Arts >> Movies & TV >> Film Production

How to Schedule a Film Production

Planning a movie shoot takes a lot of effort, but it is the most important part of the filmmaking process. A successful and well-structured plan sets the stage for a good movie. Scheduling a film involves breaking down a script and deciding when to shoot what. It is the most important factor involved in making a movie work and sticking to a budget.

Things You'll Need

  • Script Scheduling software
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Read the script several times so you completely understand the story and catch smaller details you may need to schedule the entire shoot around. Starting on Page One, go through the script and break down scenes into eighths of a page (5/8, 1/8, etc.). Write each amount in the margins to the left of the page, where you make the scene-breakdown lines.

    • 2

      Go back through the script and highlight all special effects, props and large equipment that will be needed. You want to make sure you have all these noted, so you can schedule scenes where they reappear back-to-back in order to save costs in the budgeting phase.

    • 3

      Open your scheduling software. Go through each scene of the script and enter the information: location, interior/exterior, characters involved, props, special items needed (like a crane for establishing shots) and the length of the scene (calculated by eighths of a page). Enter all of this information, then run reports on the location, cast, equipment and so forth, so you can begin to see the patterns.

    • 4

      Group scenes according to location first, cast and equipment second and other factors third. Schedule days accordingly. Most film crews can shoot 3-1/2 pages to 8 pages a day, but that depends on the production itself, the difficulty of the scene and the director. If you are unsure of the director's shooting rhythm, ask, so you can have the most accurate schedule (and eventually budget) possible.

    • 5

      Compose all of the information in your scheduling software with the day breaks. Each day should show what scenes you are shooting and the number of pages. The expanded version should have this information, as well as the characters/cast involved and special notes/props.That's it. Just print out the pages and you have a scheduled film.

Film Production

Related Categories