Pre-Production Process

The Pre-Production Process

The pre-production process is very important in the making of a moving image text. Without effective pre-production planning there would be little organisation of personnel, equipment or no creative direction for the media text being made. The pre-production process begins with various creative processes including script writing, creating story boards and shot lists – essentially the conceptualisation of the media text. Once the creative planning has been completed there would be numerous legal and logistically issues that would need to be dealt with including equipment hire, props, costume and location organisation as well as legal paperwork including releases for locations and talent as well as thoroughly risk assessing the production process. Only once the pre-production process is complete can the production move forward.

Types of Moving Image Productions

There are various types of moving image productions and each one requires a different method of distribution. Mainstream movies are typically made and distributed by production companies through cinema release and then DVD/Blu-Ray release. As films become older they see further distribution through Sky TV film channels or later, free-to-air TV channels. Independent films follow a different path for distribution as the producer for an independent film may not have a distribution deal. It would then be up to that individual to promote their film through the internet, social media and film festivals to try and secure some kind of distribution. If successful this may well mean a ‘straight to DVD’ release or if they are lucky enough, a limited cinema release to gauge public interest. Clerks (1993) directed and produced by Kevin Smith, is a good example of an independent film which made its way to cinema release. After securing a screening at a local film festival in New York, a local film consultant was able to secure the film a screening at Sundance Film Festival based on what he saw. From here, Miramax picked up the distribution rights to the film and it has gone on to be cited as one of the best indie films of the 1990’s.

Social Media and video streaming websites such as YouTube, Vimeo and DailyMotion have become a popular method of distributing independent film making, animations and short story productions. It is cheap and easy to upload, publicise and distribute moving image productions and it has also become a popular method of distribution for music videos with Vevo dominating music video distribution on YouTube. Online film and TV distribution is also starting to compare with mainstream TV services such as Sky, FreeSat and Freeview. For a minimal cost per month, viewers have access to a range of films and TV shows through online streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Apple TV. Many of these providers are also producing and distributing their own TV shows as well, competing with Sky for pay monthly customers.
Mainstream TV is still the most common distribution method for TV drama, sitcoms, soap operas and documentaries. Different TV channels will choose what they distribute based on their audiences and we do see a significant difference in the type of programs on BBC1 and ITV1 compared to BBC2 and Channel 4. BBC1 and ITV1 tend to be much more mainstream and will show the soap operas and mainstream sitcoms, whereas BBC2 and C4 will show more diverse programmes. Naked Attraction for example, a dating game show where people make choices about possible spouses based on their naked bodies is distributed by Channel 4 and ITV tend to distribute the more obscure reality TV shows such as Bridezillas and Cupcake Wars on their online/free-to-air channel ITVBe rather than their primary channel. Many TV network channels have developed off-shoots of their primary channel for catch-up purposes (BBC+1 / ITV+1) and many have introduced sister-channels for a larger and more diverse range of programming. The BBC network for example has BBC One, Two, Three, Four, News, Parliament, Alba etc. All to meet their ever growing and diverse audiences. Many channels have followed suit and the lists are ever growing.