Film and Television Producer: Job Description

 

Many people have misconceptions about what a producer is and what they do.  Producers are jacks of all trades, masters of few. She or he needs people skills and technical knowledge, while still being willing to not only think outside the box but also rip that sucker up and reinvent it.

They are mediators and counselors of egos, who understand that sometimes you need to hold hands, while other times they need to kick butt.  Cast and crew are people with individual challenges that sometimes spill over onto the set.  Differing opinions can be resolved if the common goal remains to produce quality.   Hiring the right people means more than just focusing on experience or job skills.  It’s bringing together those who work easily and effectively together.  One bad apple will create a hostile work environment that threatens every aspect of production. This doesn’t mean that everyone needs to be besties, but respect is paramount.  Another analogy would be that of gears in a machine.  It only takes one to be out of sync to start a cascading effect that will eventually cause a loss of productivity.

Having a general, yet working knowledge, of all aspects of production, marketing, and distribution means knowing more than just the job description.  It’s being able to assist without getting in the way or becoming a liability to the task at hand.   The producer doesn’t have to be able to set the lights, but she or he must know the difference between a flood and a spot.  It’s having the humility to be willing to pull cables, help with food service, pick up trash, and load equipment.  It’s doing the job at hand without egos getting in the way.

As scrouges, they find cost-effective solutions to production challenges.  She or he needs to be inventive enough to turn to drop clothes and Christmas lights into the interior of a circus tent.  It also requires helping the team to be flexible enough to alter schedules and methods when challenges present themselves.  You can plan to the nth degree and things will still go sideways.   Freaking out or allowing others to do so only exacerbates the situation.  Running around with their hair on fire because it rained or someone came down with the flu, only creates unnecessary stress.  However, remaining calm and stepping back lowers the emotional temperature and makes finding solutions much easier.  Effective producers formulate plan b and an outline for plan c.

Having these skill sets gives the producer the ability to bring projects in on time and within budget.  It also builds teams that become working families that build the trust that is necessary to produce quality, while pushing the status quo of the industry. 

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Screenwriting and Fiction Writing are two different animals

Writing for the screen and the page requires two completely different mindsets.  Although there are a few, who are capable of writing for both, generally most writers don’t have the capability of successfully translating a book into a script.

Writing fiction is a solo voice.  From the thoughts, words, and deeds of the character to the plot development, the author controls every detail.  She or he sets the stage from the opening to the closing sentence, making her or him the God of that universe.

 Writing for the screen needs a choir, singing together on the same page of music.  To mix the metaphors, producing film and television projects comparable to building a house.  Like an architect, the screenwriter creates the designs.  The Executive Producer acts as the contractor, who finds the resources and hired the team.  As the construction manager, the director organizes the talent and crew.  The crew builds the house.  Like interior designs, actors make the house a home as they bring the characters to life.  Without the team working together as one, the projects can’t succeed.

In fiction, describing the interaction between the characters and their environment in minute details is necessary for the reader to be able to suspend their belief.  But it would hinder the production process.  In fiction, the author needs to describe what she or he wants the reader to be able to see or know. No matter how elaborate or detailed, the writer can paint the word picture, it becomes real to the reader.  In film and television, unless the production team builds the sets and the props from the ground up, exactly matching the author’s vision is not always possible due to cost and insufficient technical skill; however, digital advancements have opened many new possibilities.  Yet, even with technology, creating sets can be cost-prohibitive.  Additionally, the blocking of the actors’ actions and how they present emotions will be influenced by the actor cast in the role and the director.   Their internal dialogue and life experience will determine how the emotions manifest into action.

Not all authors can separate themselves from the original vision nor do they understand the structure of scripts.  The latter can be learned. Letting go can be a bridge too far for many authors, which is why most don’t write the scripts for their work.

Here is an example of the difference between fiction and script.  It’s an excerpt from my novel, Dragon Domain.  The first is from the novel; it’s followed by how the same scenes would be written in script form.

The shadow strolled around the fence, becoming an over-confident Dominic. She felt her stomach tighten, preparing for another confrontation. Seeing Lilith, Dominic stopped short of the porch. He stared at her.

"You needn’t try to read me." Lilith continued down the porch, squaring off with the taller man. "I’ll save you the effort. I’m your worse nightmare."

He sneered at her. "An overused cliché."

"A cliché it may be. But true." Her head bobbed slightly from side to side. Her hand flipped up, the palm pointing at him. "In the past. your darkness kept you from reaping what you sowed”, elegantly her palm flipped over in a wave motion, "but your harvest time has come. And I’m the one at the handle end of the sickle whose business end is going to cut you down."

Cheyenne ran to the door. She had to warn Lilith. She didn't know who and what she was dealing with.

“But I do.” The whisper came from nowhere and everywhere.

Startled, Cheyenne looked around. She saw no one, yet she wasn't alone.

“Child, come with me.”

Instinct told her vocalizing was unnecessary and could very well be dangerous for them both. What about Lilith?

“Do you trust me?”

She sensed rather than saw the hand that reached out to her. Fearlessly, she reached back. She felt her spirit rise and be whisked away. For an instant, she hovered over the cottage. Brilliant light surrounded and filled it. In the backyard, Mercury and Ares questioningly looked up at her. The light surrounded them. Cheyenne knew they were safe. As was Lilith in the front yard. The next instant she stood on the part of the mesa that she was only allowed to see from a distance. Not knowing what to expect, she walked around the funeral pyre. The ashes stirred, rising up to become tiny whirlwinds. The center one became a feather. The others melted into it, adding gemstones, beads, and smaller feathers. When the last whirlwind added its blessing, the feather floated upward. The sun shone through the gems and glass beads, sending rainbows and colored dots to dance around the pyre. Catching herself staring, Cheyenne stifled a giggle; No wonder the kids like chasing the red dot.

“Will you accept it?”

The feather seemed familiar, yet the harder she sought to find the memory the faster it eluded her. Its beauty radiated welcoming love and healing. It's so beautiful. Are you sure it is for me?

“Only if you accept it.”

Cheyenne held out her cupped hands. The feather floated into them. It melted into her and suddenly she was back in her cabin.

"Where’s Cheyenne!" He demanded.

"In my cradle." Lilith’s voice became stronger; her energy expanded.

Dominic stepped backward. "What are you?"

"I am, the I am. I am the seer of all things. I know who you are and what you have done."

"Shut up! Where’s Cheyenne?"

Lilith turned at the waist, extending her hand to Cheyenne. The whites of her eyes glowed.

Without hesitating, Cheyenne stepped through the doorway and out onto the porch, stopping at the top step. Reaching out, her fingertips touched Lilith’s. The power surged within her and she joined Lilith at the edge of the porch.

“Do you think the harm you have caused others has gone unnoticed?” The words came from Cheyenne's mouth, but the voice belonged to another. “The pack only protects its own.”

“I have my own pack

Cheyenne felt the presence of the other intensify within her. “Renegades become pariahs, who are unwelcome in any home.”

The color drained from Dominic’s face.

Lilith stepped forward. "There is nothing you can do that can not be undone and turned back on you."

Tossing the loose strands back over his shoulder, he balanced his weight equally on both feet and smiled. "I’m not finished yet."

"You have attacked twice. Twice it failed. Undo the damage you have done. Pay the debts you owe. You may still be redeemed." The words came from Lilith’s mouth, but the voice was from a source much older.

His fists clenched. Setting his jaw, he recollected himself. "You can’t frighten me. I know." He pointed at Cheyenne. "I know how to hurt you!" His anger flared. "You and all those others who forsake the male energy of the Gods." He stepped forward at an angle, putting himself in a direct line of vision with Cheyenne. "She can’t always be with you. One time when you take flight..." The threat remained unfinished.

"I’m everywhere." Lilith waved her hand. A gust of wind blew dirt into his face. "Unhampered by time or space.”

A hawk dived from nowhere; its extended talons scraping his forehead and scalp. He screamed in pain, beating the vacant air trying to ward off an attacker who had already disappeared.

 

Furious, he rushed her. Energy forcefully shot out of Lilith, knocking him backward. He hit the ground with a grunt; immediately he rolled into a crouch. Growling, he revealed his growing canine teeth.

Immediately Aries and Mercury leaped at their side of the fence, growling, and barking. Leaves rained down on him from the squirrels dashing and jumping between branches. From the left, the bushes rustled. A black and white body scurried from it. Its long-striped tail erect. As quickly as its little legs could move, it crossed the distance, spun around, and squirted a cloud of protective scent. Dominic didn’t have the opportunity to dodge. The direct stream soaked his face; the cloud enveloped him.

 

 

 

EXT. CABIN BACK PORCH: DAY

Dominic struts toward the back door of an isolated country cabin.  Lilith walks out the back door closing it. Dominic stops.

                                        LILITH

"You needn’t try to read me. I’ll save you the effort. I’m your worst nightmare.

                           DOMINIC

An overused cliché."

                           LILITH

A cliché it may be. In the past. your darkness kept you from reaping what you sowed but your harvest time has come. And I’m the one at the handle end of the sickle whose business end is going to cut you down.

 

INT. CABIN: DAY

Cheyenne listens at the back door.  Frightened, she tries to open it.

                                     MOTHER

                                    (whisper around her)

            She’s safe.

                                    CHEYENNE

            She doesn’t know.

                                    MOTHER

            But I do.  Child, come with me.

Cheyenne nods and reaches for the unseen hand.

EXT. FRONT YARD OF CABIN: DAYS

Cheyenne’s spirit appears above.  Brilliant white light surrounds the cabin and the surrounding area. Mercury and Aries look up at her.

EXT. MESA: DAY

Cheyenne’s spirit appears at the head of a Native American funeral pyre. Confused, she looks around. The ashes stirred, rising up to become tiny whirlwinds. The center one became a feather. The others melted into it, adding gemstones, beads, and smaller feathers until they become one.

MOTHER.

Will you accept it?

                        CHEYENNE

It's so beautiful. Are you sure it is for me?

                        MOTHER

Only if you accept it.

Holding out her hands, the feather floats into them and melts into her.

EXT. CABIN. DAY

Dominic aggressively approaches  Lilith's posture changes as she absorbs the white light emanating from the ground.  Her eyes glow.  Her voice becomes otherworldly

                                    DOMINIC

Where’s Cheyenne!

.

                                    LILITH

            In my cradle.

                                    DOMINIC

What are you?

                        LILITH

I am, the I am. I am the seer of all things. I know who you are and what you have done.

                        DOMINIC

Witch tricks!  Where’s Cheyenne?

Lilith extends her hand to Cheyenne.  Cheyenne walks out onto the porch and joins Lilith. The white light fills Cheyenne.

                                    CHEYENNE

                        (otherworldly voice)

Do you think the harm you have caused others has gone unnoticed? The pack only protects its own.”

                        DOMINIC

I have my own pack.

                        CHEYENNE

Renegades become pariahs, who are unwelcome in any home.

Stunned, Dominic backs away.

                                    LILITH

There is nothing you can do that can not be undone and turned back on you.

                        DOMINIC

            (regaining arrogance)

.           I’m not finished yet.

                                    LILITH

You have attacked twice. Twice it failed. Undo the damage you have done. Pay the debts you owe. You may still be redeemed.

                        DOMINIC

You can’t frighten me. I know.

            (pointing at Cheyenne)

I know how to hurt you!  You and all those others who forsake the male energy of the Gods. She can’t always be with you. One time when you take flight...

                       LILITH

I’m everywhere.

A gust of wind blew dirt into his face.

                                    LILITH (CONT.)

Unhampered by time or space--

A hawk attacks Dominic and flies away. Energy shoots out of Lilith, knocking him backward. He rolls into a crouch. Growling, he reveals his growing canine teeth.  A skunk scurries from the bushes and sprays Dominic, hitting him in the face.

 

Although the story and actions are essentially the same,  many details had been changed. How Cheyenne felt and thought was replaced by generic physical actions.  The squirrels raining down leaves and the barking dogs were unnecessary and therefore removed.   The verb usage was changed from the past tense in the novel to the present tense in the script.  Scripts are written in the present tense. 

Film and television are visual.  Never ever, use the phrase “we see”.  First, who the hell are we?  Secondly, show don’t tell. 

The scene heading sets the location and time of day.

 

EXT. CABIN BACK PORCH: DAY

Dominic struts toward the back door of an isolated country cabin. The first line sets the first impression of the location and the scene

 

. This is an exterior scene that happens during the day around a cottage surrounded by forests

 

EXT. MESA: DAY

Cheyenne’s spirit appears at the head of a Native American funeral pyre

This scene also takes place during the day.  Mesa sets the image of a flat desert area.  Describing the funeral pyre as Native American removes the need for more details.

 

In scripts, less is more.  Except when creating important plot-related details, as with special effects, descriptions should be limited to four lines.

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A story of unrequited and forbidden love during the age of McCarthyism.

 

 Samuel and William James were twin flames who loved each other and were very happy until the rumors and grumblings started about their relationship. Margaret was the mastermind behind her and George’s cons. They traveled the world romancing others out of fortunes. Samuel married Margaret to shield his relationship with William James. She accepted, believing that he, like the others, would be an easy mark. When Margaret’s business acumen started the rumors that she wore the pants in the family, Samuel looked for a way to put her back in her place. He couldn’t let her go without exposing his secret. Instead, he tried to force George to leave. It was the mistake that cost him his life. Yet, even in death, Samuel continued to control Margaret. The terms of his will bound her to the estate and William James. Heartbroken, Williams James was forced to stay silent. He couldn’t expose the murder without their relationship being revealed. Stuck with each other, they agree to work together. When William James meets Lennette and Gary, he sees a way to free himself and get revenge.

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https://www.kaleidoscopefilmandtelevision.com/

#business #work #like #womeninfilm #womensrights #lgbtq #LBgtqcommunity #featurefilm #womenempoweringwomen #civilrights #TheresaChaze #CompletelyLoyaltoMe

When it's impossible to be who you are, you become someone you are not.

When a producer starts raising funds for a project, many people suggest crowdfunding.  However, since celebrities have started using the already overcrowded platforms, it’s more difficult than ever to raise money.  It has forced the teams to be even more innovative.

Crowdfunding campaigns have two goals: raise funds and create awareness of the project. Generally, the producers offer incentives to give something of value to the donors while pitching the project.  Most incentives have little practical value.  They are more thank you gifts, given to show gratitude to the donors.

Completely Loyal to Me is taking a different path to raise the initial production funds.  Instead of gifting pictures, posters, mugs, etc, we have created T-shirts that promote all Indie films.  We believe that each time an Indie film is produced and becomes successful, it makes it easier for the ones that follow to achieve the same goal.  The shirts support Indie films as well as age, gender, and ethnic diversity.   The project will receive nearly half of the purchase price.  The shirts will be sent directly from the manufacturer thereby taking the production team out of the middle and speeding up the process.  The shirts come in many sizes,  two colors, and both short and long sleeves.  The links lead to the purchasing pages.

https://www.bonfire.com/do-you-support-indie-film/

 

https://www.bonfire.com/supporting-age-gender-and-ethnic-diversity160/

 

Completely Loyal to me is a dark comedy feature film with the suspense of Hitchcock and the slapstick of the Keystone Cops. It is comparable to the Family Plot, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Deathtrap, and Honey Pot.  Its primary goal is to entertain.  However, it will also serve as a reminder of what life was really like in the 1950s when rampant discrimination was the norm. A women’s right to personal and physical autonomy has been once attacked by those who have already stated that the LBGTQ community is next in line as they work toward turning the nation into a Christian Theocracy  

Samuel and William James were twin flames who loved each other and were very happy until the rumors and grumblings started about their relationship.  Margaret was the mastermind behind her and George’s cons. They traveled the world romancing others out of fortunes. Samuel married Margaret to shield his relationship with William James.  She accepted, believing that he, like the others, would be an easy mark.  When Margaret’s business acumen started the rumors that she wore the pants in the family, Samuel looked for a way to put her back in her place.  He couldn’t let her go without exposing his secret.  Instead, he tried to force George to leave. It was the mistake that cost him his life. Yet, even in death, Samuel continued to control Margaret.  The terms of his will bound her to the estate and William James.  Heartbroken, Williams James was forced to stay silent.  He couldn’t expose the murder without their relationship being revealed. Stuck with each other, they agree to work together.  When William James meets Lennette and Gary, he sees a way to free himself and get revenge.

If you believe that women have equal rights, support the LBGTQ community, or if you just think that many people need to learn how to mind their own business, please support our efforts to bring Completely Loyal to Me to the screens of the country and the world.  Please visit our website to learn more about our project and how you can become an important member of our team as an investor or distributor.

https://www.kaleidoscopefilmandtelevision.com/

 

 

 

 

What happens when you mix suspense of Hitchcock with the slapstick of the Keystone Cops?

 

When it is impossible to be who you are, you become someone you are not.  This is the core element of Completely Loyal to Me.  The 1950s was a time of McCarthyism, segregation, and discrimination.  People spied on each other, making it nearly impossible for a person to be their true selves even in private.  When a person is forced to pretend to be someone they are not, they become vulnerable to others and their own dark impulses.  However, the era was especially hazardous for women and the LBGTQ community. Women were considered property with little to no rights. To have any power in their lives, women had no choice but to lie and manipulate. Thought of as deviants, who were threats to society, gays were brutalized and murdered.  To save themselves, both needed to hide their true selves or risk becoming social outcasts or victims of violence.

Completely Loyal to me is a dark comedy feature film with the suspense of Hitchcock and the slapstick of the Keystone Cops. It is comparable to Family Plot, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Deathtrap, and Honey Pot.  Its primary goal is to entertain.  However, it will also serve as a reminder of what life was really like in the 1950s. 

Samuel and William James were twin flames who loved each other and were very happy until the rumors and grumblings started about their relationship.  Margaret was the mastermind behind her and George’s cons. They traveled the world romancing others out of fortunes. Samuel married Margaret to shield his relationship with William James.  She accepted, believing that he, like the others, would be an easy mark.  When Margaret’s business acumen started the rumors that she wore the pants in the family, Samuel looked for a way to put her back in her place.  He couldn’t let her go without exposing his secret.  Instead, he tried to force George to leave. It was the mistake that cost him his life. Yet, even in death, Samuel continued to control Margaret.  The terms of his will bound her to the estate and William James.  Heartbroken, Williams James was forced to stay silent.  He couldn’t expose the murder without their relationship being revealed. Stuck with each other, they agree to work together.  When William James meets Lennette and Gary, he sees a way to free himself and get revenge.

 

We are looking for investors. We have started negotiations with a distributor, but nothing has been made official. Additionally, we are looking to product place a soda and beer that was available in the 1950s and today. Each will be mentioned by name at least twice, have at least 20 seconds of screen time, and have one of their 30-second retro-commercials aired in their entirety. We would also like to place a radio station with the same parameters. Its call letters will be mentioned on-screen at least twice. 

 

If you believe that women have equal rights, support the LBGTQ community, or if you just think that many people need to learn how to mind their own business, please support our efforts to bring Completely Loyal to Me to the screens of the country and the world. 

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Supporting Pride Month

Another investor for the studio and the projects fell through. To be honest, I'm getting discouraged. It seems that it is easier to start a career than it is to restart one. I refuse to give up, which means the only thing left is to succeed. But I need your help.

The shorts Completely Loyal to Me and Showtime were going to relaunch my career by showing what I can produce. Due to circumstances beyond my control, Loyal to Me was filmed but never made it through post-production. I have repeatedly asked about Showtime but have yet to get an answer. I suspect the same thing happened. Loyal to Me has the lowest budget. It’s a dark comedy feature film that combines the suspense of Hitchcock with the slapstick of the Keystone cops.

In the 1950s appearances were more important than reality. People had to hide who they were to be accepted and safe. But that wasn't easy. Secrets were hard to keep. McCarthyism had neighbors spying on each other. Those who were different, even in private, were ostracized, especially women and the LBGTQ community. Women were supposed to be daughters, wives, and mothers. If they did work, it was only in secondary jobs, which had little pay and no power. They were expected to quit once they married. Men were the heads of the households, who made all decisions and controlled all the money. To have any power, women had to manipulate and lie. However, the LGBTQ community had it much worse. To even be suspected of being gay, could be a death sentence. Discrimination was rampant as was the brutality that more often than not went unpunished. They were considered mentally ill and a threat to society, especially to children. They were laughed at and scorned. Most stayed in the closet. They hid behind relationships with those of the opposite sex and by showing aggressive disdain toward those who were perceived as gay. These factors set the stage for the murder, blackmail, and revenge of Completely Loyal to Me.

"And thus, like the wounded oyster, he mends his shell with pearl"

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Romancing their way into fortunes, Margaret and George meet their counterparts only to learn the tragic reality of a cliché.

Margaret and George were a team, who used their considerable charms to romance others out of their fortunes. Margaret marries Samuel to inherit his millions only to learn after his untimely death that the terms of his will bound her to the estate and Samuel's manservant, William James. Changing their strategy, Margaret and George get married. Instead of traveling the world to find new marks, they use the mansion to lure. them into their web. William James reluctantly agrees to help. When he meets Lennetta and Gary, William James realized that he has found who he had been seeking. Manipulating the meeting of the couples, he moves forward with each believing that he is their ally. It is only when their cons come to fruition that they realize he has another agenda.

 

Although I will continue to seek funding for the studio, I’m also going to try to fund the individual projects. I’ve been making contacts for product placement, but that takes time. I’ve also considered doing a crowdfunding campaign. But that takes a great deal of time and energy more often than not it yields very little money of which the platform and PayPal take a percentage. So, I’ve decided to ask for your support to produce Completely Loyal to Me. I have put a donation button on the webpage. If you have the will and the means please support our efforts to bring Completely Loyal to Me to screen. The only incentive I have to offer is that of an electronic copy once it is finished. It could take up to six months for you to receive it. Even if you are unable to donate, please share my request and website so the six degrees of separation will bring miracles into our lives.

Thank you.

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Helping veterans heal and reclaim their lives

  

Horses and Heroes is a Reality TV series, which combines the highly effective Peer Support Therapy with Equine Therapy. Unlike most in the genre, it will focus on healing and positive growth rather than endorsing bad behavior. Each season will bring together veterans from WWII to the current conflicts. They will be sharing their challenges and supporting each other as they find new solutions to their physical and emotional challenges. They know the talk because they have walked the walk. They see the dodges and will be able to call each other on them. Sparks may fly. Tempers may flare, especially when they force each other to face their ghosts. But there will also be laughter and fun as they rebuild the comradery, which kept them safe and strong. The snarkiness and practical jokes between the branches don't simply end. There is always room for just one more. When it airs, it will reach into the homes of the veterans, who need to hear that they are not alone, and give them information as well as permission they need to also heal. They will help each other find their way back to the world. Veterans can’t go back and make a brand new start, but they can start from now and make a brand new end.

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Four Mistakes of Connection Building

 

Networking and connecting can be extremely beneficial, except when it is done incorrectly.  As beneficial as it can be, it can also be extremely detrimental to the brand or a person’s reputation.  A profitable asset can be easily turned into a liability.

 

1.      Don’t try to be anyone other than yourself 

There is an old saying, be yourself, everyone else is taken. Being yourself means some people will like you and some won’t.  A façade can only be maintained for so long; eventually, the real you will appear.  Once that happens you will lose all the trust you have built because no one will know which person is real.

2.      Don’t falsify or inflate your education, experience, or connections

It’s easy to talk big and make grandiose boasts, but there will come a time or situation when you will have to produce or follow through. Making excuses or ignoring what you said only kicks the can down the road.  It only delays the inevitable. Eventually, you will be held accountable for your claims.  If you can’t follow through or another proves your claims to be false, the result to your business reputation will be worse than if you said nothing at all.

 

3.      Don’t over-share personal information

Learn how to read the room and the person you are speaking with.  Some somethings are not meant to be shared with work associates, even if they are true.  Becoming too “intimate” or oversharing even in the context or under the pretense of a joke is a recipe for disaster.  It can lead to uncomfortable situations, which could damage your business reputation and lead to legal consequences. 

 

4.      Don’t be negative

There are ways to approach challenging times and difficult topics without being harsh or confrontational, especially when it comes to business relationships. How we speak to and about our bosses, co-workers, and clients matters.   It sets the tone of those relationships from that moment forward.  It’s impossible to always agree.  Some disagreements are inevitable.  However, choosing personal attacks instead of staying on the topic will never end well. Once said or done, it’s permanent.   Apologies can be made and even accepted; what is forgiven, isn’t always forgotten.

 

Trust and respect are the basis of every business relationship. Rebuilding them can be a long and costly process. Depending on how they were broken can sometimes be impossible.

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Breaking down the script: the first step in generating the budget

 Whether for a film or television project, the next step after the competition of the script is to break it down into its primary elements so that a budget can be generated.  Although most script writing programs do automatically add some elements, such as the speaking character roles, each scene still needs to be manually checked so that the necessary information will appear on the reports.  Without knowing who, what, where, and for how long, it is impossible to generate the budget.  If done correctly, it will also collect and organized the information for the daily call logs.

The more detailed the breakdown of each scene, the more time you will save yourself in the long run.  Although some of these elements will be filled with generic responses, listing them will hold the place for the details to be added later.

Location

Each scene opens with the location bar that includes, the place, interior/exterior, and day part of the scene.   Although they are listed in the script, none of this information will appear in the reports unless it is manually entered.  Most places will host more than one scene;  listing the general location with the specific location and daypart will give additional details that will help determine how many days will be needed for that particular area.  By adding these details, it’s easier to group scenes to cut down on was of time and energy.

Construction

Scenes that are filmed on a soundstage or at locations where modifications will need to be done.  Would need to be noted in this category.  Extra time will need to be allotted for the building, setting, and striking the sets.

Electronics

Any special lighting, sound, or gadgets would be listed here.

Set dressing

Unless there are changes due to the script, the first scene will be sufficient to set the standard for the entire project. Any modifications would be needed to be noted and the scenes scheduled accordingly.

Props

Not every prop needs to be listed.  Only the ones that are required by the script or wouldn’t normally be found in the area.

VFX: makeup; digital, sound, mechanical

Visual effects take preplanning and are time-consuming.  Knowing what scenes and the specific effects are required to accurately budget time and resources. 

Characters

Most scriptwriting programs automatically list the speaking characters; however, characters without lines will need to be manually entered or they will not appear on the call sheets. 

Crew

Most crews are set for the entire project and don’t need to be listed.  This section would again be for the unusual or special crew members.

Wardrobe/Makeup/Hair

For continuity, these need to be listed according to the placement in the script timeline not according to the shooting schedule.  By listing them according to which day they represent in the script, it’s easier to coordinate and account for the time needed to make any changes.

Animals/children

Animals and children are unpredictable.  Additional time will need to be added.

 

Anything out of the ordinary that will consume time or resources

Having too many details is better than being caught off guard. 

 

I will be using scenes from my project Never Can Say Good-bye as examples.

 

Scene 8

INT. HIDDEN ROOM: DAY

Michael shines the flashlight around the room. The beam hits the cracked mirror and reflects onto a rocking chair. THE OBSERVER (camera showing the ghost's perspective) WATCHES Michael.  Michael tries to open the window; it's nailed shut.  SHANE SCOTT (A woman in her mid-20's who believes the world is her toy.) WALKS into the doorway.

SHANE

(angrily)

What did you do?  This isn't our house.

MICHAEL

(startled)

Amanda was happy I found it.

Shane nervously walks around. The Observer examines her. She sees her image in the mirror distort and morph; Shane screams and runs out.

 

 

Scene 8 Breakdown

        -

        INT.HIDDEN ROOM: DAY

Character

 

    * Michael

    * Shane

    * The Observer

 

Props

 

    * Flashlight

    * Bellows family pictures

 

Camera

 

    * The camera will represent the ghostly perspective

    * Drone camera

 

Location

 

    * Bellows House

    * Hidden room

    * Afternoon

 

Set Dressing

 

    * Table and chairs

    * Full side bed

    * Dressers

    * Wooden rocking chair

    * Curtains on the windows

    * Bedding

    * Family pictures

    * Needlework project

    * Old book on the nightstand

    * Rag rugs

    * needlepoint   samplers

    * Virgin Mary statue

    * Angel statues

 

Wardrobe

 

    * Women's clothing from the mid to late 1950s

    * DAY ONE

 

Greenery

 

    * Ivy on the outside of the window

 

Sound

 

    * Door creaking

 

Electrics

 

    * Drone camera

 

Crew

 

    * Drone camera operator

Optical FX

 

    * The Distorting image in a mirror

 

Scene 27

INT. LYNNE’S LIVING ROOM: NIGHT

Lynne and Elizabeth pleasantly chat after dinner. 

LYNNE

I only know two ways to end a residue haunting.  Change the energy by cleansing the space or by destroying the anchoring object.

ELIZABETH

What you think there it's residual, but there is actually a spirit.

LYNNE

I'm not sure what happens.  If they are ready to move on everything happens as it should have in the first place.

ELIZABETH

What if she or he wasn't ready.

LYNNE

Most likely limbo.

ELIZABETH

For how long?

Lynne shrugs.

ELIZABETH (CONT.)

Wouldn't it be easier to just move on?

LYNNE

It's not that easy.

ELIZABETH

It is if you let it be. 

(Walking to the window)

It's beautiful here.

LYNNE

(Studying Elizabeth)

This is my favorite spot.

ELIZABETH

I can see why.   

LYNNE

This whole neighborhood used to belong to the Ramsdell family. James wanted Rachael to have the same luxury she had in New Orleans.   The town just grew around it.

ELIZABETH

It must have been beautiful.

LYNNE

It broke Amanda's heart to sell it.  She had wanted the whole estate to become a combination museum and public park.

ELIZABETH

Hard times sometimes force hard decisions.

 

LYNNE

Amanda sold the land to keep the Bellows House.

ELIZABETH

Why? It's just a house.

LYNNE

It's a shrine to Sara Jane and Randolph's love.  That's why Audrey Bellows wanted to destroy it.  Amanda believes Sara Jane and Randolph will incarnate here.

ELIZABETH

Come on. Even if reincarnation was real, how would she know? 

LYNNE

She says she'll know. I believe her.  But they better make it soon.   Last year we nearly lost her to a stroke. 

ELIZABETH

I think I saw her on my way here.  She gave me the shivers.

LYNNE

She's a strong lady.

LYNNE

(Holding up the empty beer bottle) 

Another?

ELIZABETH

(Still looking out the window)

Please.   

Lynne returns to the kitchen. Elizabeth looks at the backyard. It transforms into the original estate.   RACHAEL RAMSDELL APPEARS. The distance between Elizabeth and Rachael vanishes.  Elizabeth becomes transfixed.

LYNNE

(Carrying two more beers)

What's the matter?

Lynne sees Elizabeth transforms into Sara Jane. She drops the bottles. Elizabeth becomes herself.

ELIZABETH

(nervously)

I should go.

LYNNE

I'll walk with you. 

 

 

Scene 27  Breakdown

        -

        INT. LYNNE'S LIVING ROOM: NIGHT

Character

 

    * Elizabeth

    * Lynne

    * Rachael

 

Special FX

 

    * The distance between Rachael and Elizabeth collapses on itself until the women are standing face to face.

    * Backyard transforms into front of Ramsdell house

 

Props

 

    * Beer

 

Set Dressing

 

    * Books

    * Computer printer

    * Fax machine

    * Family pictures

    * Rocking chair

    * Living room furniture

    * Shelves

    * Virgin Mary statue

    * Radio

    * Television

    * Magazines

    * Knitting

 

Greenery

 

    * Grass, trees, shrubs, garden

 

Sound

 

    * Radio playing

 

Location

 

    * Lynne's House

    * Original Ramsdell estate

    * Living room night

 

Wardrobe

 

    * DAY ONE

 

Optical FX

 

    * Elizabeth transforms into Sara Jane

 

In both examples, the scenes have been broken down into their individual elements.  This information will be used to prepare the spreadsheet that will determine the number of shoot days that will be needed to produce Never Can Say Good-bye.

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