How realistic it is

C

chlsy8

I am working on pre-production of a feature (digital, low/micro budget), how realistic it is to finish all the pre-production work?. The manpower is going to be me (full time) and another person (part time) - both start-up producers. I plan for a month period but not sure if this is going to be enough:

There are following list of things need to be done:

1. location scouting (15 locations, 80 scenes)
2. casting (5 major roles, more than 15 roles total)
3. Crew (AD ready, some PAs no problem. but need DP, sound person, gaffer)

I plan to do all the above through craigslist and local filming website. (any suggestions?)

4. Preparing contracts and permits
5. Getting insurance (do people do this nowadays?)
6. Preparing Props/wardrobes (thrifty store, estate sale etc)
7. budgeting.
8. Equipment rental.

Is there anything else I should do? Any suggestions with each task? is it realistic to finish in one month?

Thanks a bunch!
 
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You can do it, if that is what you have to do, then you do it. My feature "A Brush With Death" was all prepared by myself and my partner. It will be tough, and it will effect the outcome of the movie, but you got to do what you got to do. Your experience from this feature will triple.

15 locations is alot. It really is for the man power you are using.

I have found success in CL ads. You just need to know how to screen them

Permits, contact the film commissioner for permits.

Contract I can help out with that

hmmm, I sure there more but I have to run for some lunch. Let me know
 
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Caveat: I have never been in a position to work full time on one. Always been on the side with a day job.

It seems a bit unrealistic to me. I generally do 6 to 8 weeks pre-production on a short film (2 or 3 day shoot). So 4 weeks on a feature seems awfully short. If I was doing pre-pro on a feature I'd probably want 3 to 4 months minimum (probably more like 6 months). However, as I said, I have a day job.
 
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chlsy8 said:
I am working on pre-production of a feature (digital, low/micro budget), how realistic it is to finish all the pre-production work?. The manpower is going to be me (full time) and another person (part time) - both start-up producers. I plan for a month period but not sure if this is going to be enough:

There are following list of things need to be done:

1. location scouting (15 locations, 80 scenes)
2. casting (5 major roles, more than 15 roles total)
3. Crew (AD ready, some PAs no problem. but need DP, sound person, gaffer)

I plan to do all the above through craigslist and local filming website. (any suggestions?)

4. Preparing contracts and permits
5. Getting insurance (do people do this nowadays?)
6. Preparing Props/wardrobes (thrifty store, estate sale etc)
7. budgeting.
8. Equipment rental.

Is there anything else I should do? Any suggestions with each task? is it realistic to finish in one month?

Thanks a bunch!
Click to expand...

Nothing on this sounds impossible if you budget your time correctly, and can multi task.

The one thing I will point out is the location scouting. Depending on what you need, 15 locations is A LOT. Outdoor locations noise needs to be considered for dialogue. Indoor locations money needs to be considered.

Out of everything you've mentioned, this is the only thing I would see a problem with. But, again it depends on what kind of locations are needed, and what kind of money you have to spend.
 
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When I was doing "Average Joe," I took a year to do the pre-pro with myself and one other person, some of the locations took 2-3 weeks to respond/decide whether or not they'd be willing to let us potentially damage their location/ effect their business/ need to schedule someone to site with us while we used their properties while they paid for electricity and insurance. Having solid contracts indemnifying them from damages will help alot... offering to pay the pro-rated electricity costs for the days you're filming will go a long way as well... you'll dramatically increase their operating costs for the days you're filming if you're plugged into their power at all.

We actually had one location that we ended up changing their tax status on their site because we used a circuit that they hadn't approved on a closed facility... dramatically increasing their operating costs... and losing that location for future shoots :(

Time is your friend and currency right now, make sure you have enough to get detailed information about what you're allowed to do / not do in their facilities... fully disclose your script and your schedule and your mess that you'll make there -- and schedule for cleanup time afterwards to get the place back to better conditions than you found it. At this level, it's not a single shoot/project you need to be concerned with (unless you're paying the site)... it's every future project you may do that needs a location of that sort.
 
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