In this stage of the film production process, the writers suggest and propose possible ideas for a film and what it could contain. After deciding on what ideas to use for the film, the writers develop and create scripts that contain the dialogue, actions and storyline.
The writers receive influence for the film by seeing films of the same genre or type, from using the internet and from generally looking at the world as ideas can be found literally anywhere.
Famous writers include:
- Aaron Sorkin (Steve Jobs, The Social Network)
- Quentin Tarantino (Kill Bill: Volume 1 & 2)
- Diablo Cody (Ricki and the Flash).
Producer
The producer of a film selects a script produced by the writers and creates a plan of how it can be transformed into a viable film. After selecting the script, they plan and coordinate the writing, directing, editing and finances of the film to ensure that it can be made and will be successful.
Famous producers include:
- Steven Spielberg (The BFG, Jurassic Park trilogy)
- Jerry Bruckheimer (Pirates of the Caribbean quadrilogy, The Lone Ranger)
- George Lucas (Star Wars 1, 2 & 3, Indiana Jones trilogy).
After the idea for the film has been created and the scripts are developed, the casting director works with the producer and the director to assemble a cast that will be right for the film. They need to retain up-to-date knowledge of current acting talent to ensure that the cast they create is perfect for their film.
Famous casting directors include:
- Juliet Taylor (Schindler's List, Sleepless in Seattle)
- Sarah Finn (The Avengers, Iron Man trilogy, Tron Legacy, Mission Impossible II)
- Marion Dougherty (Batman, Gremlins 2: The New Batch)
Director
The director visualises the script in a specific way and guides the technical crew and actors through filming to present their vision. They turn the script into an envisaged representation of the written ideas based on their style and the genre of the film.
Famous directors include:
- Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street, Taxi Driver)
- James Cameron (Titanic, Avatar, Terminator 1 & 2)
- Wes Anderson (Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Grand Budapest Hotel)
Film finance
During the film finance stage of the production process, a forecast of revenues is used to determine the potential value of the film being created. This part of the process is important because it ensures that the film will make enough money; this helps to avoid it being unsuccessful.
Famous film finance companies include
- RatPac-Dune Entertainment (Avatar, The A-Team)
- Atlas Entertainment (Suicide Squad, American Hustle)
Camera operator
The camera operator is a member of the technical crew that is trained and hired to use the camera during the filming process to digitally record the actions and activity of the actors, props and settings in the scenes. They are the person that captures the director's visualisations through the mise-en-scène so that they can be presented to the audience in a cinematic way.
Famous camera operators include:
- Dean Semler (Maleficent, 2012)
- Peter Lyons Collister (Alvin and the Chipmunks, Hop)
- Emmanuel Lubezki (The Revenant, Gravity)
Editor
After the filming and production process, the editor takes the digitally recorded scenes and uses specialist techniques to assemble the shots coherently into a sequence. This part of the process does not just simply consist of cutting unwanted parts and putting the scenes together, it is an art that usually takes a sufficient amount of time to ensure that all of the visualisations of the director, captured by the camera operator, link together and flow to create a viable film.
Famous film editors include:
- Thelma Schoonmaker (The Wolf of Wall Street, Shutter Island)
- Michael Kahn (The BFG, War Horse)
- Arthur Schmidt (Forrest Gump, Back to the Future trilogy)
Production designer
The production designer, or P.D., works with the director and producer to select the settings and styles of the visual aspect of the film so that the story is clearly told and understandable for the audience. They are responsible for what the film physically looks like overall.
Famous production designers include:
- Dante Ferretti (Shutter Island, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street)
- Bo Welch (Men in Black trilogy, Thor)
- Donald Graham Burt (The Social Network, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)
Marketing
Marketing is the stage of the process where the film is advertised and commercialised to the public in attempt to entice general people and broaden the audience. There are two key marketing techniques in the film industry:
- Viral marketing - This technique uses 'word of mouth' to advertise the film, usually via the internet through social media sites. This is a good technique because social media is vastly used by people of different aged groups all around the world; this helps to bring in anyone anywhere.
- Guerrilla marketing - This technique is used to create 'buzz' and anticipation for a film by using unconventional and low cost marketing strategies; this helps to raise awareness of the film.
Marketing methods include:
- Posters
- Trailers and adverts
- Merchandise - Helps to bring in younger audiences.
Exhibition
Exhibition is essentially the retail stage of the film making process, it involves the public screening of the motion picture in cinemas. The exhibiter attempts to sell the experience of the film, rather than producing or distributing it; this is done by them having some extent of control over how the films are programmed, promoted and presented to the audience. This control gives them considerable influence over how successful the box office of the film is.
Exhibition is essentially the retail stage of the film making process, it involves the public screening of the motion picture in cinemas. The exhibiter attempts to sell the experience of the film, rather than producing or distributing it; this is done by them having some extent of control over how the films are programmed, promoted and presented to the audience. This control gives them considerable influence over how successful the box office of the film is.
The exhibiter primarily focuses on the ownership, management and operation of the cinemas by facing situations such as shifting market conditions, government regulatory actions and the investment of new technologies like IMAX.
Exhibition is the key role in the film production process to ensure that the audience is reached and financial success is achieved.
Exhibition is the key role in the film production process to ensure that the audience is reached and financial success is achieved.