Film: Independent film and production roles

Production

Post production (editing film) - after the production; putting the final product together

Editor - Sound, video

Independent - Opposite of conglomerate

Independent film companies

• A24
• A Band Apart
• New Line Cinema

Content differs from conglomerate because

• Smaller budget
• Fewer overall resources- personnel, equipment
• Origanal

Independent Film

An independent film is one made outside of the Hollywood studio system.​  ​  

The major Hollywood film studios are often referred to as ‘The Big Six’. These command a significant market share, and the budgets tend to be much bigger than those of an independent film. The Big Six are:​  

• Paramount​  
• Warner Brothers​  
• 20th Century Fox​  
• Universal​  
• Columbia​  
• Walt Disney

Bait​  

An independent UK film, released in August 2019.​  ​  

Described as a “no-budget” film (no exact budget has been given), it was directed by Mark Jenkin and initially recorded without sound – sound was added in post-production. Jenkin also wrote and recorded the score.

Joint Venture

Not all films have this luxury, though, so independent companies (i.e. those free from the control of a conglomerate) may undertake a joint venture – this is when one media company works with another on a project mutually beneficial for both parties.

• For example when a company which is independent goes into a partnership with a bigger company
• Get Out was made by independent film companies- but it was distributed by universal - a conglomerate

Get Out​  (2017)​  ​  

Director: Jordan Peele​  Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams

Production companies of Get Out:​  Blumhouse, QC, Monkeypaw

Distributed by Universal

Budget: $4.5 million​  

Box office: $255.4 million

First look deal

• It gives a company the right to make a deal or refuse a deal first
• The production companies that produced get out made a successful 'first look deal' with universal who was going to distribute the film in cinemas

Adv

• Resources
• Equipment
• Personnel
• Funding-money (Monkeypaw; Blumhouse)
• Production
• Distribution/Marketing

Disadv

• Blumhouse/Monkeypaw
• Less profit
• Loses some creative content
• Less credibility as an independant

1. Which distributor picked up Bait in the UK?​    -   BFI
2. Where did they see it initially?​   -   Berlin Film Festival
3. What was the marketing strategy?​  -  Jenkin travelling to different cities to market it in the film; starting in the South west
4. How did Jenkin contribute to this?​   -   She is the head of BFI
5. What did the film make on the opening weekend?​  £32,200
6. What was the film’s gross at the time of publication?​   -   £264,000
7. List some of its technical specifications.  -   Black&White, 16mm film, Bolex camera.

Pre-Production

After the development stage, and a project is greenlit (that is, given permission to go forward with a project) pre-production begins.

• Financing will be confirmed ​  
• Principal cast members, director and cinematographer are set​  
• The screenplay is finalised​  
• The script is broken down into individual scenes and storyboarded​  
• Locations, props, cast members, costumes, special effects and visual effects are identified ​  
• An extremely detailed schedule is produced ​  
• Sets are constructed ​  
• The crew is hired ​  
• Financial arrangements are put in place and a start date for the beginning of principal photography is set ​  
• There will be a read-through of the script

Production

​The shooting of the film.​  ​  

Lights, camera, action …

Involves the camera crew, lighting department, sound department, directorial department (including first assistant director, second assistant director, as well as the director), runners, location crew, security, drivers, stunt crew, actors, ‘talent’ (extras), caterers, rushes runners. Producers and line producers not necessarily on set – often stay behind and coordinate from the production office.​  ​  

Low-budget films might be shot over a period of five to six weeks. ​  Sometimes this will involve 18-hour days, often six days a week. ​  Bigger budget films will take much longer to film (75-120 days?), and may require multiple film crews in multiple different locations. ​  Eraserhead, by David Lynch, was filmed over a period of years due to budget restraints, whilst the narrative of Richard Linklater’s Boyhood required a decade of periodic shooting.

Post-Production

Principally involves editing and sound.​  ​  ​

The editing suite was, at one time, known as the cutting room, because film reels had to be (literally) cut and spliced together. 

More often than not achieved digitally now, often on PremierPro, Avid suites, or Macs. ​  ​  

Also involves sound design, with dubbing mixers and foley artists. Could also involve special effects, depending on the film. Editors cut films together, grade them, add filters etc.

Research

Best Boy: a senior assistant on a film or TV set who manages a department.

Gaffer: the head electrician on a film or television set, responsible for the lighting plan.

First Assistant Director: manages the logistics of a film or TV production.

Director: manages the creative leads of the film.

Pre prod

• Location Manager
• Costume designer

Prod

• Gaffer
• Best Boy

Post prod

• Film Editor
• Animator