000 – Locations & Catering
Account 3500 – General Production Expenses
II Postproduction Costs
Account 5000 – Editorial
Account 5100 – Score and Music Rights
Account 5200 – Postproduction Sound
Account 5400 – Color and DCP
III Revisiting Production Costs
Notes
7 Find Crew
Key Collaborators
Crewing-Up
Crew Size
Locking Crew
Crew Structure
Notes
8 Find Places to Shoot
Location Scouting
Creative Considerations
Practical Considerations
Negotiating for Locations
Locking Locations
Building Sets
Notes
9 Find Actors
When to Cast
Post a Breakdown
Review Submissions
Choose Where and When to Hold Auditions
Book Actors
Maps, Parking and Contact Info
Signs and Sign-In Sheets
What You Need in the Audition Room
The Audition
Introductions
First Read
Adjustment and Second Read
Wrap Up
Notes and Discussion
Review Auditions
Callbacks
Review Callbacks
Offer Roles to Actors
Casting Directors
Notes
10 Collaborate and Communicate
Creative Meetings
Production Meetings
Equipment List
Camera Tests and Workflow
Tech Scouts
Finalize the Shot Lists
Finalize the Shooting Schedule
Final Wardrobe Approvals
Crew Deal Memos and Cast Appearance Releases
Final Production Meeting
Schedule Catering
Schedule and Organize Pickups
Call Sheets
Notes
11 Rehearse It Before You Shoot It
Plausibility
Objectives, Actions and Outcomes
Picking Actions
Script Analysis and Rehearsals
Notes
12 Obey the Rules of Engagement
Call Time
Breakfast
Duties of the AD Prior to Call
The AD Calls the Shoot
Safety Meeting
Full Blocking Rehearsal
Setting Marks
Establish Continuity
Frame Up the Shot
Lighting
Makeup and Wardrobe
Review the Shot List
Video Village
The Director Keeps Rehearsing
The DP Stays Focused On the Shot
The Art Department Stays Focused On Set Dressing
Sound Stays Focused On Sound
The AD Facilitates the Work of the Crew
Other Duties of the AD During the Shoot Day
Call the Actors to Set
Wire the Actors for Sound
Camera and Sound Rehearsal
Last Looks
Clear the Eyelines
Picture Is Up
The Slate
The Script for Shooting Takes
Problems, Problems, Problems
When to Cut Takes and When Not To
Shooting Another Take
Moving On
Shooting Coverage
Set the Eyelines
Mark the Eyelines
Off-Camera Lines
Entrances and Exits
Overlapping Action
Room Tone
Next Scene
DIT
Lunch
Car Scenes
What If It Rains
Wrap
What About the Gear
Don’t Despair
Note
Afterword (Postproduction and Beyond)
Dailies
Editing
Sound Work
Final Color and Output
Timeline
Afterwards
What’s Next?
Notes
Appendices
Appendix II Sample Breakdown
Appendix III Sample Budget
Index
