Guide to Film Production

Film production involves hundreds of factors. The categories you hear about during the Oscars constitute only a fraction of the whole job. Everything from editing to sound design to special effects to printing and processing comes into play, and that's just for film post-production, when the filming is complete.

Successful film production companies are quite lucrative, but it took them a while to get there. If you have the right film production information when you start, and surround yourself with the right people, you have a much better shot at building your company into a film production studio like the ones releasing the next big summer blockbustes. Remember three things before you get started and throughout your production:

1. A movie production takes money. Get capital up front and budget so that you make it to the end.
2. You'll be a producer, which means that you'll be involved in some way at almost every step of the process from first to last.
3. Hire the right people. A film production is only as good as the people behind it.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find yourself a property worthy of a feature film production

Everything starts with an idea. A promising idea is to scout art and film schools, where lots of eager and enterprising people are looking for a way into the business. Finding someone excited to have a chance at movie production will be easy; deciding whom to choose will be tougher. Pick a person (and idea) that fits into your goal and the kind of film you want to make.

I recommend: Contact the administrators of film schools such as New York University and the University of Southern California and check on their scouting policies. Also, since these institutions have acting schools, cover two things at once and inquire about casting your film.

Pick staff to fill film production jobs

The size of your film crews will, of course, depend on the size of your film, but even a small film can have a surprising number of film production services workers. With production and film post production, you need a lot of specialists. Start finding your crews early; you want to have them ready to go when the time comes. Plan everything you possibly can in advance; organization is key.

I recommend: Register as a producer with Filmstaff.com or Shoots.com to get a start on finding film crews. Keep in mind that different areas have different pay bases; some cities will be cheaper to film in. Compare by city as well as company.

Get your production film to the masses

You will need to find a distributor to release your film, get it to the public and handle the marketing. If you can manage, interest a studio in your film, but be aware that untested film production companies have a harder time selling their products. Consider smaller, independent distributors when you start out. It's better to sell to a small company than no company if it means getting your film released.

I recommend: Contact studios and distributors before sending them any ideas or materials. Companies such as Gold Circle Films and American Zoetrope, though among the smaller studios, won't accept unsolicited materials.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• No luck getting your movie production picked up? Enter it into a film festival. Festivals are popular and attract lots of attention. Film industry people regularly attend festivals to look for the latest hot property, so even if you haven't found a distributor anywhere else, this might be your chance.
• Keep a sharp eye on your budget. Get estimates in advance for what things will cost, and keep track of every dollar. It's easy for movies to get out of control where funding comes in, so stay involved and stick to your budget.

The official source of Film Production is the Film Production page at Business.com