PART 1

Production

    1)  What are the stages involved in producing a film – what do they include from the early idea to the final edit when the film is ready to be sold to cinemas and promoted to the public?

Ø  Pre-production: this is where all the planning of the project takes place. If the script is not already written it will be done at this stage. During pre-production, the production is broken down into individual scenes and all the locations, props, cast members, costumes, special effects and visual effects are identified.

Ø  Production: the film is carried out at this stage. All the scenes that were planned out in pre-production will be filmed at the right and relevant locations. Each scene is filmed as many times the director wants, to make sure the scene is well recorded and has the best quality which will be used to create the film. Great care must be taken to make sure that all the filming is done correctly and all necessary shots are taken, as it is sometimes difficult or impossible to go back and repeat certain events if the filming is incomplete when it comes to the post-production stage.

Ø  Post-production: this is where all the editing part takes place by of course the editor. The unwanted parts of the scenes are take out in order to have the best shots. The next part is to create a fine cut by getting all the shots to flow smoothly in a seamless story. Trimming - the process of shortening scenes by a few minutes, seconds, or even frames - is done during this phase. As well as the editing of footage, all music, graphics, menus etc. are added in this stage. After the fine cut has been screened and approved by the director and producer, the picture is "locked," meaning no further changes are made.

2)     Who are the main producers of films in America?

Ø Steve Spielberg

Ø  Jerry Bruckheimer

Ø  Robert Zemeckis

Ø  George Lucas

2b) Try to find out the names of the main studious and who owns them.

• Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

           Owned by: Time Warner

• Walt Disney Pictures

          Owned by: The Walt Disney Company

• Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.

          Owned by:Sony since 1989

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

           Owned by: 21st Century Fox since 2013

• Paramount Pictures Corporation 

Owned by: Viacom since 2006

3)      How might the ownership of the studio have an impact on what films the studio makes?

The ownership of the studio will determine the number of options for the type of films, scenarios and the way they will film. It can also influence the quality\ price.

4)      What is independent production?

• Ø  Is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced and/or distributed by subsidiaries of major film studios.