The Idea
Making a film includes getting an idea for that movie. Inspiration is key in getting 'that idea' in which real life events, books or just your own new ideas can have a part in. Originality is an important part in this business and even if your getting your idea from somewhere else you still have to add some flair to it to make it into a movie and call it yours to some length.
After an idea, the producer comes next. The producer has looked at many movies and knows when they see a good idea in which they will think will attract audiences and sell. They decide whether your idea will be made in a movie.
A director is involved in the creative development of a film and will work with the producer to make the idea into something that can be filmed. Getting a well known director would make it easier to get a good writer for the film to make it easier to make the idea into something that can be shown on the big screen.
The writer then writes a one page description of the movie, including the main plot and descriptions of the characters, tis is called the treatment. A pitch is also included which has more in-depth information on the film . It includes a one line description of the film, the genre of the film, the market/target audience, the people included in the project, the rough budget needed for the movie and a brief synopsis of the movie. This is used to give the producer an idea for how to sell the movie.
Development Finance
This process is trying to get the rough idea into a final script for the movie. For this the producer uses the treatment and the pitch to get funds to get the script written and the movie made. They do this by going to production companies and try to persuade them to give them the funds needed.
A distributing and broadcasting company is needed for the movie to be distributed across cinemas as well as the broadcasters getting the right to the movie so they can broadcast the movie on their channel (ITV, BBC etc).
The producer can also go to a private investor hoping they will support the project.
Script Development
The writer writes a synopsis for the film and works with the producer to get an idea on which scenes would appear in the movie and which of those scenes would be the main ones (which would be focused on more).
The step outline includes short written descriptions of all the scenes outlining the action is detail and when they will all occur. The first draft will then be written which has all the actions and scenes of the movie, when they will occur in the movie and all the dialogue of the characters.
After the writer and producer are happy with the first draft, it is sent to all the investors of the movie which then give their own ideas to the script.
After gathering all the ideas of all the investors and the producer, the final draft is made. When everyone is happy with it is locked off as the final script and the writer is the paid.
Packaging
Packaging is a selling tool to raise money for the production. Firstly the producer uses the initial rough budget and the sales treatment to make another (but more accurate) rough budget to make the script work. It is decided here how the director and producer want to film the movie and who they want to hire to help them.
A cast is necessary. After the completion of the script getting a well known cast is commercial for the film. Heads of the department are also needed to make the movie look amazing. An editor is needed to meld the scenes that will be shot, a director of photography gives the movie and shoots a distinctive look and the production designer is vital as he takes care of the visuals of the movie.
A production schedule is made to see how the production is going to take place and where. It is then a more detailed budget sheet is made showing a more detailed spreadsheet of how much money is needed to make the movie. A line producer helps the producer figure out how much time the movie will take to be made.
A finance plan is made to plan how the film will raise it's funds (production companies, organizations etc) and a recoupment plan to see how it will make money and pay back it's investors (DVD sales, merchandise, cinema etc).
Financing
Film making requires money to do and it is the job of the producer to acquire as much funding as possible so the film can be made to the highest standard possible.
