From Idea into Production: The Stages of Production

“There are three main stages of film production,” explains Alrick Brown. “In the film industry, there is the pre-production, the production, and the post. You might think that planning and pre-production are the most important things, and you’re right. But when it comes down to the practical time of filmmaking, people rarely put enough time into the pre-production, getting the script together, the casting, and the location. You do that part right, and your life is much, much smoother in the production.”
On set, the actual shoot may last a day or a couple of days, depending on the length of the script. In Hollywood, it could last anywhere from a month to three months. That part of the process is the meat and the bones. Before you get to the meat and the bones, you’ve got to get the recipe, organize the kitchen, and gather the ingredients so that the cooking process goes smoothly.
Then there’s the post. In the film industry, the post is the last draft of the script. It’s the final version of that script. No matter what you wanted to write or do, you can only edit what you have.
Brown continues, “Looking at the material of what you shot, you say, this is what I have to work with. Did I capture my story? How well have I captured it? You cut it together and have to think about sound design, color correction, ADR, and everything that can help enhance. For new filmmakers, it’s crucial to look at this journey as a holistic experience.”