Filmmaking is the process of making a film, from an initial story idea or commission, through scriptwriting, shooting, editing, directing and distribution to an audience. Typically, it involves a large number of people, and takes from a few months to several years to complete. Filmmaking takes place all over the world in a huge range of economic, social, and political contexts, and using a variety of technologies and techniques.
Production is the process of creating and shooting a film. A production team is a big crew containing the most common roles including the property master, script supervisor, assistant directors, stills photographer, picture editor, and sound editors. The production office is free to create any unique blend of roles to suit a particular film.
A usual shooting day begins with the crew arriving on the set or location by their call time. Actors have their own separate call times. Set construction, dressing and lighting will take more time, and they are often set up in advance. While a scene is being filmed, the grip, electric and production design crews will prepare for the next one. After arrival, the actors are wardrobed in their costumes and attend by the hair and make-up departments. The actors rehearse the script with the director, and the camera and sound crews rehearse with them. Finally, the action is shot in as many takes as the director wishes to gain perfection.
The shot is taken after the assistant director calls “picture is up!” to inform everyone that a take is about to be recorded. Once everyone is ready to shoot, the sound is rolled by the sound mixer. When the Assistant Director calls out “roll camera, the camera man starts running the camera. The clapper will be in front of the camera with the clapperboard who slaps it shut, and the director, tells the actors “action.” The take gets over when the director calls out “cut” and camera and sound stop recording. All continuity issues will be noted down by the script supervisor, and camera and sound team will log on their respective report sheets. In case additional takes are required, the whole process is repeated. When shooting is completed for the scene, the assistant director declares a “wrap up”, and the crew will dismantle the set for that scene. By the end of the day, the director will approve the next day’s shooting schedule. A daily progress report is sent to the production office along with the report sheets from continuity, sound, and camera teams. The cast and crew are provided with call sheets advising them when and where to turn up the next shooting day. The director, producer, other department heads, and, sometimes, the cast, may gather to watch the completed footage, called dailies, for review.
The workdays often last 14 or 18 hours in remote locations, and the film production crew tends to create a team spirit. It is customary for the production office to arrange a wrap party, to thank all the cast and crew for their efforts when the entire film is completed.
