The Idea: Sources of inspiration- real life events, remakes, Development finance: The producer uses treatment and
ment and Script Development: Writer and producer produce
original ideas, newspaper, book, plays, films. Producer= makes
the idea into reality. Director= helps producer into developing
ides into something then can be timed. Writer= defines and
clarifies the idea. Treatment= description of key events and
people in the film. Pitch= contains all the information producer
needs in order to sell the ideas to finance to commissions.
Script= genre, market, brief synopsis, rough budget.
Packaging: Is the producer’s key responsibility. Assistant
collect elements of packaging. The package is the main tool to
get production money. A common way to get it commercialised
is to attach well known stars to the script. To turn the film into
a proper business proposition, the producer must know how
much it is going to cost to make. Potential investors will want
to know the producer plans to raise money, and how to pay
them back.
The Shoot: This is when the shooting begins. Camera
department is responsible for all the footage. Once lighting and
sound, hair and make-up are ready shooting can begin. The
actors must create an emotional atmosphere and draw the
audience in. Special effects must be performed with minimum
risk. If the production falls behind insurers and financers can
get involved.
Marketing: The marketing team runs test screenings to see
how the film is being received. The potential audience is
targeted with posters, trailers and other marketing materials.
Television, radio, newspapers and magazines can all help create
positive word of mouth about the film. Internet is also a good
way for good marketing. The distributors must negotiate a deal
with the cinemas to screen it.
pitch, plus persuasion to get money to develop a script. The
producer approaches the film production companies for
development money. The companies ask for right of the
production. Sales company, broadcaster, distribution company
ask for selling and viewing right after giving development
money. Producer can also apply to public finding companies
such as UK film council for money.
Financing: To secure the investment to make the film, the
producer needs to travel. Private individuals, production
companies and public bodies all invest in films. The producers’
lawyer draws up contracts to seal the deal. Also raise money
from ‘pre sales’. Departments of banks also offer loans or
financing in commercial projects. Financers insist on a
completion bond, insurance for the project. Once all the
funding and insurance is secure the producer gets a green light.
Post-production: As the footage come in the editor
assembles it. Once the picture is locked the sound department
works on the audio, creating and editing every sound. Titles
and compositions are added in a compositing suite. The final
stage is to adjust the colour and establish the fine aesthetic if
the film. The rough sound mix goes to a dubbing theatre where
the sound mixer is sets the final levels. After final cut it is ready
to be duplicated.
Exhibition: A high profile premiere is used to launch the film,
with loads of media coverage. The UK has more than 3,500
cinema screens. The more screens the film is shown on the
more prints are needed. The exhibitors take their share of bow
receipts. Once the distributors have paid the financers can
recover their investments.
synopsis and work closely together with each other. The
outline contains short description and events and dialog
Revisions, when the writer gets the script editor to help
draft, the director writer, and producer all approve the s
The writer gets a fee. Sales treatment, the synopsis is de
to sell the film to finance.
Pre-production: Once all the heads of department a
the shooting script is circulated and pre production begi
producer, director and casting director begin choosing t
actors. Storyboards are like the blueprints for the film, e
shot is planned in advance. The production designer pla
every aspect of how the film will look. Effects shots are
in detail and can take months to design and build.
Sales: The producer secures the services of a sales age
specialist in film sales. To help sell the film a trailer is ma
producer and the sales agent collect everything they wil
to sell the film. The producer must go to great lengths to
people to the film. A high profile screening at a film festi
be great to attract attention. The producer now has a ho
product and can go negotiate good deals with the distrib
around the world.