Pre-Production: Shedule

Pre-Production: Schedule

As I've discussed in a previous post, Pre-Production is a vital part of the film making process as is all the other processes. But a lot of things come under Pre-Production; things like script writing down to casting and crew.

Today I'm going to talk about Schedule. As part of our 3 minute shorts that we are writing, shooting and editing,  we are required to do the whole process from start to finish.

Schedules are absolutely vital - as I've mentioned in other posts. It'll be like walking down a path in pitch-black without a schedule but with it you’re walking with a light at your feet - you can see/make out the direction you’re going to be heading.

There are usually schedules for each part of the production process, each involving different things, for example; a pre-production schedule will probably not have the things a production process will have in it. In big films, Pre-Production schedules typically involve things such as: 

Scripting

Shot-list

Risk Assessment

Recce

Script Locking

Script Drafts

Kit List (And hire)

Crew

Casting

Props

Auditioning

And, of course, so much more.

Because Pre-Production is basically what brings the film together in the first place, it's good to actually have something to follow in terms of times, it's good to be strict with yourself. It's a good motivation to get work done, this is what I find on personal project. But on bigger projects, it's there to actually keep everything in order and organised, and so multiple people can focus on what needs to be done and when.

It's good to break schedules down into days, some people ever go to the extreme of having hours and even minutes, Sometimes this is necessary tough! 

Below is an image of my own personal Pre-Production schedule for my project. You'll notice It's colour-coded and has a key. This not only helps me to view it easier, more quickly and helps me understand it more. But it is also visually interesting for me. I can't stand things that look boring. There's no harm in making things look more attractive, if the information is there then what's the harm? And if it serves multiple jobs then even better!