The Film Industry

Development


There are two main sources of inspiration, the first being you own original ideas. This is the most commonly used idea and probably the most successful. Unthought-of, unique and untouched is the most important part of this source of inspiration. The second is through real life stories. This can come from the news, word of mouth or anything else that gives the story an element of truth which automatically draws interest from the potential viewers.


The producer will then evaluate the idea that you might have thought up. It is down to their skill and knowledge of the business to ultimately asses whether the idea is eligible for production. Once they have found the right idea, it is their job to breathe life into the idea and make it a reality.


It is then usually the producer’s responsibility to find a well-known director that can help take over the creative aspects of the production and put the idea onto the screen.


Once this has happened, the rapidly growing team will find a writer who will be able to put the narrative onto paper and make the idea tangible, ultimately clarifying the idea they have in their minds, by putting it into something that can be looked at, imagined and created. The writer does this by creating the treatment which is similar to a brief of what the film will consist of. This may include character profiles, the plot, settings and other various elements that we would include in the actual film itself.


From here the idea will then be pitched to financial advisors who decide if the film idea, which has ultimately become a business proposition, is good enough to actually be made. The pitch includes such details as a one liner, where the plot is summed up in less that 25 words, the genre of the film, the target audience and a list of all the people to be involved in the production. Also on the pitch is a rough budget of how much they plan to spend on the film. This is vital as once the budget is set they all agree to work around that specific sum of money and no more. Finally on the pitch will be a brief synopsis which will expand on the one liner that originally opens the pitch.


Development finance


The idea will be pitched to the investor who hopefully will provide the money to create the film. The producer can invest their own money but this is a risk as it does not provide external verification of the idea.


Depending on how much the production company like the idea, they will then create the script and invest what they think the film is worth into it. As only around 1% of films pass the development stage, companies will often look to invest in many films around the same time and hope to have 1 success that will pay of for the rest that failed.


The sales company will provide money for the film if they feel it is marketable. In return, they will often receive the right to sell the film to distribution companied and also take an allocated amount of the profit.


Also, in return for developing money, the broadcaster will ask for rights to show the film on certain channels that link with certain target audiences.


Once these steps are complete, there is a lot more chance of the idea actually happening. For example, other investors will see that certain steps have been taken in the right direction and hopefully act upon them.


Another example of some one to invest in the idea is a private investor. However assuming they agree to do so, so early on in the development usually results in a large sum of the final profit going back to them.


Script Development


In the synopsis, the writer and producer work closely together to create an idea that is specific in terms of its target audience, narrative and most importantly the budget. The more experienced the writer, the more specific they can make this script.


Resulting from this is the script outline where each scene is briefly described giving us an idea on how characters and the plot will evolve. This takes a lot of re-adjustment which is why writers have been known to use post it notes to do it. This enables them to change around the structure until they have found the perfect sequence of events.


Once this is complete the writer will create the first draft, which will then be sent to the financiers who will have their own opinion on what should be in the draft and how it can maximise profits.


Once everyone has had there input and the script has been adjusted accordingly, the final draft will be created. This is usually the end of the writers work in the film which means this is where they get paid their sum of the money they have been promised. The work that was in the writers hands now gets passed onto the director.


After this point the sales treatment is created where by the unique selling points of the film will be dramatically emphasized to entice the potential financiers.


Packaging


The producer then takes the treatment and script and will find a final budget that they will have to stick to from then on. This gives them the opportunity to organise suitably priced talents – e.g. film crews, actors etc.


The stars are the commercial assets that can make or break the entire film. Once they have a fee negotiated the producers assistant will add them to the ultimate package that now includes the sales treatment, the script, the rough budget and now the stars included in the film.


But there’s still a lot more to be done. The editor needs to be taken on board and must be professional and well known in the trade in order to create the high quality film that you would be trying to create. Also, the production designer must be taken into account. He or she will design the set which will potentially sell the film convincing financiers that the film will ‘look right’. Now it is up to the producers assistant to add these elements to the package, as well as the set photographer who adds a creative elements to the package.


The next stage is where the producer will employ a line producer who effectively keeps control of the budget by ensuring everyone is spending the right amounts of money.


Now, the finance plan which lists organisations the producer plans to approach and the recoupment schedule which is a prediction of how the film will make money must be added to this package being made by the producer’s assistant.


Now that the package is completed, the producer can now approach financiers and hopefully be accepted in order to get the film going.


Financing


The producer will now travel the world in the hope to find a relevant financier who is both up to the job and prepared to take the job on.


Once they have found the appropriate investors, the lawyers for each side will draw up the conclusions for the investments.


Now that the contract is completed, each person will be looking to get as much profit as possible out of it. The sales company will want the right to sell the film to distributors and take a specific amount of the profit. The sales team will want rights to show the film on one of their TV channels after the film has been released in the cinema and has been through the rental period. The distributor will want the rights to the film before it has actually been completed. However due to the complex terms and conditions of the contract they have the right to turn down the film if it is not up to the standard they had hoped for.


There will probably be completion bonds involved which is basically insurance for the film in case it does not get completed. This money will provide what is needed to get the film completed in the case where they run out of money.


At this stage where things are looking to conclude in terms of development, it is up to the producer to ensure all agreements are stuck to and everyone is kept happy before production begins.


Production


At this stage the script will be clarified by all of the heads of the departments. After this, the script is locked of and no further major changes will be made to it.


Now it is up to the cast director to find the right cast for each role. This is a complex job as their choices of cast must show what the characters in the film will be trying to show. The character description needs to match the actual actor. As you can imagine, doing this for thirty to fourth people may be as complex job.


Now, the storyboard artist is hired to draw up the plans of each scene and make them clear. The Director of Photography will usually be present to ensure the film is being constructed into what they planned on and nothing different. Also, the director and editor will want the storyboard to enable them to mix the scenes about to find out how to tell the story most efficiently. It is cheaper to do this now that after.


The production designer will look at this and now be able to plan every aspect of how the film will look on each set. At this point, the visual effects designers will begin creating the relevant scenes which can take months.


The production accountant will now organise the payments for everyone that is employed.


The Shoot


Now the set has begun, a huge sigh of relief from the producer. However the shoot is a long and tedious process requiring a lot of effort. For example the set must be constructed, the actors must be dressed and have the appropriate make up on, taking deliveries etc.


Now that the film is being shot it is up to the director of photography to ensure everything is looking like it should. Also, the hair and make-up artists must be ready to perform fast to ensure everything is running smoothly. The lighting team who has been hired is also at work at this moment in time.


Once the actors are ready, they must ensure they are at their best as they are the only people of the whole film and all productions, development etc. that will actually be seen by the public. The whole production relies around them so the stresses of any other departments must be kept away from them.


If there are any special physical effects, stunt people will be higher to take risks, e.g. being as close to an explosion as possible. Health and safety is very important at this stage as there is a lot of risk involved, however this is what the stunt man is paid for.


Post Production


As each scene gets shot, the editor and his or her assistant will begin creating sequences and scenes with the editor and producers input at the end to clarify on what they think is a marketable product.


Now, the Foley artists, the sound dubbing and the soundtracks are prepared and taken care of. These are all small parts of the process that actually have a massive effect on how successful the film will be. For example, who would watch a film when they cannot hear or see what the characters are actually doing?


Now that the film is starting to come together it is time for the titles and credits to be added in the composting suite. Also, this is where the special effects may be added in which do not come cheaply. However, they are usually worth it.


The colourist will now ensure each scene has a similar colouring effect in order to add a certain mood or even just make sure it looks as though it runs smoothly with similar tone.


The sound editor will then make the film suitable for viewing in cinemas and also ensure that the sound in general sounds high quality and that there are no defects in the sound.


Now it is up to the director and editor to give what they have spent months on end preparing, to the investor. That is right; the final cut goes to the financiers who ultimately have the final say on the film.


Sales


To help secure the sales of the film the producer will get a sales agent. A sales agent ultimately acts as a middle man between producer and distributor. He or she would know the market very well and give a value to the film based on his judgement.


To help build a potential market for the film, a trailer is made showing the most exciting bits of the film to draw in viewer’s attention.


At this point the ‘sales pack’ which includes all that is needed to sell the film to distributors is prepared to the best of its ability to ensure a sale to distributors.


At this point the distributor knows they must ensure the potential market for the film is excited for it. This creates a buzz that spreads like a wild fire out of word of mouth. Usually a high profile screening at a film festival is a good start in the right direction in terms of promoting the film.


Marketing


The distributors sales team will then find the hook on the film that will make it stand out in a crowded market place in its promotions to ensure the film is promoted to the best of their standards.


A way of doing this is showing the film to a test group and seeing how each different type of person reacts to it. This way they can gather information on how the film will sell and who it will sell the best to.


Another form of marketing that is slightly obvious in terms of every day life is posters at bus stops and other large posters being put around towns where by the target market is most commonly seen.


Also, to increase the word of mouth of the film, newspaper and magazine articles are done to give the film a good name.


Again, word of mouth is vital; however similar to this is viral marketing. Using the internet and social networking literally puts the film on a network of different types of people. From this niche marketing has been made realistic and we can target certain markets on the internet.


Now, the programmer who works for the exhibiter will decide if the film is appropriate for their audience. Sometimes it is down to the programmers like for the film although sometimes it may be purely down to whether the film suits their market or not.


The Exhibition


Finally the film will be released at a venue where lots of high profile celebrities will be invited, not because the exhibitors like them, but because they attract attention from the general public which is what the promotions aim to do.


The exhibitors make most of their money out of selling confectionary so it is vital that they only take on the best selling films to ensure they do not make a loss. This is why it may be hard to get a independent film into a British Mainstream Cinema.


The exhibitor will organise the film to have many prints made to ensure they can provide the right amount to ensure everyone can see the film. This may be done for different countries at different times to prevent printing too much and then having loads left over. This would be a waste of money.


At this point the producer can get an idea of the profits that will be made of the film from the box office gross.


Also, the financiers payments can now start to ensure they get their money back as agreed in the contracts.


Other Windows


Hospitality is a massive opportunity for extra views and there for extra revenue. For example, the film may be shown on screens in aircrafts for holiday commuters.#


Also, the primary source for sales of the film is now through DVD’s and not the actual cinema. The U.K. is the best market in terms of DVD’s in the world which is a big advantage for British film producers.


Next in line is the terrestrial TV, where the film will be sold on pay per view from various different companies. Distributors tend to sell large packages of films on the back of one big hit.


Surprisingly enough, once all of the profits have been collected, the producer must ensure everyone in the chain of command has been paid their allocated amount of money before they can take anything at all! I find that hard to believe considering they are the ones who pretty much made this happen!