When I first started in the film industry, 5 years ago, I never thought pre-production was one of the most important things for a successful video production. From creative writing, meetings, casting to planning logistics, I had to learn this beautiful and sometimes stressful process. I call this phase: The art of pre-production.
Pre-production is essential, now that I think about it, in everything! It consists of preparing, writing, conceptualizing, and planning the project that you have in mind. See it as baking a cake. Before actually making the cake you have to know what kind of a cake you're going to make, for who it is, for which occasion, when this cake should be delivered, what is needed to make this cake and very important, how much this cake will cost. The pre-production for a film project is exactly like this. During this phase the entire film project is discussed with the client and their needs and goals.
When working out the pre-production, I make a breakdown of everything that involves the film project. Things that are important to me:
The goal. Why does the client want to do this project?
The content. What is the story that needs to be told?
The target. Who are the viewers/ people that we want to reach?
The time. What are the timelines, deadlines and production periods?
The budget. How much will this project cost?
The team. How does the film crew look like?
This process can sometimes be overwhelming, stressful and it can look like a lot of puzzle pieces mixed together. There are a lot of factors that needs to be thought of such as the content/story but most importantly, the people that are involved. There is a very selected group of qualified, experienced and professional film creatives in Suriname. So, selecting a team has its challenges, but sometimes it's also a good thing because finding the right person for a certain job will be easily done.
Writing the script, creating the mood boards and shot lists are the most creative parts during the pre-production process. Creativity takes time and sometimes while breaking down a project, I personally need time to 'sleep on it'. This gives me the opportunity to take a step back and give myself the time and space to think about every aspect of the film project.
There is still a lot to learn during this process, but here are a few points I learned during pre-production:
Take time to work everything out. Give yourself the time and space to plan everything and especially when creating the story. Make it relatable, unique and impactful.
Planning is a step closer to not fail. Your project is already succeeding by planning.
Write everything down! Since starting my career, I've always been obsessed with notebooks and using digital tools to organize my projects. My notebooks are full of projects notes with lots of arrows and circles. After meetings, I usually digitalize those notes using shareable excel sheets and Google Calendars. This gives me a better overview of the entire film project.
Pre-production does not mean everything is settled, be openminded for unforeseen business. There's always a chance of failing or when things don't go as planned, that's why it's important to plan as much as you can and to keep in mind to be positive, solution-oriented, flexible, creative and improvise when unplanned things do happen.
Choose an environment where you feel inspired, creative and calm. Writing a film concept should be well thought, relatable and impactful. This mostly happens in an environment that boost your creativity and productivity.
Discuss the pre-production with the client and be open for their creativity, but be honest if something won't work.
One of the most important and last point during pre-production is taking the time to see if a film project is aligned with the visions and goals of my company. This helps me to stay in my niche and accept film requests that adds value to my goals.
I hope you have a better understanding of what goes into pre-production, planning and getting the most of this process. Remember, making a cake starts with a recipe, so don't forget to write your ingredients down for your film project.
"If You Fail to Plan, You Are Planning to Fail" — Benjamin Franklin
Here are some pictures during pre-production:
Written by Shellen Arga
June 2022
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