Production of a film - Documentary Notes

Production Documentary 

• A film begins and ends with the producer as they find the original idea of the film and see's it all the way through to the end when it is put in the cinema.
• When making a film the producer looks at the bigger picture.
• The four main steps to making a film are; Developing, Raising money, making the film and taking it to the market place.

The First Gamble-

• The first gamble when making a film is choosing the idea and scripting it, the scripts are the big idea wrote into a film. When writing the script the producer wants to write something to inspire the director so that they can develop the idea and takes it one step further.

The Package-

• First the producers and directors make a plan.
• Included in this plan will be the budget set and the amount that they are spending on the cast etc.
• The cast and main actors are crucial  as they will attract the audience to the film.
• The script also get re-written many times and polished- this could include the creation or elimination of characters or a change of location.

Attracting Investment-

• Producers can find support from TV companies or from the Regional Film Fund 
• Producers also need to financier that will help fund the film. Ideally there should be 3-10 financier.
• Some of the investment could come from overseas, this is called Foreign Investment.
• a Multipartner is when both the Director and Producer share the role of being in charge.

Planning-

• usually in the planning stages the script is broken down and the hardest scenes are identified, this is then built into a schedule. 
• when making a film it is crucial to have the right team around the producer and director as it is a very collaborative process, For example the cinematographer acts as the producer and director's "right hand man" 

Audience-

• The Producer has to have a very clear view of the target audience.
• The Producer connects the idea of the film to what would appeal to the audience, so the audience can relate to the film. 

Above and Below the line costs-

• Above the line costs- Cost of creating the story, Cast, Crew, Script Writer, Main actors.
• Below the line costs- people that make the film and put it together ( the rest of the crew)