Film Production

Film Production

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  FILM PRODUCTION TheFive Key Stages Of Film Production
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  The Key StagesDevelopment Pre-production Production Post-production Distribution
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  DEVELOPMENT Finding FinanceScript development Stars Director Other Key Crew Role of the Producer
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  SECURING FINANCE Canbe complex and very lengthy Must attract potential investors Generate confidence in film’s ability to create revenue Returns can be enormous But very risky The higher the film’s profile, the more likely to attract investors Blockbusters attract more than low budget Only one in ten films make significant financial return
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  The package Ascript treatment - ten or more pages concerning storylines, characters and locations. Generic profile of film - help investors to “place” film in marketplace (potential audience) Proposed budget - rough guide to price
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  The package continuedVisual representation of key narrative moments Key personnel - stars, director, DOP, etc Potential spin-offs, merchandising and tie-ins - all its money making potential.
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  FINANCE 100% financing- a studio or other backer gives 100% of the film’s budget in return for full ownership of the film. Multi-party financing - the independent producer typically raises finance from a host of sources.
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  EXERCISE Titanic $200,000,000Spiderman 2 $200,000,000 Waterworld $175,000,000 The,Wild,Wild West $175,000,000 Van Helsing $170,000,000 Terminator 3 $170,000,000 Troy $150,000,000 With a partner, look at the list of the biggest film budgets and discuss what factors do you think helped secure such huge amounts of investment in these films?
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  PRE-PRODUCTION Finalising ScriptScheduling Budgeting Casting Crew contracts Storyboarding Location scouting Equipment hire
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  PRODUCTION Cinematography –DOP and the camera crew Production Design – Art direction and dressers Actors – Method and typical day Sound – Booms, fishpoles and DATs
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  PRODUCTION Costumes, Make-upand hair Special FX – green screens and blood Editing Production Team
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  POST-PRODUCTION Editing Re-shootsSound mixing ADR Foley Music Laboratories
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  DISTRIBUTION Launching afilm in the marketplace Distributor acquires rights to film Could invest in film at beginning Buy rights after film made Part of larger company and automatically distribute film $60 billion global film entertainment business
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  RELEASE CYCLES 0months Theatrical release 3 months Airline 4-6 months Hotel pay-per-view 6 months PPV/Video-on-demand 6 months DVD rental 6-12 months DVD sale 18 months Pay-TV (eg FilmFour, Sky) 36 months Free-TV (eg BBC1) Further revenues are available from soundtracks, merchandise, sponsorship and long term library sales.
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  POSITIONING How andwhen to release a film - a crucial decision. Want to avoid slow times or event films. Cinema release date important for DVD release. Target right audience - test screenings, p&a campaign.
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  CIRCULATION AND RELEASEHow many copies of film to circulate? Saturation 700-1000 prints Arthouse 20 prints Timing - school holidays for blockbusters, Jan-March for potential award winners Competition - too many blockbusters, too crowded
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  MARKETING Can costas much as the film Must create the “must see” factor - word of mouth Marketing mix - posters, trailers, media ads, internet, promotions, merchandising, premieres, press junkets, previews and festivals
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