Pre-Production, A Neglected Art?

KyleProhaska

KyleProhaska

Veteran
I just put up this article written by a friend of mine Mikel Wisler. DVXuser doesn't have a Pre-Production type category to post in so I guess I'm just posting it here.

I think he did a good job outlining the importance of planning and how it affects your film, especially movies on a lower budget where it should be a greater priority.

http://www.praisepictures.com/articles/pre-production-neglected-art.php

I hope it's helpful! I hope to be posting many things of this kind in time...
 
Prepare like a professional, succeed like a professional. Prepare like an amateur, fail like an amateur.
 
Very good article, Kyle. Thanks for sharing it! I took the liberty of posting it (the link) on my Facebook, as that was some good stuff.
 
Glad you guys like the article!

Here's a few others in mind, which do you think sounds best? They'll all come out eventually.

Your First Time On A Movie Set (tips/advice), Going Into Business (the tough/unknown dark side of filmmaking), Digital Camera Assistant (great in-depth insights/tips from an experienced AC), Choosing An Aspect Ratio (cutting through the crap or what's "cool" and instead choosing a format for the right reasons), Facebook Marketing (tips/tricks).

Those sound good to you? :) I'm trying to determine what topics are talked about least, and I really do enjoy writing articles myself to bust through whatever misinformed mindset is common in our little world (like DOF equaling "cinematography" and things of that sort).

Open to suggestions.
 
For some reason my first thought upon reading the phrase "Your First Time On A Movie Set" was stay the f--- out of the way.
 
Sad Max said:
For some reason my first thought upon reading the phrase "Your First Time On A Movie Set" was stay the f--- out of the way.
Click to expand...

No....... that's what you should expect to hear if it's your first time on set. LOL! Let's just say I heard that once or twice my first jaunt on a set.
 
Not just for first-timers, either. One day on Babylon 5 I read the previous (or maybe it was the next) day's call sheet, went down to set to take some notes, and walked straight into the middle of an elaborately choreographed firefight. Dived behind a crate and hugged floor. Must not have been in the shot because I still had a job after the next's morning's dailies.
 
If you want to see eyes totally glaze over and morph into that thousand yard stare, start walking folks through the steps of getting the paperwork together for acquiring a production bond and its not surprising to realize why a lot of young filmmakers don't have much desire for a lot of pre-production paperwork.
 
craigbowman said:
If you want to see eyes totally glaze over and morph into that thousand yard stare, start walking folks through the steps of getting the paperwork together for acquiring a production bond and its not surprising to realize why a lot of young filmmakers don't have much desire for a lot of pre-production paperwork.
Click to expand...

More than likely because that kind of thing doesn't even apply yet. Haha. Production Bonds are for serious money.

But, I get what you're saying as well.

I wish there were all the time in the world to sit and do pre-production. But, some of us are broke as hell and only have so much time before we need to go back out and grovel.
 
True on the Production Bonds. But I think the same rule applies to a lot of the "ugly work" of pre-production. Ask 99% of all indies to write up some sort of executive summary for their production, a market analysis sheet, or even a pro forma (of sorts) regarding expenditure/profit expectations, and they are likely to either cringe, or freeze. Or more likely than not, ignore all that and just hope they can worry about it later and their film will win the distribution lottery.

What's that old saying about it being show business, not show art?
 
Great article.

Although what he described as a pyramid, I always tell my students is an hourglass. You should spend a ton of time in development and preproduction - then production tends to go by in a blur - and finally you spend a ton of time in postproduction and release.
 
Anyone who has done any sort of effects or animation work knows it's 1,000% about preparation. Often down to the single frame.
 
Ah, I shot a feature with Mike Wisler as AD in Indiana in 2006. Mike's a great guy and has definitely been in the trenches of low-budget.
 
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