Filmmaking in Pakistan – Become a Film Maker. In this article we are sharing complete process of Filmmaking.
How to become a filmmaker?
Being a professional filmmaker, first you are supposed to do (Bachelor’s degree in film making), where you acquire the skills in filmmaking, and then you can make your own film, and run your own industry. But here we are teaching you some basic stuff that enables you to learn and make a film in shortest time span. At the end of this filmmaking article we will also share our filmmaking course…
Filmmaking process
There are four mains stages of filmmaking
1. Development
2. Preproduction
3. Principal Photography (Shooting or Production)
4. Post Production
Development
Development is the slate of creativity or where creativity of film starts from, the shape of story making or start to run. The producer will use resources, and try to find the importance of story. There are many great resources for optioning material such as blogs, books, and then producer or the Production House give commission to screen writer to create script from print media or any book. After these all stuff. The next step reserves scripts.
The producer needs many scripts until, He gets satisfied and ready to find a great and talented director for project. The producer refers to give a line producer to break down. To break down your script and he estimated budget before informing to investors. After getting ready all these work. Then you secure finance for your feature. Whatever the financer is independent or from crowd sourcing, then you get a green signal and move towards pre-production.
Pre-production
We have created the seven P’s of production, but we do follow it.
1. Piss poor Pre-production
2. Produces piss poor production
3. The lathes being undesirable and very adorable.
What is Pre-production?
Pre-production is a phase where all shooting stuffs are discussed and prepared such as locations, characters, props, light, team member, budget and so on.
During pre-production key members are selected for your film crew or team. The most valuable and significant person is the Director, Cinematographer and the line producers.
Director:
A famous phrase is “Director is the captain of the ship”. Director manages all the creative stuff and visualizes the screen play and brings the best to produce. Director manages each department that is working on film/drama.
Line Producer
The line producer is responsible for all the physical bolls of the production. Then he tells to every members of team that go over budget. The “Unit Production Manger” (UPM) is included in team or the line producer can also play his role as ‘UPM’ during the shoot. Next stage is (DOP)
Cinematographer (DOP)
The next person is included in team is (Director of Photography). He works with Director, and understands Director’s vision, then put on the screen of camera. DOP stylize the film according to the storyboard and as discussed with Director. The most important thing is to create shot list, so the filming process will be easy.
Production Designer
The next step is brought on “Production Designer”, who creates a visual look for the film and he is worker or answerable to art department (Art Director, Set Designer, Dresser and Prop master etc. If you are filming any scene the PD is responsible for making sure which thing are seen on camera are correct beside the cast match.
Costume Designer
Costume designer’s role to create wardrobe for whole characters or actors and cloths confirm. The Costume designer understands the situations in films and brings the stuff as per scenes requirements.
Location Manager
When “Location Manager” shares you locations with Director, So it is very important to catch Production Designer and Cinematographer with you. They will give you good opinion for location.
The Location Manager has choose of permitting needs for sharing in various Location, Handled with location owners such as building manager, public and authorities and Location Manager has responsibility to makeover of space, other key crew members, which are included during Pre-production phase are the “ Production Designer, Location Manager, and the Casting Director”. It depends upon the project Pre-production happens before 3 weeks to 3 months.
Casting Director
The next step is “Casting Director” is included during Preproduction. He starts work with Producers and Directors to short list the suitable artist. He has responsibility to breakdown with different casting services, agencies and management companies to hold auditions.
Principal of Photography (Shooting)
After finalizing script, cast, equipment, locations, crew, storyboard, shot list, During Preproduction you will also hire “First Assistant Director” or 1st AD, who works with Director and Line producer. Make shooting schedule. He makes sure to Director and complete production.
1st A.D
During production, the first AD is responsible for each and everything during shooting, and make sure everything is running in a timely manner. He monitors every respective department that how much time they need. We will not panic around during shoots.
Being 1st AD mean thinking and have an ability to solve every problem of set according to the size of the film. The production assistant, who works under the AD he kept or placed for specific department.
2nd A.D
The 2nd AD works with 1st AD and has a responsibility for making call slates , and confirm 1st AD that technician are on sets as well as confirms him through wardrobe and makeup and camera is on standby.
Script Supervisor
The “Script Supervisor” sits with the director in front of the monitor. He is responsible for tracking the films continuity. The nick name is “Scripty” follows the script and can change during film. He can interact with the camera and sound department for continuously the slate is correct. After the complete production the production house reports editor ready.
Gaffer
Grip up electric, 1st assistant camera, 2nd AC and Sound Mixer. The Gaffer is in the lighting department, who are working on the sets and works with DOP.
Key Grip
The key grip works with Gaffer and DOP. He is affiliated with lighting and rigging department.
1st AC (Assistant Camera)
1st AC has responsibility for pulling focus, and build camera. He often swaps out the lenses and other accessories as well.
2nd AC (Assistant Camera)
The 2nd AC stores all precious footage in different hard drives and prepares footage for director to show him all the end of shoot day. The 2nd AC has a responsibility to mark out the different slates of the scenes, and keeps batteries as well. He also works as DIT (Digital Imaging Technical), when editing come in progress to director works with editor for compiling the scenes and footage. It may occur and need script supervisor in case dialogues are changed.
Sound Mixer
The “Sound Mixer” has responsibility for recording and capturing all sounds on smaller productions the sound mixer magnet boom operator directly a work as sound mixer.
Post Production
After completing Principal Photography or Shooting you are ready for “Post Production”. Bring out the editor composer, sound designer, music supervisor, VFX artist and all others related to Post Production. In Post Production your art is ready for cinemas.
If you wish to learn filmmaking or you are a youtuber, a tiktoker and you have a creative mind and interest in filmmaking join Our Filmmaking Course. Click to start
Film Maker
Mirza Usama Baig