The importance of Pre-Production

While many have romanticized ideas about life as a screenwriter, the hard truth is writing a screenplay is just a small portion of the first step in moviemaking. Writers assume that once their script is sold, a studio immediately began to bring it to life. Nothing can be further from the truth. When studios buy your script, they are actually acquiring the concept of the story, with intentions of making it into what they want. Meaning one of two things.

• The script is shelved for a time (possibly for years.)
• The script is greenlighted for production.

Either way, your screenplay doesn’t go straight into production. Once the project is greenlit, there is still a lot of work to do before your story begins to come alive. Scripts that are bought aren’t necessarily what is made into a movie. Your script may be similar to a concept a studio wants, but the script will go through several rewrites as part of the pre-production process.

Pre-production?

Pre-production formally starts once a project is greenlit. It is meant to finalize the preparations before a film goes into production. Its purpose is to ensure a studio’s max return on their investment into your script.

All films go through pre-production. Studios know the type of film they want and use pre-production to get your script to meet their need. Purchased scripts aren’t necessarily what is produced. The nasty truth is that after you sell your script, it is no longer yours and studios can do whatever they want.

This means your script will be rewritten by either in-house writers, contracted writers, and possibly you. The purpose is to ensure the studio gets what it wants, they are investing their money and time into it after all. When a script is in pre-production, settings, characters, and timeline can all be tweaked to get the studio what it wants before production starts. Below is a breakdown of what happens in pre-production:

1. Lock the shooting script.

2. Finalize the budget.

3. Form a new company. (not always applicable)

4. Hire key department heads.

5. Break down the script.

6. Storyboard and shot list the scenes.

7. Scout and secure locations.

8. Cast actors and hire crew.

9. Get permits and insurance.

10. Schedule shoot days.

11. Perform a tech scout.

12. Arrange for equipment rentals.¹

Ultimately pre-production helps to ensure the best possible production schedule, including cost. Remember, this is a business and studios want to minimize the losses in production bad wraps. Making a movie isn’t easy and many things can go wrong.

Off Script!

When studios carelessly produce a movie, it shows on the screen and in the bank. Hollywood is full of stories about nightmare productions. Movies that not only didn’t earn a return on their investment, but the production may also have cost them money. The following are a few examples:

• Cats
• 47 Ronan
• Blade Runner 2047
• Robin Hood (2018)

Studios have learned to take their time and minimize the risk of losing their investment. Therefore, they utilize the necessary step of pre-production.

Martin Johnson survived a severe car accident with a (T.B.I.) Traumatic brain injury which left him legally blind and partially paralyzed on the left side. He is an award-winning Christian screenwriter who has recently finished his first Christian nonfiction book. Martin has spent the last nine years volunteering as an ambassador and promoter for Promise Keepers ministries. While speaking to local men’s ministries he shares his testimony. He explains The Jesus Paradigm and how following Jesus changes what matters most in our lives. Martin lives in a Georgia and connects with readers at MartinThomasJonhson.com and on Twitter at mtjohnson51.

---

¹  https://www.masterclass.com/articles/guide-to-preproduction-in-film#quiz-0