Institutional Context

FILM PRODUCTION

I've taken the following pictures from http://www.skillset.org/film/business/ which show the process of film production and the different roles within them.

The first section of making a film production is to have an idea, which is sourced from any kind of inspiration. In my case, or the case of most dramas, the inspiration would be real life events and feelings. Then a producer, director and writer are found. In my production, I will be acting in all of these roles. This means that I'll have to make a script, direct the scenes in the trailer and source funds. However, in my case, I won't really need large funding as it will be small scale, and would probably be produced by an independent company rather than a Hollywood organisation if it were to be really produced. This would effect the look of my film, as independent institutions such as "Film4" or "3 Dogs and a Pony" seem to focus more on the uniqueness of shots and gritty feel of the dramas they produce. The treatment comes next in the process, which is a plan or proposal of what the plot and basics of the film will be.

If the trailer were to really be produced, the proposal would be pitched to different production companies to try and get them "on board" to invest time, money and services into the production of the film. In the real world, this pitching to different companies could take a vast amount of time, with people waiting years for their script to be accepted. In my own production, I obviously won't have this problem because I won't have companies or backing. The last stage in the diagram is "tying down a writer". This will obviously be me, so I won't really have this problem.

The development/production of a script is something which begins with a general idea or brief synopsis of the plot. Once this synopsis is "achieved" there needs to be an outline of the plot or storyline, breaking it down into different sections or phases. This contributes to the act of beginning to draft out a script. In my case, I won't need to draft out whole scripts for the whole film, as I am only making a trailer. So, instead I need to map out the important parts of the storyline or the parts that I consider to be most attractive to entice audiences to view the actual film. This may be snippets of dialogue or a monologue. I will probably need to come up with more sections of script than I will actually need, so that I can have a good proportion of material to edit down when it comes to editing my film trailer.

This section of the production process is labelled "packaging". This refers to putting the film into a ready commercial package which can be properly presented, with a rough budget. A part of this phase can include casting or appealing to big stars to make the proposition of your film more appealing to commercial companies, as big stars encourage wider and larger audiences, meaning a larger turnover. Packaging also includes the production of more detailed budgets and pricing, as well as a schedule to inform possible participants of the durations of production. All of these components create the package of the film. However, I won't need to present my film trailer as a package to commercial companies. I would like it to look commercial or professional, but I won't need to present it to anyone, it will be for my own information. I can still make budgets and schedules, but it seems a little surplus to requirements to create a proper budget when I will have limited funds anyway.

This section of the process is about financing. For the film to be produced it needs funds from investors. If my film were to be actually made, I think it would be probably funded by public investment (organisations like the UK Film Council) or it could possibly be co-funded by organisations. However, the latter may not be so likely as it probably wouldn't have a large budget, so wouldn't require funding from multiple organisations. There are also various other sources for money, such as banks, selling the rights before production, selling shares and having wealthy contacts. Once the appropriate funding has been negotiated the film production can properly begin.

Pre-production involves casting for actors to play the roles in the film. It's important when casting to consider actors who are not only right in appearance, but also in ability. In a proper film production, possible actors may be recruited nationwide, whereas in my production I will be limited in choice. It may also be difficult to gain a range of ages in my casting and so I may have to work in reverse, shaping the storyline around available actors, or at least take this into consideration when making a script. The casting section will probably be the only real involvement of other people in the production of the trailer, otherwise I take on most roles. After casting, a storyboard will be created with directions and technical codes deeply annotated in it. There will also be a professional artist drawing the pictures. I will be making a storyboard and animatic for my own trailer, again taking on all of the roles involved. In the pre-production stage, I will also have to source costumes and make-up that I will need for the production. As I don't have a large budget, these elements will probably be purchased from charity or second-hand shops. I will also make any alterations to costumes that are necessary in this section. In addition to this, I will need to prepare any locations, which I should have already visited and checked that I am able to film there.

The production phase is where the actual filming will take place. During this section, I will be taking on the roles of setting up and providing props, shooting the actual footage, director, cameraman, sound man, lighting technician, producer etc. The only roles I will not be performing are that of the cast and I will try to ask someone to take stills shots of the production and action as it is ongoing. During this section, it seems important to stick to a schedule and to the storyboard. If it were a proper production, roles would be applied to many different people and other people such as insurers and "gaffers" would be there, but as I am producing it myself, on a small scale, with no funding, I will have to perform most roles.

After the footage has been filmed, it would be time for the post-production section. This is when the footage is edited together to form the narrative. Sound would also be incorporated, which can include dialogue, music, voiceovers and a diegetic soundtrack. Titles, logos and credits will also need to be incorporated accordingly. I will probably do this on the facilities and software available at college or home, whereas really people can hire out editing suites/studios and have state of the art technology. However, this may be less likely in an independent film, which mine would be, but obviously mine will not be of such high standard or quality. When all of this is completed, there eventually be a final cut.

This is the stage which seems most relevant to my project. This is when a trailer would be created for a film, and used for advertising. This is also when the product would be sold and screened at different venues. Deals will also be negotiated with distributers, who could possibly distribute the film nationwide or internationally, depending on the target market.

This stage introduces the possibility for synergy or synchronisation of products. This is when a film poster would be created, which I also have to create. This is also when other merchandise is created, and this can range from anything to hats, mugs, t-shirts and toys, depending on the audience. (For example, toys would be pointless for a film with a target market of adults ages 45-70). Also, surveys and tests are done at screenings now to see who the actual audience is, and who the film is most attractive to. This information enables people to market the product effectively in effective locations at effective times. (For example, a TV advert on in the advert break of Big Brother for a film aimed at 14-22 year olds). The only section of this I will be really focusing on is a film poster and magazine cover, as it will be advertised in film magazines as well.

This is when the film is actually exhibited. Independent films are more likely to be shown at smaller venues as they attract a niche market, whereas Hollywood blockbusters can be shown at nationwide, larger cinemas like "Odeon".

This is when merchandising can add to the vast profits made; DVDs and Blue Ray discs are produced and sold, the film can be sold to hospitality organisations, games can be made, other gimmicky products can be made and it can be screened on television. There is always the possibility of making more capital from the film as remakes may be made in the future as the love for a film can be passed down through generations.

PRINT.

As well as making a film trailer, I will also be making a film magazine cover and a film poster, both of which would be produced by the print industry. The type of organisation that would probably create a film magazine like I want to create (similar to "Little White Lies") is an independent company. An independent company like this is smaller than institutions that create magazines like "Total Film". Because of this, the production funds that the magazine has to go on may be smaller and the actual content of the magazine may differ. For example, "Total Film" may cover/report on international film festivals and interview huge stars, whereas a smaller magazine like "Little White Lies" may be based on more independent films (like my own would be) and still cover big film festivals, but in a different manner, focusing on different aspects. Being an independent institution may also mean that funds are smaller, in which case the production value may be lowered, or the distribution not as wide, or not as many editions published. If my magazine were to be actually created, I think I would like the lack of funds to effect the look of the magazine. I quite like the "rough and ready" look that a lot of early punk magazines had, where there was no technology and the magazine was compiled by cutting and pasting pieces of paper and pictures. I won't be assembling my magazine like this, but the "rough and ready" look is something that is commonplace to a lot of independent magazines, whether they belong to the film genre or not. I think magazines like "Little White Lies" are so appealing because they do look so different and therefore attract an audience similar to the one I intend to be aiming at. However, if my magazine didn't have a glossy finish, but was still quite "rough yet arty" in look, I think it would still appeal to and attract the same audience, whilst lowering theoretical costs. I would like to apply this look to the film poster, as I think an independent print company would also be creating this.

In the print industry, the process begins with an idea, like the film industry. The idea is then planned and drafted until it is produced or created on a computer. This is then printed by a printing company, and distributed accordingly. In the case of my own productions, posters and magazines would probably be produced on a low budget. I will be taking on all of the roles in these productions, such as editor, artist, printer, researcher, writer, proofreader and illustrator, with the help of modern technology. The only roles that I will not be taking on will be being the subject matter (models in photos). The technology I will be using will be operated by me, such as digital cameras, film cameras, Adobe Photoshop etc. This will not be at any real cost because I can use these things free with college. So, I will need to have various skills such as editing skills, photography skills and filming skills.

In the actual industry, my film poster wouldn't be very widely distributed, and I could probably only afford to place them where I knew my target audience would be, such as in areas of cities where vintage shops and record shops are. I would probably have to conduct surveys of where would be the optimum place to put posters. In most cases, film posters are manufactured by the film distribution company, just as the trailer is, possibly using shots/fonts used within the trailer, which they will have most knowledge and control over - they will also know what they want the look of the package as a whole to be, and so will best execute this idea. My film poster, if it were to be made properly, would be distributed and made by the institutions involved in making the film/trailer. With reference to the film magazine cover I will be making, I think if the magazine were really produced it would be distributed to smaller more independent shops in cities, such as vintage shops and record shops where my audience would be known to visit. Although, "Little White Lies" is exhibited in a large retailer like "WH Smiths" and there are never many copies held there, so I think it might be distributed shops as well. An outlet like "Borders" would have probably been ideal to get a large number of sales, as it stocked a wide variety of independent magazines, but due to the credit crunch it has sold down.