Production time. Let's make some magic.

Well, you've made it. It's Production time. You have grown from story concept and script to actually putting your story unto film or tape. Hang on, that is pretty damn exciting!

Based on your organization and details from Pre-Production, you have everything pretty much layed out. Cast and crew are aware of times and places. Everyone knows what and when you are shooting each scene.

View Website Video Introduction

Follow your Production plan. You know the shots you need for each scene. Remember you are on a schedule and a budget. Don't rush through things but also don't waste time. If you haven't worked on a shoot before, it won't take long for you to realize that once the production, beast, gets up and running, it can take on a life of its own. So hang on and enjoy the ride.

Just like in Pre-Production here are a few points I always try to remember: always have petty cash available, have a first aide kit on location, make sure the still photographer gets the right shots which can be used later for your press kit, keep a very accurate account and have receipts for all expenditures, it might sound a bit silly but keep the set positive and fun...etc!

Another thing I have mentioned before which is of great importance; it's your script! It's your story! Don't lose your vision nor let it be derailed by anyone who believes they have a better idea!

I will talk about it more when I discuss My Productions but here is an example of what happened to me. I didn't write the first script. I may of known the basics of screenwriting but I didn't know how to write a script to fit a predetermined budget. So the director introduced me to a writer he had worked with many times before.

I liked the writer right off. A good guy and boy did he introduce me to some of the secrets of screenwriting. He shared the ins and outs of screenwriting to a fixed budget. We worked well together. He was going to write the actual script, and I was going to outline and choreograph the action scenes.

I'll get into it more in detail later, but my first movie was financed locally through a Missouri Limited Partnership. There were many investors with a few being close friends and family who were aware of my dream and of course trusted me.

I even had a few of them, St. Louis Cops and Ex-Cops, help with the action scenes. We slowly went through them to make sure they had the impact I wanted. We were more than happy when we finished.

I gave the action scenes to the director. He thought they were great. Everything was falling into place. The writer completed the script, and it fit nicely into our genre of action/adventure.

So everything was set. Fully financed with cast, crew, and locations under contract. Time to put up or shut up. Time to enter the world of independent filmmaking. The first three days were scheduled inside a courthouse, so the three full days of rain weren't an issue. Once we moved outside, the rain left, and we had perfect weather throughout the rest of the shoot.

Here's where my gut feelings started to churn. Knowing that when you are making a small action/adventure exploitation type movie, you must concentrate on those most marketable scenes. Of course those scenes are the action.

Since I really had no experience producing or really working on a set, I had to trust the industry professionals to follow our plan. I noticed, and it seemed funny that everytime an action scene was scheduled, I was needed off location doing Executive Producer stuff.

One time when I returned to the set just after they finished an action scene, I was asked by one of my Cop friend investors why did I change the scene. Of course my reply was, I didn't change anything. He then told me that this wasn't the first action scene greatly changed or diminished. He just didn't want to say anything, figuring I was aware.

More than surprised I went to the director. He said that everything was ok. They just got the coverage shots they needed but would come back and do the more action part of the scenes later.

This of course wasn't how it was originally planned. I was assured everything was fine. We were on schedule and under budget. Needless to say the on schedule and budget part were right, but there were no plans to get back to the action scenes.

My gut was telling me something was wrong, but I didn't listen. Instead I listened to the industry professionals. I let them interpret my vision and creativity. So what's the lesson? I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU KNOW OR DON'T KNOW, IT'S YOUR MOVIE. MAKE SURE IT IS DONE YOUR WAY!

Like I said, I will talk more about My Productions later. I just want to emphasize the importance of staying with your vision. I tell you with great honesty, I haven't yet and more than likely never will, forgive myself for not trusting in myself and speaking up when I knew something wasn't right.

From Production to Movie Production