What is Pre-Production?

The script you worked so hard to perfect in development now becomes the living blueprint for your production. Some parts of pre-production are exciting and energizing, while others feel more tedious—but all of it matters. Every hour you pour into this stage pays off once production begins, often in ways that exceed your expectations on set.

What Happens During Pre-Production?

On a studio film, the 1st AD and other department heads perform a variety pre-production tasks from hiring crew to casting, location scouting, equipment rentals and more. But when you’re first starting out and operating solo: It’s all you. Here are a few of the things that take place before you begin shooting:

Script Preparation

Your script is the blue print for production. During pre-production you’ll first lock your script and add scene/page numbering. Now story changes are tracked in a very specific way. You’ll then use your script to identify everything needed to “build” the film. Locations, props, actors, costuming, equipment, crew. Everything. This is called a script breakdown.

Shot Lists

Did you know many directors will grab a coffee, sit down and visualize each part of their film in granular detail? This is called a shot list. It contains information for every camera setup for every scene of your film. Time on set is extremely valuable. You don’t want to flounder on camera placement, movement, lens choices, blocking and things like that. Knowing your shots ahead of time is the best fight against the ticking clock during production. This not only protects production time, but opens up new doors of creativity. Learn more here: Creating shot lists.

Casting Calls

Casting is crucial. On a studio film, a casting director performs the task. Ultimately, the director makes final decisions, but a casting director weeds out the potentials who clearly aren’t right for a part. When we’re starting out as directors, we’re typically doing the casting. So you select SIDES to send out with invitations and start the process!

Location & Tech Scouts

Choosing the right locations can completely shape the outcome of your film. On larger studio projects, a location manager and their scouts handle this process. Key collaborators like the DP and Production Designer also weigh in with their perspectives.

Location scouting is all about finding the perfect spot to tell your story. A tech scout, however, serves a different purpose. It’s about uncovering the practical details that impact how the shoot will actually work. In studio productions, the tech scout often brings together department heads like the DP, gaffer, sound mixer, and more. These walkthroughs are invaluable—they can save your production by revealing hidden challenges and special requirements before the cameras start rolling.

Equipment Rental

Every film production relies on core essentials like cameras, sound, and lighting. Beyond this, each project comes with its own unique demands. Will the story unfold mostly indoors or outdoors? If indoors, how big are the rooms? How many actors in each scene? Are there vehicle scenes to capture? The list of considerations is nearly endless.

The good news is that today’s market makes these challenges far more manageable. Companies like Blackmagic Design, DJI, and Aputure offer professional-grade gear at prices accessible to independent filmmakers, reducing the need to rely heavily on rentals.

And there’s more…

How to Learn More About Pre-Production

Pre-production can make or break your movie. There are things you must do before day one of production that will literally make the difference in how your movie turns out. The things I learn and discover during pre-production save me when I move into production on my films!

In the Write & Direct online film school aspiring directors move through the steps of filmmaking from development through post production. Enroll today and learn how to make movies!