1. FILM PRODUCTION CYCLE: PRODUCTION
Stage 1: Development, planning + pre-production
Stage 1: Development, planning + pre-production
Development:
Before green lighting a film project: 8 factors to take Planning > pre-production:
into account Putting together the technical crew
1. Story Booking the locations
2. Appeal Building the sets
3. Genre Costumes
4. Past experience H+S, insurance, permissions, legal stuff
5. Budget Preparing the shooting schedule- usually non chronological to save time
6. Castability Planning a detailed budget
7. Marketability Overall organisation
8. Payability Creation of sets
Development of the script - director and script editor Accommodation
Putting together 'the package' - script, director, actor(s) Travel
Agreeing a finance/distribution deal Planning the look
Working out a budget Decisions about film technology/equipment needed to create the look
Casting the film
Booking the Producer, Cinematographer, Production and
Location Managers, Prod,designer, Asst Directors and Editor Stage 3: Post-production
Harnessing the technology
Stage 2: Production Developing the story
Many choices and options - which shots, what order
Turning the script into a shot list - creative choices and Finalising the music
decisions Cutting the film down from initial 'construction'
Location management/challenges 1st assembly edit - what to take out or leave in
Managing the team/relationships Development of the final cut
Creation of a style - naturalistic, realism, historical Previews/test screenings
Creation of a look - mise-en-scene, aesthetics Responding to feedback
Working with the technology/technical challenges Locking the picture
Adapting the script Grading
Sticking to the budget - balancing costs and creativity Delivery of the film to the distributor
Minimising risk Also stills / featurettes / cast interviews / making of
Logistics of filming in a studio and on location
Weather complications
Preparing the call sheet
Making compromises - usually because of time/cost
Post-production

2. FILM PRODUCTION CYCLE: DISTRIBUTION
Part1: Part 2: Part 3:
Production company: choosing a distributor The business side of the Planning the film's theatrical
Relationship between director, production co. creative film making process release - where + when
and distributor Working closely with the film's Dating a film
Vertical integration - distribution via one producer – intervention if Knowing your audience, reaching
institution required your audience
Advantages/disadvantages of the backing of a Sticking to the Dealing with exhibitors
major schedule/ensuring the film is Planning a local, national or
studio compared to raising the finances delivered on time international release
independently Testing the film prior to grading, Marketing the film
Financing a film, agreeing a budget, tailoring re-editing if Marketability + Payability
the budget to the audience audience feedback suggests
Investment opportunity/consideration of risk changes are needed
Recouping costs, making a profit, showing a
return to investors
Part 6:
Part 4:
Part 5:
Judging the success of a
Costs of each print film
Agreeing distribution deals/distribution rights Advantages of D-Cinema to the
distributor Advantages of the web - Weekend box-office
Choosing the right distribution takings and screen
channels/outlets - more legal distribution channels -
mo ways to reach the audience > averages
theatrical, festivals, dvd, web, tv Success compared to
Selling the film across a range of platforms - greater profits Disadvantages of the
web - illegal downloading other films
theatrical, Competition from similar
dvd, web, tv rights Opportunities offered by converged/
portable technology - providing films
DVD shelf space or online sales Box office takings and
Effects of the recession on DVD sales more and diverse ways to reach the
audience DVD sales compared to
Classification costs and issues the film's
budget
Use of data

3. FILM PRODUCTION CYCLE: MARKETING
Part 1: Part 2:
Who is the audience? Marketing to a specific audience Who and what is being marketed - promoting
Audience appeal - uses and gratifications more than just the film
How an audience judges a film Branding
How marketing works on the audience Construction of a narrative image
Testing the film and tracking audience recollection Deciding the film's USP
Marketability
Payability
Deciding on the marketing budget
Part 4:
The official website - downloads,
merchandise,
interactivity
Trailers
Part 3: Posters
TV spots
Synergy - using one product to sell another Internet
Horizontal integration - all content produced under one Reviews
roof-film, CD soundtrack, dvd Word of mouth - fan sites
Symbiosis - mutually beneficial licensing deals Special articles, featurettes, teasers,
Web based marketing log lines, exclusives
Viral/ interactive marketing Planning the premiere, creating a buzz,
360 degree marketing strategy front page
Stealth marketing photos
3 stages of film marketing DVD cover
Broad/ niche tactics - placement of marketing Press release
Festivals - creating an identity for the
director as well as the film

4. FILM PRODUCTION CYCLE: EXHIBITION
Pros of changing technology for cinemas Local competition – O2 Vue,
eg D-Cinema and broadband, satellite Greenwich Odeon, Bexleyheath
Cons of changing technologies eg piracy Cineworld, Greenwich Picture House,
dish, web and email direct marketing and illegal downloading, increased etc
opportunities, booking online, more competition
choice and diversity for the audience
Awareness of audience needs +
audience expectations, targeting the Differences between independent
audience and multiplex cinemas pros and
The need to constantly update, expand and cons
Use of research to determine the diversify to remain competitive and provide
local audience and track changes in the audience with a special experience Laws and legal factors,
local demography Licensing Act, regulation
Finding new ways to retain and widen
appeal - cafe-bar, clubs, special screenings, Marketing and promotion
satellite link-ups, festivals etc
Alternative forms of online exhibition -
pros and cons for the audience and Audience - pros and cons of the
industry - eg streaming sites, legal different forms of exhibition
and illegal downloading available
Exhibition via portable converged Industry - pros and cons of the
technology, exhibition 'on the go', different forms of exhibition
DVD, Multi-channel Digital TV available