Step I Intro

Most people have heard about three aspects of making a movie: preproduction, production, and postproduction. So why do I insist that there are five? Because there are:

• Development
• Preproduction
• Production
• Postproduction
• Selling

Development

Also known as hunting and gathering, development is the time you need to determine what kind of movie you want to make and how you’re going to make it, and finding the resources to get your movie made.

Preproduction

Preproduction done for DV movies is the same as it is for any other kind of movie. You must get specific tasks accomplished, such as script breakdown, scheduling, budgeting, hiring and firing, and the myriad of other tasks required prior to production.

Production

This is what everyone thinks of when you say, "I'm making a movie." Production covers the execution of the planning done during development and preproduction. DV has some specific issues, especially regarding digital audio, that you need to know before shouting, "Action!"

Postproduction

Post for DV offers some exciting developments, but there are some basic things you need, such as organizing footage and gathering other materials (like music and sound effects) before beginning to cut the movie together. Once you've locked picture and have handled your post-audio, there are some interesting choices you have regarding finishing that can help you set your movie apart from all the others.

Selling

When it comes to selling, who you know makes all the difference. You need to know who to meet and how to meet them at festivals and markets, as well as how to promote a movie with an EPK (electronic press kit) and other tools. You also need to learn about motion picture distribution agreements and markets, Internet streaming, and self-distribution.

Getting started

Start with an honest assessment of why you want to make a movie. Ask yourself

• What is it about the project that gets me stirred up? Is it the story, an actor, or the idea of making a movie?
• What do I hope to achieve? If it’s to get rich and famous, will a DV moviemaking help me achieve that goal?
• What about a project will sustain me through the process of getting it made and sold? Where is my support system? Who is always in my corner? Do I treat them with the kindness and respect they deserve? Will I continue treating them well through this project? How will I guarantee that?
• What makes me think I’m the one to do this project? Skills for moviemaking aren’t limited to what happens on the set. I may be a great director but I’ve never managed anything, not even a hotdog stand. How do I know I can identify and solve problems and delegate responsibilities?
• What makes me think I can get it done? What evidence do I have? Am I flexible? Stubborn? Technically skilled? Have I got the stomach to fire people who may be my friends?

Once you understand the entire process of moviemaking, your list will help you figure out where you’ll need help. If you can’t write, act, or run a camera, then find someone who can. If you want to direct, maybe you should let someone else take on the responsibilities of running a set.

Development

Development is your time to dream. It's the one phase in your project where you get to learn about, create, and commit to the Big Picture. One minute you're discussing cinematic motifs, the next tax advantages of a certain business structure.

During development, you attach key people to your project, analyze the market, create your production company, create a business plan, arrange your funding, get a script, promote your project, and a million other things.

Do this now, because if you don't have a plan, you will have a mess.

Most people believe that since DV equipment is relatively inexpensive, making a DV movie doesn't require planning. But every movie requires planning. The revolution of DV is putting high-quality equipment that can capture and manipulate high-quality images and sound into the hands of people like you and me, not skipping the best practices of moviemaking.

Getting info

Every state has a film office or liaison, usually as part of the city or state office of economic development. These people are here to help—they want you to make movies and they want you to make them where you live. In addition to handling the permitting process, they have lists of motion picture professionals they're more than willing to share. You can also contact a local arts organization for further listings. Check the Resources section for more info.

There are three questions you need to answer during development:

• Who and what do you need to make your movie? How are you going to get all the stuff and all of the people? How can DV work to your advantage?
• Who will produce the movie? What kind of business structure will you have in place?
• What kind of movie are you making and who will buy it? What's the market like?

This section covers the tasks required for development of a motion picture project. Chapter 1, "Who Does What: Job Descriptions" explains the most important project roles you may be taking on or hiring for. Chapter 2, "An Equipment Overview" is a quick introduction to some of the equipment you'll find on a DV set. This is an introduction. Later chapters will go into more detail. For now, get used to some of the jargon and start thinking about what you're going to need for your show.

Chapter 3, "I Mean Business" introduces you to motion picture business fundamentals, while Chapter 4, "Don't Tread on Me: Intellectual Property and Other Thorny Issues" discusses intellectual property as it pertains to motion pictures and producing. Chapter 5, "Who's Buying What: Surveying the Market" gives you an introduction to the markets and potential buyers for your show.

Chapter 6, "What Do You Got and What Can You Get?" helps you consider what you can buy, beg, and borrow for your project. Chapter 7, "Searching for a Script" gets into the nitty-gritty of locating a screenplay, while Chapter 8, "Writing a Script Yourself" walks you through the writing process.

The section ends with a set of checklists to help you plan and design your show, while the Timeline gives you an idea of how long these tasks will take.