Essential Film Production: Roles, Structure, and Cinematic Time

Film Fundamentals and Projection Speed

Standard film projection is achieved by projecting 24 frames per second (FPS), which creates the illusion of movement.

• If the projection speed is significantly higher than 24 FPS, the action appears to be in fast forward.
• If the projection speed is lower than 24 FPS, the action appears to be in slow motion.

The soundtrack, which records dialogue, music, and effects, is typically located on the right side of the film strip.

The advent of magnetic recording systems and video technology enabled new methods for film production, creation, and marketing.

Film Production: Key Roles and Phases

Crucial Production Roles

The production team depends crucially on two key individuals:

1. The Director: The chief artistic director and coach of the movie.
2. The Producer: Responsible for resolving economic and logistical issues.

The Three Phases of Production

1. Writing the Script (Pre-production)

   This phase requires distinguishing between the subject, core idea, plot, synopsis, and treatment, which decides the character of the movie (e.g., comedy, drama, musical, etc.).

   • First, a literary script (the narrative story) is written.
   • Then, a technical script is created, breaking the literary script into sequences and shots with detailed instructions.

2. Implementation Phase (Principal Photography)

   The director is assisted by:

   • An assistant director
   • A script supervisor (continuity)
   • The director of photography (Cinematographer)
   • The camera operator
   • The set decorator

3. Post-production Phase

   The editor is responsible for assembling and joining the fragments of the film. This is followed by a laboratory process involving mixing, collecting dialogues, sounds, and music. Special effects are added if necessary.

Understanding Film Genres

Film genres categorize films based on similar arguments, themes, and stylistic forms. Examples include: comedy, drama, horror, thriller, and science fiction.

Manipulation of Cinematic Time

Filmmakers use various resources to manipulate the perception of time:

Techniques to Speed Up Time

• Ellipsis: A leap in action, skipping unnecessary time.
• Flashforward: Showing future events.

Techniques to Slow Down Time

• Slow Motion: Action is slowed down.
• Freeze Frame: Stopping the image completely.
• Reduplication/Reiteration: Repeating a sequence or shot during the assembly process.

Film Structure and Storyboarding

Standard Film Structure

Audiovisual works typically tell a story composed of three main parts:

1. Approach (Beginning): Characters and initial problems are presented.
2. Core (Middle): Development and complication of the central problem.
3. Outcome (End): Resolution of the conflict.

The Storyboard

The storyboard is a visual planning tool, often resembling a comic strip, used for pre-visualizing the film. Its primary purpose is to determine the framing and composition of the shot. Dialogues and sounds are considered external elements, while camera movements and character actions are indicated using arrows. Interestingly, a poorly drawn comic can still function as an effective storyboard.