Everything that needs to be in place before the actual shoot or principle photography begins is arranged when a project moves from development to pre-production. Casting is completed, crews are hired, costume designers get busy, and set designers begin construction during pre-production. Locations are scouted and contracted for the shoot if the film will be shot on location. To make shooting as cost-effective as possible, a schedule is created and the script is divided into scenes based on location and casting requirements.
Storyboards, which visually capture the essence of the scene’s action, are frequently used to block out scenes for a shoot. A storyboard is a graphic frame resembling a comic book with free-hand rendering of a scene. Character exchanges or action sequences such as a car chase or explosion can be depicted in storyboards. They also depict the scene from the desired camera angle(s) and are shown during read-throughs and/or distributed to the cast and crew as needed.
During the pre-production phase, cast members must meet with costume designers for fittings. If voice coaches, trainers, tutors, or other types of character preparation are required, they will be hired during this phase. Actors who need to lose or gain weight for a role can use the pre-production period to get physically and mentally in shape.
In pre-production, the administrative structure is also put together. Every film is run as if it were a small business, with all of the necessary departments such as payroll, accounting, budgeting, and oversight.
It’s possible that a film will be canceled during pre-production. A loss of a key cast member, or circumstances preventing completion of another major aspect of the project, could be one of the reasons. It’s much less common for a film to drop out of production once pre-production gives way to principal photography or the actual shoot. By this time, investors have already put a significant amount of money into the project.
Filmmaking is a lengthy process that begins with development and continues through pre-production, production (or principal photography), post-production, audience testing, and distribution. Each film has its own set of trials and tribulations, setbacks, and triumphs. The entire process can take anywhere from a few months to several years, with the development phase taking the longest on average, though there are exceptions. Casting issues, on-set or off-set accidents involving major cast members, or, in the case of location shoots, uncooperative weather or other unforeseen problems can all disrupt shooting schedules. When a film finally makes it to the big screen, it is a significant achievement for everyone involved.