Moving Images, Understanding Media

Chapter 8 The Production Process 297

Location Scouting and Sets

Another important consideration to determine early on

in the process is locations and sets. In order for further

planning to move forward, it is important to determine

any locations or sound stages where the movie will be shot.

Th e fi lmmakers must weigh budgetary concerns, artistic

advantages and disadvantages, and logistical feasibility of

shooting on location or in studios. Once this information

has been determined, it is imperative for the fi rst assistant

director to begin creating a schedule from the indications

of the director, unit production manager, and producers.

First assistant directors must work with the unit

production managers and directors to draft production

schedules that arrange the order in which scenes will be shot.

Th ey take into account locations, availability of personnel,

natural conditions, and any other pertinent factors. Th ey

work to minimize moves and maximize ease of shooting.

Th is is why movies are nearly always shot out of order. Th e

fi rst sequence that is shot might be one of the last scenes

of the actual story. Th e next day of shooting might be for a

scene in the middle of the script. If there is a location that

reappears a number of times in a movie, the fi lmmakers

will oft en shoot its scenes in succession.

For fi ction fi lms and commercial work, script breakdowns

are important documents that fully kick off the work of

the creative team responsible for pre-production. To break

down a script is to create lists of responsibilities for each

department of the production. When breaking down a script into individual

sheets, the camera, sound, production design, costume, and other departments

all note necessary personnel, equipment, props, and vehicles for every scene

of the movie.

The Departments

What is needed to make a movie? Of course, there are also the two elements

necessary for virtually every motion picture: camera and sound. In previous

chapters, we reviewed essential components of each of these departments. When

you learned about sound, you investigated the work done by the members of

a production sound team and post-production personnel. Now, you will be

introduced to the members of the camera and lighting crews as well.

Before a motion picture camera is turned on to record images, the creative

personnel must decide what work must be done to create the scenes that will

be fi lmed. What will the actors wear? Do any of the actors have to be made

up or their appearance altered in a special way? What objects or vehicles

are used in the movie? What will the locations look like? Do sets need to

be constructed? Are there any stunts or special eff ects that occur during the

Date: ______

ScriptBreakdownSheet

Breakdown Page # :______

___________________________Production Company ____________________________Production Title

__________________Scene # __________________Scene Name __________________Int. or Ext.

________________________________________Description __________________Day or Night

________________________________________Description (cont’d) __________________Page Count

Ext. Day –YellowColorCode

Ext. Night –GreenInt. Day–White

Int. Night–Blue

CASTRed STUNTSOrange

EXTRAS/SILENT BITSYellow

EXTRAS / ATMOSPHEREGreen

SPECIAL EQUIPMENTBox PRODUCTION NOTES

SPECIAL EFFECTSBlue

WARDROBECircle

PROPSPurple VEHICLES / ANIMALSPink

SOUND EFFECTS / MUSICBrown

EST. # OF SETUPS EST. PROD. TIME

Figure 8-9 Script Breakdown Sheet.

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