Process

The People

Preparations

Shooting

Polishing

Hope and Glory

Money
After the producer has found a story to use as a basis for a motion picture, the search for financing begins. This process can make or break the movie before filming even begins. Today it costs millions of dollars to make a full-length feature film. Such big budget films are almost always financed by big studios. The amount of money spent on a film depends heavily upon the name value of the stars, director, or subject matter.
Many films are now produced by epople who have no formal connections to the big studios. These independent producers may look to other sources for financial support.
Once financing is found, a budget will be created. The budget is developed by the studio production department. All of the costs of producing the film--from costumes and sets, to the actors' salaries--are estimated. Once the budget is approved by the studio, the producer and idrector can begin making the film.

Polishing the Script
Once the financing and budget have been set up, work will begin on the script. A movie script starts out as a simple idea. As the writing process develops, a scriptwriter will "flesh out" the story and make the characters more detailed and complex. THe job of the scriptwriter is to create a story that is believable to the audience.

Casting the Film
One of the most important steps in filmmaking is the selection of the cast. Many motion pictures are actually built around a popular movie star. Some producers and directors refuse to hire "name" actors, however. They prefer to use unknowns, who require much less money and to showcase new talent on the screen.