Short Film Making: Pre-production (Part 1)
Making a short film is a journey. From having an idea, living it, building it to making it come alive on screen. It takes hard work, planning, creativity and most essentially- patience. Similar to any other art, this process is generally unique for every person. I am writing this article, to put forth an idea about my process. I believe art needs structure to start with; so this series will take you through the rudimentary steps of short film-making.
The process starts with an idea. The idea can be a general story-line with a basic plot, a character, a backstory, a single element (like an object or a place) or even a rough idea of a theme. I call this very beginning as an inspiration.
Write it down. Just the general idea which seems to burst out into a magnificent story full of possibilities.
Writing the basic idea before you start working is of utmost importance. This idea is the very essence of your work. As you move further along the process, it is very easy to lose this very idea. Writing down the idea will help you keep true to the roots while working upwards.
The idea becomes more real on paper, so that you can approach it with logic.
This article will cover the three steps that immediately follow.
Brainstorming:
I tend to get together with a few people (no more than four) and just talk the idea through. Keeping the basic DNA of the idea we dive into different ways we can approach it. What style would suit this idea the best?
If you have the resources, select your group carefully. Consider the genre of the idea and match it to every person’s strength.
My brainstorming sessions usually include someone technically sound, someone creative with a different perspective and someone who has the ability to fact check the idea.
Brainstorming sessions will give you an idea about how the story would look like altogether. It helps organize the absurd and makes the plot stronger. Through this step, you get a clear idea about what the script should look like.
One thing I noticed in all of these sessions is that the discussion sidetracks a lot. To avoid this, I keep a list of discussable.
Narrate the idea. Start at the beginning and sort through every possibility and probability of the idea. Then discuss the characters. Start with the protagonist, discuss how the story circles around that character. Think about the conflict. Think about the side characters and the timeline of the story. Take a bird’s eye look at the speed the story should have. Have a general idea about the duration of your film.
It is essential to talk about the assets you have and can rent to make this film. The story-boarding stage will go smoother if you have an idea about the camera you plan to use and the lights you have or can rent.
Remember, make decisions. Decide on a story-line, the characters and the theme. With these decisions move on to the next step of the project.
Scripting:
Many people are comfortable with writing a screenplay after the brainstorming sessions. I feel that there is still a massive amount of information around the idea that doesn’t necessarily go to the screenplay. That is why I first write scripts.
It can also be the result of my background with the stage. I write the plot like a story, with dialogues and settings. A script will have a beginning, middle and end.
Write in any format or layout that you’re most comfortable in. This stage is necessary to get all that you discussed in the brainstorming sessions on paper. The script is for you. Work to your comfort. Write all the details you need.
This is also the stage where you need to write character histories. The more information you write on your characters, the better your story is gonna to be. Character histories give the story the necessary depth and widen the range of possibilities.
Think as closely as possible, write the minutest detail you can think of. You can write the color of their clothes and even the kind of expressions they would have. Every detail counts at this stage.The script doesn’t necessarily need any structure at this point.The most important thing is that the script makes sense to you.
Never finalize the first draft. Write the script, complete it and keep it for a day. Read it again, change it wherever necessary and keep it again for a day. I would use the fourth draft of the script. This is the only point in the entire film-making process when the complete focus is on the narrative story-line. Make it as perfect as it can be.
Be sure to move ahead. Don’t get stuck after the fourth draft. You can always come back to make changes.
Screenplay:
Screenplay is the foundation of your movie. It should be the best version you can come up with.
I start by deciding if I want my story to be linear or nonlinear. I decide on the point of view for every scene and then start at the beginning.
The screenplay is the skeleton of your movie. Keep it clean, simple and strong. Not everything you think of has to go on paper. Be precise and decisive.
Screenplay has a specific format and structure. It is good practice to follow it while writing. It should have the dialogues, action and location as well as setting. It should have a smooth flow. Add scene transitions wherever you can. Even the most basic screenplay should have these factors.
If you are completely unfamiliar with writing a screenplay, I would suggest some research on the same. Read a few screenplays before you start working on yours.You can find screenplays of most critically acclaimed films online. Look at different styles and genres.
While writing your screenplay, visualize each scene. Include the look and feel that you need for that scene into the screenplay.
Remember this piece of writing is going to be the point of reference for your cinematographers, editors and art directors. Like the script, make at least four drafts of the screenplay.
What’s next:
The next article will have the final four steps in pre production: Story-boarding, Casting, Finance and Asset Management and Planning and Scheduling.
Writing down the process is much simpler then going through the same. It is completely normal to get overwhelmed and for these steps to get mixed. The final product is worth the effort.
