The Shoot

Once the money is in place, the roles have been cast, the crew (all those working behind the camera, from lighting to catering, camera operators to drivers), the locations sorted, the legal paperwork (insurance, contracts, permits) completed, and the other 1,000,001+ jobs are done, the film is ready to be made.

So early one morning, the crew will set up the first scene to be shot. They’ll rig the lights, set up the cameras, position the props, and organise the set. Meanwhile the actors will be getting made up and dressed before they arrive on set where the director will then tell them what to do.

And then finally the director will shout, “Action!” and the clapperboard will drop and filming will begin.

A few days later; or perhaps a few weeks later; or occasionally a few months later; or very occasionally indeed a few years later, the director will shout, “Cut!” and then “That’s a wrap!” and the filming is complete. The crew pack up the set, the actors take off their makeup and everyone goes home, exhausted.

And then the Director and the Editor start work on Post Production.