Institutional Research

The Idea
Idea's come from the whole world around us. Inspiration is in other films, newspapers, TV, books, magaines, biographies and just normal conversations with people where you may have a sudden brain wave. Many films are based on real life events e.g. 'Calender Girls'. These real life stories can capture the audiences inspiration. Producers are the ones that make the film come to life. They take the great idea, and turn it into a reality. They know which would sell to an audience and which wouldn't because they are in the position where they have had experience. The producer will often come up with a completed script to attract an audience. They often find a repected writer to help, and this person will attract other well respected film makers such as the director. The director knows how to make the script become a reality, and knows how to portray the film on screen. It is more common for a producer to go to a director with an idea rather than vise - versa. The reputation of the director is a key selling point. The writer helps by defining the idea, the plot and the characters and makes it tangible.

Development & Finance
The Producer pitches the idea with a treatment and skills of persuasion. Funding is needed for the project, for the writer and director etc...this money is called development funding. The producer will pitch his idea to potential investers who he/she thinks will believe in the story from the treatment. Occassionally the roducer may have a production company who can invest themselves, which is of great benefit to the company, however this can be very high risk as they do not know whether the inspirational idea is going to work with an audience. The producer will approach film companies with a pitch, however the companies will always have projects of their own, and ideas of their own which they may believe is better. The producer can offer future sale and broadcast rights to the film in return for the development funding and script. Not only this, but the producer can also turn to a public investor such as the UK film council for support and grants. The UK film council is a limited development that is used to enhance the variety and production of scripts. The producer can also pitch the idea to private investors, however this can be much more difficult to try and persuade them to invest their own money.

Script development
To produce a script the writer creates a synopsis and he/she and the producer agree, or disagree on the key events and scenes in the film. It is important that they must share a common understanding of the film as it is crucial to gaining a good relationship when working so closely together, not only in terms of genre and audience, but also in terms of budget.
There are different ways to create the script as there are so many different styled writers etc. So writers produce a step outline before they start writing. It contains all the scenes and all the important events that will make up the script. One of the hardest parts of the job of screenwriting is that part of the writers fee is based upon the first draft. When the writer and producer are happy with the screenplay, they will send it off to the financers, who are all likely to have an in put on the film with their own ideas. The final draft is once it is locked off, and everyones happy. it is ended when the writer gets paid. The final part of script development is the sales treatment. This uses more emotive language than the original synopsis and includes all the twists and intriguing characters.

Packaging
The producer then has to package the script for commercial purposes ready for financing. A common way of making the script more commercial is by attaching big stars to it. The bigger the name, the better. However these actors cost money, and so the producer must find out how much the film will actually cost to make. Investors will want to know how the producer plans to gain the money, and how they plan to pay it back.

Financing
naturally, the more money the director has to spend on a film, the better the film should be. in order to raise the funding, the director will be required to travel. private individuals, companies or business' may want to invest in the film, and the producers lawyer writes up contracts to seal the deals. the producer can even raise money beofre the film is made, by selling the rights. furthermore there are departments of banks, that specialise in lendnig money and financing films. however before investing the money in the production an agreement is made to complete the film. as insurance. once the financing istaken care of, they producer can start production.

Pre-production
onca the dpartment is hired, the script is distributed and pre production begins. Then the casting director, the director and the producer begin to identify the cast. then a story board is constructed, where every plot is planned in advance. the productiondesigner then plans how evey aspect of the film will look, and hires the designers for them to be built. effects shots take much more time to construct than just normal shots

The shoot
the shooting begins and the funding is released. the camera department are fully responsiblefor getting all of the shots that the director requires to tell the story. once the soundand lighting have been setup and the make up has been finished, the shot can begin. the actors and actresses, must create and emoitonal world, and draw the audience in. special effects must be carefull executed, avoiding injury and danger. if the film falls behindschedule, financers may get involved.

Post production
as the processed footage comes thourgh the editor can start to edit the film. once thepicture is secured the sound editing crew, edit the sounding to the film. digital effectsare then added by specialist effects composers. the colour and wash of the film is then edited. after the picture lock, the sound levels are then mixed by a sound specialist. after the filmreaches the final lock, it is then ready for duplication.