How a film is made?

Different aspects of
filmmaking
Filmmaking, very commonly known as film production is the process by which a film is
made. Feature film production involves several discrete stages that every movie must
cycle through. Each stage has its specific tasks that need to be completed before your
film is ready for audiences.

Film making consists of 7 major stages from conception to circulation that includes-
Development, Pre-production, Production, Principal Photography, Wrap, Post-
production, and finally Distribution. Commencement of all these stages results in a film
release. The process of filmmaking takes place at destinations from all over the globe in
a range of economic, social, and political contexts, using abundant technologies and
cinematic techniques.

Now we’ve looked at the phases involved in filmmaking, it’s time to take a more detailed
look at the phases, a film goes through. Below are the seven key stages in getting a film
ready from an initial idea through to watching it on the motion-picture screen.

Stages of filmmaking:

1. Development

The development stage of a script mainly consists of planning and conceptualizing a

script, based on an existing script, a book, a brief story outline, another movie, a true
story, or can even be an original concept. Though, after approval, the director works
with the scriptwriters to come up with a step-by-step outline of the progression of the
film. However, the development of a script may also start with a Director and/or a Writer
pitching an idea to the Producer of the film.

2. Pre-production
In this pre-production phase, the key objective lies where one would narrow down options of the
production and plan the evolution of the film in terms of budget, film cast, and crew. This stage
is where all the planning takes place before the camera rolls and sets the master vision
of the project. A Line Manager or Production Manager is usually hired by the Producer during
this process to create a schedule and manage the budget for the film. The pre-production phase
also includes figuring out the shoot location.

3. Production
The production phase of filmmaking is the key to keep planning ahead of the daily shoot. It is
when the actual film production work begins. The primary aim of this stage is to stick to the
budget and schedule, with round-the-clock vigilance. Last but not least, the film Director works
with the cast and crew members to ensure that every single thing goes as planned.
Communication is the only success key between all the involved parties such as location, set,
office, production company, distributors.

4. Principal Photography
Photography is an essential phase in film production because that is when the camera rolls.
This is known to be the most expensive phase of film production because of the salaries owed
to the actor, director, and set crew, as well as the costs of certain shots, props, and special
effects if needed. All the preceding stages have been set with a motive to ensure the smooth
transition of principal photography. So, it is important for the film director to strive to remain on
time and on budget. Communication between all the parties is crucial during the shoot.

5. Wrap
This stage of Wrap is a period immediately after the shooting ends and when all the cameras
are turned off. During this stage of film production, it is when we dismantle the set and clear
the location. All the types of equipment and props must be returned to the suppliers in
functioning order. And there must be a full set of records of the shoot.

6. Post-production
In most cases, this stage of Post-production overlaps the stage of photography but not always.
As a part, a rough cut of the film is drafted, and the film director then begins reviewing and
editing (assembling) the footage as he coordinates additions that may be required from visual
effects VFX, music, and sound design. After reviewing and assembling, the picture now gets
locked and the delivery elements start to be developed.

7. Distribution
The distribution phase is the final stage of the film production process. Once the film is
completed, the film must be distributed for the producers to make their money back. It is the
work of the producers that takes a considerable amount of time and energy to strike a
lucrative deal for distribution amongst the cinemas and other platforms such as Amazon Prime,
Netflix, HBO, etc. It is also important to secure the perfect deals as they will determine the film’s
reach and success in the right sum of money to ensure higher returns on investment.