Pre production is a very important process of film-making. Organizing and planning before hand is an important process for productions. Also conducting reliable in depth research is essential to producing a great videos. In order for production to begin a detailed final script, shooting schedule, costumes prepared, props prepared, visual effects, cast members, locations booked and the equipment booked are identified.

Finance

Finance is an important part of pre production. Finance is also known as budgeting. Budgeting plays a huge part of pre production because as producers with no or little budget, then the production of the video can not be produced to its full potential or to a professional standard. The budget for our music video was £20. This was used on mini DV tapes for our footage to be recorded on. These cost our group £15. We also had to purchased a A3 sized sketch pad costing £2.99. This is why budgeting is important without it we wouldnt be able to afford necessary items which help the production of the video and also gives us a limit on what can be spent. I feel that the budget we used for music video was an appropriate and reasonable amount of money for that particular production. The equipment was supplied by the college free of charge and no transport was needed as for the studio scene we filmed in the studio located in college and when we filmed in Swanswell park we walked as it is opposite the college. In the TV industry when making a professional music video the artist used is supposed to be paid as the video is produced by a professional production company with a much bigger budget than what we had. However as this was a college project we didn’t have to pay the artist we used. The crew was also free as it consisted of other college students however in the industry the crew rates vary depending on their skills and the type of production. Our finances for any project we do at college are carefully planed during pre productions. We sit down as a group and discuss how much the budget should be and what it should be spent on.

This is a quotation sheet used in production that producers used to get an idea of the budget available and how much certain things cost. They have to take into account equipment, production, pre-production and post-production will cost. For our short horror film we are currently working on we have a budget of £20. So far our budget has been spent on fake blood (£1.99), transport to location (£20) and food brought on the day (£5.90).

Over this past year I have used and demonstrated pre production in every project I have ever encountered. An example of a project where alot of pre production was required was music video.

This is my final music video we created during April. This project required a huge amount of paper work and pre production. For example risk assessment. Our biggest issue whilst filming in Swanswell park was members of the public and animals. The public was an issue as we had to make sure no one walked through a shot or done anything to ruin shots. To overcome this issue we made sure that we filmed in a quiet part of the park and asked anyone in the background to step aside. Also had to make sure we didn’t film any children as it is illegal to do so and it wasn’t required. The animals were also an issue. As we were filming in the park, which has a large collection of swans, geese and ducks we had to make sure we didn’t harm them or they didn’t harm us. We done this by maintaining a safe distance from the animals.

This is a risk assessment we filled out for our latest project Morbid Torment. This risk assessment has to be completed before filming could take place so that our group was aware of the potential health and safety issues. The biggest risk our group faced during filming was a main road as the location was situated at the side of a busy road. This meant our group had to take extra care of what was around us.

This is the risk factor sheet used in every risk assessments in order to gain knowledge of how severe a risk can be. Risks are between 1 and 5, 1 being negligible with no action required and 5 being very severe which requires immediate action to be taken in order to minimise that particular risk.

Facilities

Facilities are an important part of pre-production. They need to be organized before filming can take place so that you have a location to film and know where your filming. The image above shows the location we used to film our short film called Morbid Torment. Before we could start filming we had to discuss the location we would like to use, then contact the owner to see if the facility was available to use and then arrange transport to get us there. We also had to make sure that the equipment was booked so that we could film on the day. We also had to make sure that the transport we would be using could transport our production team as well as the equipment. Thankfully it could. We had booked this particular facility for two days so that if we needed to reshoot we could and if one day we couldn’t film due to the weather we made sure we had another day to film.

Time

Time is an important part of a producers work. They need to make sure that they don’t waste any time and that all the time given is used to its full advantage in order to meet their deadlines.

Here is an image of a production schedule used in my Morbid Torment project I have just completed.  As you an see everything had been filled out in detail. Included are dates of pre-production and production all the way from planning to filming to editing. This schedule was important to us as it helped us meet deadlines, gave us goals to meet and was rewarding when we knew we were on schedule and had completed the tasks.

Personal

A production team is always essential during production so that you have people to operate the equipment. The roles can consist of camera man, director, producer, mic operator, runner and so on. Professional production teams would usually have people working for them or employ freelancers. Our production team usually consist of around four people as we feel this is enough to operate the equipment and contribute ideas.

Materials

During my projects at college I have had to use a number of materials during production. For the music video I used an iPhone and iPod dock to play the pre recorded song out loud while recording, to make syncing easier during editing. This made the editing stage a lot easier as I could here the audio recorded on the built in microphone on the camera, so I just had to place the song over the top of the footage and muted the footage audio. We also used a spot light which was placed behind the artist shining towards the camera and whenever the artist moved slightly it shone on the camera lense creating a professional effect. This was a very effective effect as It was unique compared to most music videos and it gave the final product a much more professional feel.

Contributers 

Before filming a individual or a group of people, first they must fill out a contributer consent form stating that they have agreed to be on camera and that during production the production company may edit, adapt or change any part of the footage. This is an actual consent form which I filled out before I featured on camera for our Morbid Torment project our group is currently working on. Once I had signed this form the footage later captured could be used however the producers wanted as long as it complied with the terms and conditions stated on the consent form.

Another time we had to use a consent form was for our music video. The artist we used, LukeeStarr had to sign a consent form before filming took place stating he agrees with the terms and conditions.

Locations 

Locations are an important part of pre-production. Locations are needed in any filming production so that the final product has a setting and to give you somewhere to film. Before filming in a public place you need filming permission. This usually requires two weeks notice to the council so that the an sort it out and give you the permission needed. One you have received permission from the council you are free to film on the location specified on the required day.

This is the letter we received from the council confirming we had received the required filming permission we urgently needed. This letter allowed us to film in Swanswell Park.

Originate Ideas

Before production begins our group usually sits down and discusses any ideas, plans or video styles we would like to include. This can involve camera angles and techniques, locations, audio used, creative concept and genre we want the finished product to be. Usually ideas begin on a mind map so that the group as a whole can visualise the ideas and suggest ways they can be improved.

Develop Ideas

Developing ideas is one of the final stages of pre-production. We usually use this stage to finalise ideas and plans before setting out on location to film. At this stage we have a final idea of synopsis, genre, target audience, dates of production, a narrative and a final script completed.  An example of this was for our Morbid Torment project. For this particular project we planned the whole thing in great detail before production so that our production team had a clear idea on what we were doing. We also wrote up a script as this short film featured dialogue which we needed to know before filming so that we could be more productive and use our time wisely.

Research 

Research is key during pre-production. For documentary our group carried out a wide range of research before production began. We visited a local hospital to gather any information about smoking, we performed vox pops with random people to gain their opinion about smoking and we used a wide range of secondary research mainly through the internet. We use the internet for a high quantity of research however we do have to take into account copyright. To overcome this we would use references to the websites used and change the wording to our own.

Planning 

Planning is one of the most important stage. Planning is crucial in pre-production and should take place before any production can take place. Below is an image of the story board created for my music video project. A story board must include camera movements such as high shot. low shot, pan etc as well as expected camera angles and techniques.

Professional production companies make sure that before filming they have a fully detailed storyboard with every angle, position, technique and lighting included. They also have a shooting script as a guideline on what needs to be filmed and so they an keep on schedule. For my music video project I also completed a shooting script as well as a shooting schedule so that I could make sure I was on time and was meeting deadlines.