Neils Pre Production Assignment 1 Financing

Financing

Sourcing finance is important for a production because to have a successful production it is very expensive to make. Everything needs to be managed properly because if not, the company may be giving to much money away and not have enough for the actual production. Money for a film comes into everything for making a film. You have to pay the cast for the amount of time they are on set for and you have to pay for locations because you may have to ask for permission. Things that will need to be effectively financed will be the cast and crew because if they are not getting paid on time or not enough, they might walk away from the film and then you might not have any stars to be in the film. 

Public Funding

Public funding is provided from things such as public funded agencies that can come from things like Tax’s. A good example of this is things like NHS and the National Lottery. The National Lottery works when people invest a certain amount of money to buy a ticket(s) in hopes of winning the grand total of money that all the people have invested into that lottery. Also, with the NHS they are funded from the publics tax’s so that they can provide health care to the public. Public funding is also places like BBC Films, Film4/Channel 4 and others. Public funding can also be provided by the community because the community can donate towards your production and help you out. 

 Private Funding

Private funding is provided by investors such as production companies or producers. The way you get private funding is when you go to a production company and pitch your idea to them and try and persuade them to give you a budget. Also give them a reason why they need to give you money for the film. If you do this, they can see if they see potential in your idea and if they do they will help you out

Advantages to Public Funding

If you chose to do your production through public funding you will constantly have money coming in through people paying there tax’s and other government kind of payments. Another advantage is that the community might want to help you and therefore you will have money constantly coming in from the community.

Disadvantages to Public Funding

A disadvantage of taking public funding is that it might not be a large amount of money coming in, since they only take a certain percentage of taxes and give it to police, NHS etc. They might not have a large amount of money to offer film makers. it doesn’t offer a large amount of promotion compared to private funded films that are funded by massive production companies like Universal, Pixar etc.

Advantages of Private Funding

The biggest advantage in choosing private funding is that they can offer a high budget to small production companies. Private funding can help give you more exposure because there fans will want to watch your film because the large company has paid for it. 

Disadvantages of Private Funding

A big disadvantage of choosing private funding is when you pitch your idea to the company they might not like it so they won’t help you make your film. Another disadvantage is that after your film is made and is making money the company who you borrowed the money off will want a large percentage of the profit. So if your film doesn’t make more than they give you, you could find yourself in debt.

Timescales

Timescales are the most important thing about making a film because if something is not in the right place at the right time everything could go wrong. You have to plan the timing you want and need things and how long you need them for. You also need to plan how long you need the cast and crew of set for, or else you will need to pay them for more hours than needed.

Equipment

When it comes to equipment you need to book the correct equipment for the correct time and if you are in multiple locations you will need to know how long to book it for if your renting it. However if it’s your equipment you need to consider how long it takes to set the equipment up and pack it all a way so your not wasting time on set.

Transport

When it comes to making the film you may need to travel to multiple locations with a whole crew and all your equipment. So you will need to book planes or trains at the correct time and work out hoe ling it will take to get there and set up. Everything will need to be done in correct time or else everything could go wrong. 

Facilities

If careful planning does not take place things could go wrong because every successful production needs to have a schedule to run smoothly. Equipment is an important one that needs to be discussed in per production because you need the right equipment at the right time. You will also need someone managing finances to pay the cast and crew members. The person who manages finances will need to keep track of how long the cast and crew are on set for, so they know how much they need to be paid.  Problems that might occur if you don’t plan these things is that you might not have the equipment for the correct amount of time or the correct equipment hasn’t been booked for the correct day. If the cast and crew are not getting paid the correct amount they might walk away from the film so this is why you need a person managing finances.  

Locations

In the pre-production, the locations need to be checked out because you may need permission or you may have to pay for the location. If you need to pay for the location you need to see how long you have it for, so you can tell the cast and crew what time they need to be there and so that you have the equipment set up on time. Before you head to the location with all your cast and crew you need to carry out a recce, to see if it’s safe and it is suitable for all transport to go on or travel to. If a hazard does occur safety precautions will need to be put in before using the location so everyone one will be safe to work there. When checking the locations out you will be looking for the distance between the locations. You should also consider the weather as if you’re wanting to shoot a scene that is set on a dry sunny clear day then you need to factor in the weather for that location and if it will be suitable for the scene. As if it’s then a dark and rainy day when you film the you will either have to change a couple other scenes or completely scrap that scene for another time and that could disorganize other things in your timescale plan. You will also need to see if the locations are suitable for the equipment to enter the property/land of else if they can’t you will have to choose somewhere else.

Personnel

Casting Director

A  casting director’s job is to organize the casting of actors for all roles in the film to pick the perfect actors for the roles needed to be played. The casting director either watches audition tapes that people send to them and they also have audition meeting where people audition in front of them. Casting directors have many meetings with the director and the producers to understand there requirements for the perfect actor. 

Runner

A runner is the most junior position in any film production department. A runners job is to carry out any tasks and aid to smooth over the running of a film production. This can include doing anything form setting up locations for shooting, like setting up food for the actors in between takes.

Codes Of Practice And Regulations

Health and Safety is important because it protects the well-being of employers, visitors and customers. Looking after Health and Safety makes good business sense. Workplaces and locations which neglect health and safety risk prosecution, may lose staff and may increase costs and reduce profitability. If you used someone else’s copyrighted material and commercially profited from that use, you may have to pay them monetary damages, and court may prohibit you from further using there material without their consent. So make sure you get permission to peoples copyrighted material. 

The Proposal

The proposal sums up the premise of the film, it provides a brief synopsis, key character information, sums up the structure of the narrative and considers a target audience. The proposal is kind of a pitch, because you talk about the characters and the story line to intrigue people. Once the proposal has been written the script can be wrote.

Scripting: Master Scene Script

The accepted formatting for film scripting is done in what is known as Master Scene Script. Prospective studios will not even read scripts that are not produced in this format. This is the standard and accepted format for film production. It is designed to offer a straightforward and accessible format for producers to show to investors. If offers a mix of description and dialogue to allow the reader to easily follow the story, the story is the most important thing, and as such technical information is very limited within MSS format. MSS is split into SCENE HEADING, NARRATIVE DESCIPTION and DIALOGUE BLOCKS.  Narrative description is telling the story as it unfolds on screen. It begins directly below the scene heading. The writing should be lean and visual, focusing on action that moves the story forward. Though concise, it should have enough flair to engage readers. Dialogue Blocks, also called “speechless,” are composed of three parts: character name, wryly, and dialogue. Characters names are written in upper case, wrylies are written in lower case inside parenthesis, and dialogue is written in normal sentence case. A wryly indicates how a line should be said. It was named after all the novice screenwriters whose characters say things in a “wry” way. Wrylies should only be used if the subtext of the dialogue is not clear. 

Scripting: Shooting Script 

A shooting script is the version of a screenplay used during the production, the scenes are assigned numbers which are included in the script alongside the scene headers. The numbers provide a convenient way for the various production departments to reference individual scenes.  Shooting scripts are scripts used during production to shoot the movie. They are written with much more detail than spec scripts and may include, among other things, scene numbers, editing transitions, and camera angles. Since shooting scripts are used in production, they are formatted to include any helpful information that the director may request. They are not used for selling purposes. Shooting scripts can be difficult to read and will turn off prospective investors. This approach is used when the script is going directly into production. In broad terms, the main difference between the screenplay and the shooting script is that the screenplay is a selling tool, whereas the shooting script is a production tool.

Storyboarding

A storyboard is a graphic organizer in the form of illustrations or images displayed in sequence for the purpose of pre visualizing a motion picture, animation, motion graphic or interactive media sequence. Once a script is completed, a story board is made so people can see what that scene is going to look like. Storyboard evaluates a screenplay and pictures it in terms of separate shots that can be visually translates into individual storyboard panels. This helps film directors and cinematographers visualize scenes and find potential problems before they occur. Besides this, storyboards also help estimate the cost of overall production and saves time in shooting. Some directors such as Alfred Hitchcock were famous for storyboarding in great depth, visualizing the film extensively prior to shooting on set.

Shooting Schedules 

Utilizing the storyboards and the shooting script, a shooting schedule is created. This is a breakdown of everything planned to shoot for the each day of the shoot, organized into the most logical and efficient order to shoot. As opposed to a schedule for the entire shoot, focusing on scenes and days, this schedule focus of shots and hours. A shooting schedule is essential for a smooth and efficient shoot ( which cuts down on time, hence budget and allows plenty of coverage to be shot ).

Other Paperwork

Location Permission – To make sure you have permission to use certain location’s.

Risk Assessments – To collect relevant information about potential risks relating to shooting.

Copyright Clearance – To collate any right issues that have been actioned.

The Functions of Pre-productions

Pre-production is the process of fixing some of the elements involved in a film, play, or other performance. There are three parts in a production: pre-production, production, and post production. Pre-production ends when the planning ends and the content starts being produced. Functions of pre-production also allows ideas to be revised and amended and improved. Scripts for example can go through multiple drafts and redrafts. Script editors can be utilized to identify potential problems with scripts. If visual ideas are not as good as imagined they can be dropped because there costume or setting is not perfect. Different locations might be considered and discounted. 

The Purpose of Pre production

The purpose of pre-production is to check legal issues such as: health and safety, permission, copyrighted material and public liability. Public liability is another legal requirement for companies and organization who are involved in creative media production, particularly when they are recording on locations where members of the public may be at risk from the production activities. The purpose of pre-production is to take in consideration of wider guidelines. You have to share information with a large cast and crew so everybody knows what is going on.   

A Quiet Place

A Quiet Place

A Quite Place is about a family trying to run and hide from mysterious creatures, and if you make a loud enough noise they will come and hunt you down and kill you. The movie starts with the family in a shop in a town centre, collecting supplies to take back to their home. When the family has gathered all the supplies they need for them to survive, they start heading back to their home. However, when they were in the shop the sister give her little brother a toy plane because he really wanted it. So when they were walking across a bridge near their house the little boy turned the toy plane on and it made a loud noise. The dad notice’s the noise and then he runs and try’s to save the little boy but it’s too late and the creature comes and takes him away. The camera shows the sister’s face and she has a look of guilt and feels like its her fault. This movie is about the sound of fear, but it gives us a great deal more to listen to it. It also shows the power and strength a family needs to have to help each other out.

I would recommend this film to people who like horrors and silence. In this film there is a couple of jump scares and scary scenes. I would not recommend this film to anyone who likes noise or doesn’t like horrors. The only criticism I have for the film is that there need to be more jump scares and horror scenes.

Neils Assignment : Unit 10 Film Production Essay 4 Films

https://goo.gl/images/xN39J  IT
https://goo.gl/images/GJt5fC  Michael Myers

As one of the most recognizable genres of film, the horror film provides a great opportunity to analyze the stylistic codes and conventions that make up this type of film. By choosing two iconic films IT (Stephen Kings) and Michael Myers (Jon Carpenter) to show how they interact with the audience. They both use sound and lighting to make it a horror film because both films have screeching, high pitched noises to make the audience feel on edge and nervous. In IT you have a mixture of dark lighting and light lighting, they have included the light lighting to make the audience feel like everything is alright, but and then something bad happens, so they mess with the viewers feelings. In Michael Myers the lighting is pretty much dark all the way through out the film, to create that eary and daunting effect towards the audience. They both have similar sounds and similar music because sound is the most important thing in a horror movie. The high pitched sounds and music from these films will go through there audiences and will properly make them get goosebumps, this will entice the viewer because they will want to no what's going to happen next. In IT a stereotypical clown is jolly and always happy however this clown likes to kill people and destroy peoples lives. This film has made the clown the bad guy because they have tried to change the way people look at clowns and to state a message that clowns are not always jolly and happy. In this film IT the clown is obviously the villain, relating to Propps theory.

At the beginning of IT there is a little boy who is playing on the rain and then suddenly his paper boat starts to go in a different direction to what he wants it to. Then the paper boat goes down a sewer, so the little boy puts his arm down to try and get it and then he gets the shock of his life because IT ( the clown ) its down there with his paper boat. The clown acts nice to the little boy to try and get him down in the sewer with him. Then the little boy reaches out for his paper boat and then the clown bites his arm off. All of this happens in the first couple of minutes of the film to set the scene of horror and to draw the readers attention further into the film. Having someone killed or injured at the beginning of the film can be very effective and it is so that people no in the first couple of the minutes of the film what the genre is. In IT the clown has an identity prop, his prop is a big red balloon. This balloon symbolises the clown because every time the balloon appears in the film the audience know's that something bad is going to happen. When the viewers see this balloon it will make them on edge and scared for what is coming up. Linking to Props theory IT ( the clown ) would be the villain because he is a horrifying clown that kills people. In IT, the clown is always creepy and appears at any time, and every time he appears you no that something bad is going to happen. His actions when he is around people are very frightening and alarming.

At the beginning of Michael Myers it starts on Halloween night, so by basing it on halloween night it already entices the audience because people will no it is going to be scary. IT is very different to how they start there film because they don't start with a stereotypical horror setting. Whereas Halloween starts on Halloween night which sets the scene of the film being scary.  It starts with a young couple in there house having a good time, and someone is walking around the outside of the house looking through the windows presumably Michael Myers. However, the viewers are viewing the film from the Michaels perspective at the moment to get that nervous feeling. Michael lets himself in the house and then walks up stairs to find the girl by herself in her room brushing her hair. Then when the girl see's Michael watching her she screams his name and then Michael starts stabbing her until she is dead. Many horror films use this technique because it sets the scene for the rest of the film and it definitely draws the readers attention in. More people will be interested into watching the film if there is a killing at the beginning because its a horror film people want to see gory sightings. Michael also has an identity that symbolises him, the prop he always uses is a large knife. In most horror films, the killers always have some sort of prop that identifies them from anyone else. In comparison to IT, Michael has a deadly weapon which kills people and IT has a balloon which would symbolize children and immature. This would suggest that her wants to get children to follow him so that he can kill them. Linking to Props theory Michael would be the villain because he is a ruthless killer and he can't be controlled or stopped by anyone. Michaels actions when he's around people is very sly and hair raising because he never talks and just follows people until he has the right moment to pounce and murder them. Also a massive difference between these two films is that IT the clown talks and Michael Myers just creeps up on people and slaughters them.

Both of these films have similar codes and conventions for example they both use high pitched non diabetic sounds for when there is going to be a jump scare. Another similar one is that they both have dark settings and spooky places, these are just the stereotypical things to include for a horror film. They both have a villain who is trying to kill innocent people, this is still a stereotype of a horror film.

https://goo.gl/images/vcmALX Star Wars
https://goo.gl/images/q7frFM Indiana Jones

As one of the most highest grossing film of all time Star Wars is one of the most well known franchise in the world. However, Indiana Jones is also a really well known franchise of films, both of these are well known for being action and adventure films. Star Wars uses sound and well known theme tunes to draw the readers attention. They use the same sounds and theme tunes in the new films to what they did in the original films. This is to make the old audience feel nostalgic when they are watching them. It is good how Star Wars has maintained there old audience and drew a new audience into watching the films. Indiana Jones also uses original theme tunes and sound to keep there old audiences still interested and new audiences still fresh in there mind. At the beginning of Star Wars The Force Awakens the lighting is quite dull because there is a mysterious character in an abandoned ship, so they have dimmed the lighting to make it more mysterious. They have started the film with this scene to make the viewers wonder who is that person and where are they. The lighting they use at the beginning of the Indiana Jones The Raiders Of The Lost Ark is quite bright because it opens with people walking through a jungle during the day. There is no dialogue at the beginning to make it more intense and mysterious.

At the beginning of The Force Awakens it starts with a person searching through a crash landed aircraft looking for parts to sell. Straight away the audience are enticed because the want to no who this person is and what they are doing. As soon as this person is done searching they leave the abandoned aircraft and they are in the middle of the dessert, this already suggest that the genre of this film in action and adventure. This person puts the parts of there hover craft and zooms away, presumably to where they live. Whereas Indiana Jones starts off and the first camera shot is people walking through a jungle and from the first shot people will no its an action and adventure film. As soon as the film starts the audience will want to no who are these people and where are they going and what they are doing. It is common for films to start without any dialogue because it creates more mysterious and tension for the audience to watch. In comparison to Star Wars there is a big group of people in the opening scene to Indiana Jones and in the opening scene of Star Wars its just one person searching an abandoned ship.

In The Force Awakens the characters all have there own role and story line for the viewers to watch and enjoy. Relating to Props theory the heroes would be a number of people including; Rey, Han Solo, Fin, Chewbacca and many more, and the villains would be; Kylo Ren, The Storm Troopers, Snook and Captain Fazmar. Star Wars is packed full of great story lines to hook the viewers to continue watching all the films. Then in Indiana Jones the obvious hero would be Indiana Jones and the villains would be Dr Rene Belloq. By having villains in films like these make them more interesting and intriguing for the audiences to watch because there is more action and more story lines. When you watch Star Wars you can tell it an action and adventure film because of all the fight scenes and they are constantly flying to different planets to save people. As a viewer this is very interesting to watch because there is never a dull moment. Whereas Indiana Jones is still an action and adventure film but they don't fly to and from different planets, they are mainly based in desserts and temples. These two films are very similar but different in there own ways because they want to be unique so that there target audience is attracted to them. Star Wars has action throughout the full film whereas Indiana Jones has a little bit of action then adventure and so forth. These films are quite different in there own ways. For example in Indiana Jones there is only one hero and that is Indiana whereas in Star Wars there are multiple heroes saving each others lives. Other comparisons is that Star Wars is based in space and on air crafts and Indiana Jones is set in on land and mainly on horses. More comparisons is that Star Wars has supernatural characters and uses fantasy weapons however Indiana Jones has normal humans and they use guns and swords because it is set in the 1930's. There is a big difference between Star Wars and Indiana Jones in terms of characters because Star Wars has many different heroes and villains, where as Indiana Jones has only 1 hero and 1 or 2 villains.

Both of these films are action and adventure, they both have similar codes and conventions such as there is quite a lot of battle and fighting scenes, because in an action and adventure movie you are going to expect fighting and guns. Another thing these both have in common is that they are always in vehicles which signifies the adventure parts of the film. They both have heroes and villains and obviously the villains and trying to kill the heroes, however the heroes always win.