How can you create a film production schedule that accommodates all stages?

Break that script down into scenes and sequences. Think of it like dissecting a puzzle to see how all the pieces fit together. This breakdown helps you figure out what you need for each scene – like where you'll film, what props you'll need, who's going to be there etz Then comes the fun part – creating the shooting schedule. It's like mapping out a road trip, but instead of destinations, you've got scenes. You'll want to consider when and where each scene will be filmed. Got your actors lined up? Great! Make sure they're available when you need them. Shooting outdoors? Keep an eye on the weather forecast – you don't want rain ruining your big outdoor scene! And don't forget about permits.

I find that a key step that can often be overlooked (or not considered at all) is the vital importance of making time for meeting regularly throughout the entire pre-production, production and post-production processes with your department heads and all key stakeholders to ensure that all of the key creative, technical and logistical decisions are being communicated clearly within departments (from top to bottom) and that everyone who is essential to the project is fully aligned on those key decisions and have had the time to seek clarity on any details they may not have understood from prior communications about those decisions. While everyone hates meetings if they are conducted effectively they save a lot of pain and heartache later.

For a shoot day schedule, I have a straightforward rule. Make the schedule easy to read while a person is walking across the set, and make sure each department knows what they should be doing throughout the day. A strong schedule that everyone follows allows for “found free time” to grab extra shots/alternate shots.

I’ve found that often there are different versions of the scope from the various stakeholders that might be present for a given project. Aligning on what is pivotal and what is ideal for the key decisions makers can be vital to the success of a production as that will serve as a crucial guide for when a project takes an unexpected turn or when the team are in the weeds and are finding a hard time to move forward.

Technology is the easiest way to support this. I'm a huge fan of Studio Binder's suite of products. They help increase collaboration, visibility of needs, and identify holes in your plan.

One basic step to create a film production schedule is to do a script breakdown first. Script breakdown is to identify how many artist, location, props, wardrobes and days needed for that shoot. Once it's done, we can easily create a schedule. Also it requires us to check the availability of all the crews and casts before scheduling.

1- know your budget, identify stakeholders. Add stakeholders to increase budget? 2- break out treatment or script to outline everything that’s “mise-en-scène”. With understanding of cast, voices, locations, props, costumes, edit, sfx, music you can now… 3- budget! 4- hire & cast 5- execute on the idea There will be adjustments, revisions, and drama at every stage. Keep your eyes on the horizon to bring the vision to fruition.

Once you have a clear understanding of the project’s scope, the next step is to break down the script into scenes and sequences. This breakdown will help in estimating the time and resources needed for each scene, including locations, props, actors, and special effects.

I advocate for crafting a meticulously formatted script with explicit directions for its eventual breakdown. The initial breakdown should involve compartmentalizing the script based on the specific team or department responsible for each aspect, whether it's principal photography, sound, VFX, production design, or location recce teams. Given the substantial costs associated with even the smallest film projects, allocating significant time to the pre-production process, which incurs minimal expenses, is essential.

Desglosar el guion en mi opinión es lo más importante en la preproducción, por que es el eje y lo que te ayudará en los siguientes pasos de manera más precisa, es la manera en donde orientas el proyecto, metafóricamente hablando es como la entrada al camino correcto de lo que quieres lograr, aunque también pienso que este proceso ayuda a definir el alcance, debido a que nos da con precisión el personal y los recursos que necesitamos.

group your scenes in terms of location and talent, shoot all scenes that need to be shot in one location on the same day or consecutive days. The more you can lower the number of company moves...at least big ones...the better. If your scenes are outdoors and rely on it being a certain weather, have a backup plan.

Involve your heads of department early. Make sure the goals are clear and that you’re all working together to accomplish them. It’s amazing how much more efficient a production can be with these simple tweaks and having respect for the collaborators you’re working with. The creative work will also benefit when you’re not wasting time and shoot days solving problems that could’ve been avoided early on.

Based on the script breakdown, create a detailed shooting schedule that outlines when and where each scene will be filmed. Consider factors such as actor availability, location availability, weather conditions (if shooting outdoors), and any special equipment or permits needed.

Breaking the script down into the respective skill categories gives you perspective towards costs. In other words: if you are creating a sci-fi film and fail to talk to the sound department (sfx design, production sound, mixers) then you don’t fully under the story (script) and that, in turn, shortfalls the budget. This can apply to locations, cameras, lights, graphics, talent, etc…

Élaborez un plan de tournage détaillé qui indique les scènes à tourner chaque jour, en tenant compte des contraintes de lieu, de temps et de personnel.

After filming is complete, the post-production phase begins. Create a post-production schedule that includes tasks such as editing, sound design, visual effects, color correction, and finalizing the film for distribution. Allocate sufficient time for each task to ensure quality work.

En mi experiencia, consiste en hacer un visionado rápido de los archivos y renombrarlos en referencia a la escena a la que pertenecen y al plano. Además, anotaría ideas potenciales en un documento donde indique qué hacer con las tomas que estoy revisando. Luego, pasar a una edición, sobre todo cronológica, me ayuda a trabajar de manera más ordenada. En esta etapa, también anoto posibles cambios en las escenas que podrían contribuir a mejorar el atractivo de la historia.

The success of post-production often hinges on the amount of prep it was given during pre-production. Understanding the intricacies of the end output (hosting platforms, technical specifications, archival plans, etc.) right from the start will form the foundation of the creative process to ensure that all the hard work and budget spent goes to the right places where it will be noticed by audiences and maximise value for stakeholders. Due to the nature of it being last in the production process, it is key to keep this in mind when planning the post-production schedule to ensure that the right talents are involved to deliver the highest quality product possible.

All too often, post production is considered a separate element. Post production should be considered at the same time you're prepping your shoot. You should be loading footage into your system from Day #1. And your editor should be involved in the story meetings from Day #1. Do not let the edit schedule expand because you're not prepared. That costs $$ and forces compromise.

As we have many parallel film productions, a project structure plan is essential. Here we can see the post-production steps for all productions at a glance and make optimum use of crew and equipment. The plan always has an extra 15 percent reserve for unforeseen events to guarantee the deadlines for the client.

Throughout the film production process, regularly review and adjust your schedule as needed. Unexpected delays or changes may arise, so it is essential to stay flexible and make necessary adjustments to keep the project on track.

Flexibility is key in film production. After creating your initial schedule, review it with your department heads to ensure feasibility. Be prepared to make adjustments as unexpected challenges arise. Regularly revisiting and tweaking the schedule is necessary to accommodate changes without compromising the production’s workflow or budget.

We can see the post-production steps for all productions at a glance and make optimum use of crew and equipment. The plan always has an extra 15 percent reserve for unforeseen events to guarantee the deadlines for the client. Our plan has always has an extra 15 percent reserve for unforeseen events to guarantee the deadlines for the client.

Una vez este sentado frente al pc, lo que hago es ordenar las tomas dentro del mismo software, por eso es importante trazar desde la producción que tipo de escena y secuencia es, para que al momento de seleccionarlas en la post pueda eliminar las que no vamos a usar con más facilidad, busco la manera de poder recolectar todos los recursos en una sola carpeta para no generar conflictos futuros y descargo todas las plantillas, imagenes y complementos necesarios, para mi Adobe Premiere pro es una interfaz muy eficiente en la edición de video y empate de tomas, cuando quiero hacer colorización puedo ayudarme de Davinci

The above suggestions are excellent! In my personal experience, and with the luxury of a rehearsal space/office, I post a time line on butcher paper, and put that up on the wall. (White board is limited to it’s physical dimensions.) There is something about paper, colored pens and physically moving through the time line that triggers more ideas, for me. Changes? add sticky notes (and come up with a color code for the day-that matches any script change-tabs).

AI This is currently treated with a high degree of suspicion but is in effect a powerful and liberating tool. The potential is yet to be fully realised.

We work with self-developed, graphically prepared Google spreadsheets for the PSP, use Notion and collaborative workspace. Different, self-developed tools are used in all production phases. This is worthwhile for us because they are developed precisely for our requirements and can be used again and again.

Media production is a dynamic process. Keep the base plan of action defined, diagnose the potential disruptors by letting your team be aware of backup plans. Your assistants & production crew should be aware of contingencies and possess enough decision making capacity to proactively address those without your greenlighting everytime. This saves production time and costs when a decentralised problem solving process is established.

Besides all these aspects I try to select production locations as close as possible to each other in one city / region to minimize various transportation costs and expenses for the crew and servicing / support units.

Rehearse. It's not a waste of time. As an EP/Producer, I also try to scout EVERY location, even if it's just with my phone. I want to know what I will see each time I arrive. And if possible, I try to make friends with people who can help me on day-of.

Hay que ser rígido y flexible a la vez. Entender cuándo es bueno aferrarse a hacer una toma más y cuándo es mejor regresar al día siguiente a intentarlo de nuevo. A final de cuentas, el presupuesto es rey.

The hallmark of the production process is change. Devising a schedule flexible enough to accommodate these changes will significantly impact the project's success and the level of stress the team encounters when the inevitable curveball comes their way. Incorporating contingencies into your schedule is just the beginning. It's crucial to determine which team members need to be in the loop and the timing for communicating backup plans to stakeholders. This strategy will minimise confusion and resist the temptation to choose the easier path at the cost of compromising the story or the creative idea.