Homework Questions

1.) How does a film get made, who is involved and what are their jobs?
A film takes years to make and it involves many different aspects. These consist of the idea, development finance, script development, packaging, financing, pre-production, the shoot, post-production, sales, marketing, exhibition and other windows. Making a film involves hundreds of people such as the producer, director and writer. The producer decides whether to make the idea into a reality.  It's their job to pitch the idea to get money to develop a script. They also choose who writes the script. The writer defines and clarifies the idea, the plot and the main characters. The writer then writes a treatment, which is a one page description of the main story and characters of the film. A director works with the writers and producers to convert their ideas into something that would be possible to film.

2.) What comes first, script or finance?
Although development finance comes first, script development comes before the financing. A rough draft of the script would need to be written up before financing, because the team that are making the film would need a clear idea of what the film was about, it's intended audience, cast and location.

3.) How can casting help to get the film made?
Casting can help to attract financial backing for a film project and ensure interest in the film. Well known actors will bring more attention to the film as more people will be eager to see it.

4.) Who is responsible for marketing?
The producer is responsible for marketing.

5.) Where do ideas for films come from?
Inspirations come from newspapers, books, plays, films and even casual conversations.

6.) How does a film reach the right audience?
The potential audience for a film is targeted with posters, cinema trailers, tv sports and other marketing materials.