MOVIE TV PRODUCTION

No matter how large or small a budget is to produce a film or TV production, there are still a number of concepts and methods that should be followed. Creating a movie or TV production is just like any project. In engineering, a common approach in project management is to break the project into phases beginning with the inception of the project, to elaborating on what the project will accomplish and how the project will be implemented, to the actual construction of the project, to the transition or delivering of the final product. Sound familiar? It should, since a film will only be successful if each element is executed skillfully to the finest detail beginning with the concept and inception of the story to the planning in pre-production to the taping during production to the final cutting and mastering in post-production and finally to distributing the film. Before any step is taken any further, understanding what is at stake and identifying how to either eliminate or at least mitigate possible risks should be made. Unlike other production companies, Adept Eye actually adopts and applies a more scientific methodology called the Rational Unified Process. Traditionally, projects typically follow something known as the Waterfall model.

Meaning, a project will have a series of phases. Once a phase is completed, the project falls into the next phase, hence the term Waterfall. However, the danger with this model is what if a problem occurs that was never considered? What if this problem is not realized until the lifecycle of the production is near completion? What if that problem is so catastrophic that it means starting the entire process over again? Luckily in movie or TV productions, there are re-writes throughout the production as well as pick-up shots. However, when the movie is cut together there is the risk in which an entirely different final product is created from which was first intended.

This is why instead of taking a linear step by step process, we imake it an iterative one in which the production is first broken into milestones but each phase, such as conceptualization, the pre-production, the production, and post-production phases are re-iterated. During each iteration, two important questions are always asked: “Are we building the right product?” and “Are we building the product right?”

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So it all first starts with an idea. Normally, that idea has a goal or desired result whether it is to create a product whose goal is solely to make a profit or if it is a film attempting to bring awareness and artistic merit. A successful production will understand what are its objectives, who will it be its audience, and what point is it trying to make. During the inception or conceptualizing phase of your production, the first step is to understand what, why and if you should even take on this project. And just like any organized project, there is a vision statement that sums up everything that your final product wishes to accomplish. If a vision statement cannot be formalized then more than likely chaos will ensue throughout the production in which no one is clear or may have different ideas of what is trying to be achieved.

By this time it should be realized whether the production is worth going any further. If so, next would be elaborating on how the final product will be constructed and implemented which occurs during the pre-production phase. This is done by establishing a formal design which is better known as the script. This document is essentially the blueprint of what will be produced. If a production is expected to be executed efficiently, it must first start with the script allowing that to happen. A script of course must possess great scenes that are intertwined into a cohesive and coherent plot containing characters audiences can identify and sympathize with. But every production must also have limits. Therefore, the script has to be to the point and free from extraneous elements that are not detrimental to the story or building of its characters. Eliminate or consolidate as many characters and locations as possible. And most importantly, know what resources will be available. This includes budget, actors, crew, equipment, location, supplies, and time. For example, don’t expect actors to give a performance that is beyond their capabilities. Don’t write a scene that requires constructing an extravagant set if it does not truly add to the viewers’ experience and most importantly, the story.

After the script has been crafted, the risks and costs should then be identified. How can those risks be eliminated? Or, at least, how can they be mitigated? How can the costs be lowered without hindering the story and audience’s viewing experience of the final product? With all things considered, what is it going to take for this production to be successful and in the end will it be worth the costs and risks? No matter how much excitement surrounds the creativity of the script, honesty and objectivity must remain.

Understanding and identifying risks should not deter the decision of going through with a production. Instead, it should do the opposite. In fact, it should increase confidence knowing that a solid plan is being created and that every detail is not being ignored and taken for granted. Storyboard your shots. Plan how each shot will be executed and who will be involved.

The more that goes into preparation, the more likely the actual production will be executed without any mishaps. As principal photography commences, don’t stop shooting until you know you got what you wanted. Did the actors perform the scene to your satisfaction? Were they believable? Was their dialogue clear and understandable? Was the lighting appropriate? Were the camera movements fine? Were the angles, props, and actions consistent with previous takes? These and so many questions must be answered with each individual take. Don’t depend on fixing these types of problems in post-production when you can fix them in production.

One of the things that the digital age allows is the ability to create rough cuts immediately after the shooting for the day has wrapped up. Allowing directors or producers to see what was shot that day and edited into a rough cut is a tremendous tool. It is common for filmmakers to be reluctant in showing their bits and pieces of their unfinished work to producers and other stakeholders for fear that it may introduce doubt in the production. But by delivering a rough cut should be looked at as a milestone. It is somewhat like a software company releasing another beta version of their new product. Any doubt or concern should not be received negatively but instead as an opportunity to re-evaluate if whether the right picture is being made and is it being made right. Whatever doubt or concern arises, the question should be can those things be quashed given the amount of time and resources remaining. Again, a decision will need to be made if whether to continue on or cut your losses short now.

This entire re-evaluation process basically alludes to the concept of re-iteration. You can consider the first rough cut or daily as a milestone in the production. Therefore, the next iteration of going through the conceptualization phase and pre-production phase would again occur. Based on what has been shot and edited so far, has any of the goals, story, characters, dialogue, production style and techniques need modifying? And again, is the right movie still being made and is it being made right? What new risks and challenges have been realized? With each iteration, the number and severity of risks, challenges, and questions should progressively be reduced.

Some may consider this process too tedious and unrealistic. But again consider taking a production so far only to discover there is a detrimental flaw in your story or production making your film unsalvageable. By taking a little more time and effort in re-evaluating all elements throughout a production will not only ensure mitigating risks, difficulty, and costs. It will also ensure that the final product you are building will achieve whatever your defined goal is.

Therefore, no matter what stage you are in your production, Adept Eye can still add significant value.

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