Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video, 4th Edition

Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video, 4th Edition

by Peter W. Rea, David K. Irving
Released March 2013
Publisher(s): Focal Press
ISBN: 9781136048333

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Book description

Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video is the definitive book on the subject for beginning filmmakers and students. The book clearly illustrates all of the steps involved in preproduction, production, postproduction, and distribution. Its unique two-fold approach looks at filmmaking from the perspectives of both producer and director, and explains how their separate energies must combine to create a successful short film or video, from script to final product. This guide offers extensive examples from award-winning shorts and includes insightful quotes from the filmmakers themselves describing the problems they encountered and how they solved them. The companion website contains useful forms and information on grants and financing sources, distributors, film and video festivals, film schools, internet sources for short works, and professional associations.

Table of contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. Half Title
  3. Full Title
  4. Copyright
  5. Contents
  6. Web Contents
  7. Preface
  8. Acknowledgments
  9. Introduction
  10. Timeline
  11. Chapter 1: Script
    1. The Creative Producer
      1. Developing the Script
      2. Do Your Homework
      3. What Is a Script?
      4. What Does a Script Look Like?
      5. Where Do Scripts Come From?
      6. How Are Scripts Developed?
      7. Adaptation
      8. Legalities
      9. Basic Guidelines for the Short Form
      10. Collaboration
      11. What Do You Do Now?
      12. True Stories and Events
    2. Director
      1. Supervising or Performing Rewrites
      2. Working with the Writer
      3. Director as Storyteller
      4. Story Questions
      5. Scene Analysis
      6. The Shooting Script
      7. How Do Scripts Affect Budgets?
      8. Animation
      9. Documentaries
      10. Developing a Web Presence
    3. Key Points
  12. Chapter 2: Finance
    1. Producer
      1. Raising the Capital
      2. Basic Fundraising Problems
      3. Funding Options
      4. Do Your Research
      5. The Prospectus
      6. Spending the Money Responsibly
      7. The Digital Prospectus
      8. General Fundraising Suggestions
      9. Sources for Students
      10. Student Fundraising Strategies
    2. Director
      1. Pitching the Project
      2. The Elevator Challenge
      3. Steps to a Successful Pitch
    3. Key Points
  13. Part I: Preproduction
    1. Chapter 3: Breakdowns
      1. Producer
        1. Breaking Down the Script
        2. Production Book
        3. Proper Script Format
        4. Breaking Down the Script
      2. Director
        1. Storyboards and Floor Plans
        2. Developing a Shooting Plan
        3. The Final Word
      3. Key Points
    2. Chapter 4: Schedule
      1. Producer (as Production Manager)
        1. Building a Stripboard
        2. General Guidelines
        3. Beginning the Schedule
        4. Creating the Schedule
        5. The First Day
        6. Making the Day
        7. Shooting During Preproduction
        8. Locking the Schedule
        9. Call Sheet
        10. Scheduling Documentaries
        11. Student Scheduling Tips
        12. Web Presence for the Project
      2. Director
        1. Determining the Visual Plan
        2. Coverage = Time = Schedule = Budget
        3. Contingency Plans for Overages
        4. Things Change
      3. Key Points
    3. Chapter 5: Budget
      1. Producer
        1. Creating a Budget
        2. Production Value
        3. Script and Budget
        4. Who Creates the Budget?
        5. Budgeting Software
        6. The Budget Form
        7. Beginning the Budget
        8. Learn by Doing
      2. Director
        1. Shooting for the Moon
      3. Key Points
    4. Chapter 6: Crewing
      1. Producer
        1. Hiring the Crew
        2. Who Hires the Crew?
        3. When Do You Need a Crew?
        4. How Big a Crew Do You Need?
        5. Selecting the Crew
        6. Key Crew Members
        7. Developing the Right Chemistry
        8. Web Presence
      2. Director
        1. Hiring the Crew
        2. Director's Disease
      3. Key Points
    5. Chapter 7: Casting
      1. Producer
        1. Auditions
        2. The Casting Director
        3. The Basic Casting Steps
        4. Added Benefits of Casting
        5. Web Presence
      2. Director
        1. Auditions
        2. Casting
        3. Audition Guidelines
        4. Casting the Documentary
      3. Key Points
    6. Chapter 8: Art Direction
      1. Producer
        1. Assembling the Team
        2. Production Design
        3. The Art Department
        4. Images Can Tell a Story
        5. Responsibilities of the Art Department
        6. Communication with the DP
        7. Set Dressing
        8. Props
        9. Wardrobe
        10. Makeup
        11. Hair
        12. Animation
        13. The Producer's Role
        14. Web Presence
      2. Director
        1. Creating a Look
        2. Architect of Illusion
        3. How to Define the "Look"
        4. Breakdowns: Listen to the Script
        5. Defining the Space with Visual Ideas
        6. Camera Tests
      3. Key Points
    7. Chapter 9: Location
      1. Producer
        1. Securing Locations
        2. Where to Look for Locations
        3. Scouting the Locations
        4. Securing the Location
      2. Director
        1. Scouting Locations
        2. Aesthetic Concerns versus Practical Limitations
        3. Be Flexible
        4. The Power of Illusion
        5. Identifying the Location
        6. Walk-throughs
      3. Key Points
    8. Chapter 10: Rehearsals
      1. Director
        1. Working on Scenes
        2. Before Rehearsals
        3. Developing Mutual Trust
        4. Researching the Character
        5. Back Story
        6. Rehearsals
        7. Shape the Scene
        8. Communicating on the Set
        9. Interviews
      2. Producer
        1. Rehearsal Schedule
      3. Key Points
    9. Chapter 11: Camera
      1. Director
        1. Collaborate
        2. Keeping Up with Technology
        3. Style
        4. Listen to the Material
        5. Documentary
        6. Do Your Homework
        7. Consult with the Director of Photography
        8. Camera Team
        9. Basic Decisions
        10. Film Stock
        11. Digital Video Format
        12. Tests
        13. The Camera as Storyteller
        14. The Frame
        15. Size of Shot
        16. Camera Movement
        17. Editing
        18. Continuity
        19. Second Unit
        20. Greenscreen
        21. Lighting Style
        22. Equipment
        23. Video
        24. Video Formats
        25. Other Equipment
        26. Tricks
        27. Integrating Animation
      2. Producer
        1. Support
        2. Technical Considerations
      3. Key Points
    10. Chapter 12: Sound
      1. Director
        1. Recording Clean Tracks
        2. Why Getting Good Sound Is So Important
        3. The Sound Team
        4. The Equipment
        5. Responsibilities of the Sound Team
        6. Approaches to Recording Sound
        7. Variables for Placing Microphones
        8. Recording Concerns
        9. Video Sound
        10. Documentary
        11. Web Site Information
      2. Producer
        1. Controlling the Environment
        2. Equipment Needs for the Shoot
        3. How Big of a Sound Package and Crew Do You Need?
      3. Key Points
    11. Chapter 13: Art on Set
      1. Director
        1. Guide
        2. Final Walk-through
        3. Set Procedures
        4. Set Dressing
        5. Props
        6. Wardrobe
        7. Makeup
        8. Hair
        9. Additional Crew
      2. Producer
        1. Keeping Track
        2. Cover Sets
        3. Wrapping Up
      3. Key Points
  14. Part II: Production
    1. Chapter 14: Set Procedures
      1. Director
        1. Inspires
        2. Organized Chaos
        3. Set Etiquette
        4. A Typical Day
        5. Camera Moves
        6. Video Tap
        7. Digital Assistant
        8. Slates
        9. Calling the Shot
        10. Script Supervision
        11. Dailies
      2. Producer
        1. Coordinate
        2. Guidelines
        3. Proper Wrap Out
      3. Key Points
    2. Chapter 15: The Actor
      1. Director
        1. Direct
        2. The Process
        3. Technical Requirements for the Actor
        4. The Director's Tools
        5. Types of Characters
        6. Directing Actors
        7. Interviewing for Documentaries
      2. Producer
        1. Accommodating
        2. Socializing
        3. Contracts and Deal Memos
      3. Key Points
  15. Part III: Postproduction
    1. Chapter 16: Pix Postproduction
      1. Director
        1. The "Final Draft"
        2. The Director as Editor
        3. The Editor
        4. The Editor Speaks
        5. The Documentary Editor
        6. The Editing Process
        7. What Is Editing?
        8. Evolution of the Edit
        9. Locking the Picture
        10. Technical Considerations When Editing Film on Video
        11. Digital Basics
        12. Basic Workflow of a Nonlinear Editing System
        13. Editing Sequences
        14. Basic Sound Editing
        15. Special Digital Video Effects
        16. Animation
        17. Film to Video
        18. The P2 Workflow
      2. Producer
        1. Advise
        2. What You Want from a System?
        3. What Is Available?
        4. Editing Room
        5. Stepping Back and Looking Ahead
      3. Key Points
    2. Chapter 17: Sound Postproduction
      1. Director
        1. Sound Design
        2. What Is Sound Design?
        3. Respect for Sound
        4. What Is a Soundtrack?
        5. Post Flow Options
        6. Spotting
        7. Dialogue Tracks
        8. Automatic Dialogue Replacement (ADR)
        9. Walla
        10. Voice-overs and Narration
        11. Sound Effects Tracks
        12. Music Tracks
        13. TheMix
        14. Different Formats
        15. Music Tips for Students and Beginners
      2. Producer
        1. Supervising Postproduction
        2. . . .And Distributors
        3. The Moral
      3. Key Points
    3. Chapter 18: Finishing/Online/Laboratory
      1. Director
        1. The Finished Look
        2. The Choices
        3. Film Workflow
        4. Opticals
        5. Cutting the Negative
        6. Film Matchback
        7. Timing
        8. Types of Prints
        9. Traditional Linear Video Online
        10. Video-to-Film Transfer
        11. Nonlinear Online Edit
        12. Animation and CGI: Rendering and Compositing
      2. Producer
        1. Keeping Track and Looking Ahead (and Back If Necessary)
        2. Looking Ahead/Key Points
    4. Chapter 19: Distribution/Exhibition
      1. Producer
        1. Launching the Film
        2. Start Early: Have A Plan from the Beginning
        3. The Markets
        4. Exhibition
        5. The Internet
        6. YouTube
        7. iTunes
        8. Internet Sites
        9. Cell Phones
        10. DVD
        11. Television
        12. Theatrical Markets
        13. Nontheatrical Markets
        14. Foreign Markets
        15. Distribution Options
      2. Director
        1. Publicity
        2. The Academy Awards
  16. Appendix A A Short History of the Short Film
  17. Appendix B Genres and Animation
  18. Appendix C Script Sample
  19. Appendix D Screening List
  20. Appendix E Safety Issues
  21. Appendix F Music Clearance and Insurance
  22. Appendix G State Film Commissions
  23. Appendix H Film and Media Programs
  24. Glossary
  25. Bibliography
  26. Index

Product information

  • Title: Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video, 4th Edition
  • Author(s): Peter W. Rea, David K. Irving
  • Release date: March 2013
  • Publisher(s): Focal Press
  • ISBN: 9781136048333