The Complete Film Production Handbook, Fourth Edition (American Film Market Presents)

This book is for working film/TV professionals and students alike. If you're a line producer, production manager, production supervisor, assistant director or production coordinator--the book has everything you'll need (including all the forms, contracts, releases and checklists) to set up and run a production--from finding a production office to turning over delivery elements. Even if you know what you're doing, you will be thrilled to find everything you need in one place. If you're not already working in film production, but think you'd like to be, read the book -- and then decide. If you choose to pursue this career path, you'll know what to expect, you'll be prepared, and you'll be ten steps ahead of everyone else just starting out. New topics and information in the fourth edition include: * Low-budget independent films, including documentaries and shorts * Information specific to television production and commercials * The industry's commitment to go green and how to do it * Coverage of new travel and shipping regulations * Updated information on scheduling, budgeting, deal memos, music clearances, communications, digital production, and new forms throughout * This guide to production management is on every producer's shelf and will save you time, money, and hassles * Hundreds of forms, contracts, and checklists available to print and use on your production * New edition is fully updated with information about low-budget productions and much more! The Complete Film Production Handbook......Page 2 Copyright Page......Page 3 Dedication......Page 4 Companion Website......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Introduction......Page 15 Acknowledgments......Page 18 The Forms in the Book......Page 19 Producers......Page 20 Line Producer......Page 21 Unit Production Manager......Page 22 Production Coordinator......Page 23 Office Space......Page 30 Setting Up......Page 32 Phone Systems......Page 34 The Traveling Production Kit......Page 35 Confidentiality......Page 37 Production Assistants......Page 38 Interns......Page 39 Techie Wanted......Page 41 Staff Meetings......Page 42 Time Management......Page 43 The Files......Page 44 Files for Features, Movies for Television, Cable orInternet......Page 45 Series Files......Page 46 Forms in This Chapter......Page 47 The Production Accountant......Page 52 The Accounting Department......Page 53 Payroll Companies......Page 54 Payroll......Page 55 Vendor Accounts......Page 56 Competitive Bids......Page 57 Check Requests......Page 58 Petty Cash......Page 59 Auto Allowances......Page 60 Additional Taxable Income......Page 61 The Budget......Page 62 Tracking Costs......Page 65 Forms in This Chapter......Page 66 Script Revisions......Page 98 The Breakdown......Page 100 The Board......Page 103 The Schedule......Page 104 Day-Out-of-Days......Page 105 Breakdowns......Page 106 The Evolution of Incentive Programs......Page 108 In Flux......Page 109 What to Consider......Page 110 Tax Credits......Page 111 Conclusion......Page 112 Establishing Company Policies......Page 114 Stages......Page 115 Meetings, Meetings, and More Meetings......Page 116 Cellular Phones, BlackBerrys, Wireless Internet and More......Page 118 Walkie-Talkies......Page 119 Previsualization......Page 120 Week #1 (8 weeks to go)......Page 121 Week #7 (2 weeks to go)......Page 122 Week #8 (final week of prep)......Page 123 More on Logs and Sign-Out Sheets......Page 124 The Cast List......Page 125 The Contact List......Page 129 Starting from Scratch......Page 130 Creating Your Own Production Manual......Page 136 Forms in This Chapter......Page 137 Introduction......Page 144 Errors and Omissions (E&O)......Page 145 Certificates of Insurance......Page 146 Workers' Compensation and Employer's Liability......Page 147 Production Package (Portfolio Policy)......Page 148 Cast Insurance......Page 149 Props, Sets and Scenery; Costumes and Wardrobe; Miscellaneous Rented Equipment; Office Contents......Page 150 Use of Valuables......Page 151 Completion Bonds......Page 152 Submitting Claims......Page 153 Forms in This Chapter......Page 154 The Set......Page 176 The Daily Routine......Page 177 Call Sheets and Production Reports......Page 179 Paperwork from the Set......Page 180 The Script Supervisor's Role......Page 181 Reshoots......Page 182 Daily Wrap......Page 183 On the Lighter Side......Page 184 Forms in This Chapter......Page 185 Vendors......Page 200 Negotiating with Vendors......Page 201 Agents......Page 202 Your Crew......Page 203 Avoid Cutting Off Your Nose to Spite Your Face......Page 204 Politics and Principles......Page 205 #2: A Top Production Exective(who prefers to remain anonymous)......Page 206 A Producer's Mission......Page 207 DGA Deal Memos......Page 208 Forms in This Chapter......Page 209 An Overview of Industry Unions and Guilds......Page 218 Becoming a Union Member......Page 219 Ultra-Low-Budget Agreement......Page 220 Directors Guild of America(DGA)......Page 221 Getting into the DGA......Page 222 Creative Rights......Page 223 The Producers Guild of America (PGA)......Page 224 SAG, DGA and WGA: Forms and Reports......Page 225 Union and Guild Contact Information......Page 226 Follow-Through After an Actor's Been Cast......Page 228 Performer Categories......Page 230 Rest Periods......Page 231 Dubbing (Theatrical Motion Pictures Only)......Page 232 Coogan’s Law......Page 233 Working Hours......Page 234 Taft/Hartley......Page 235 Nudity......Page 236 Screen Actors Guild Offices......Page 237 The Process......Page 280 Background Casting on Location......Page 282 Specifically SAG......Page 283 With the Extra in Mind......Page 284 Forms in This Chapter......Page 285 The Process......Page 288 The American Humane Association......Page 289 Introduction......Page 292 Telephone Numbers......Page 293 Product Placement......Page 294 Television Clips......Page 296 Trailers......Page 297 Public Figures in News Footage......Page 298 Television Programs......Page 299 Forms in This Chapter......Page 300 How Does Your Errors and Omission Insurance Policy Relate to Music Clearance?......Page 322 Public Performing Rights......Page 323 Recordings......Page 324 What Happens If a Song Is Used Without Clearance?......Page 325 May the Title of a Song Be Used as the Title of a Program?......Page 326 If a Record Company Issues a License to Use a Music Video Clip, Will Further Clearances Be Required?......Page 327 How Are Feature Films Licensed?......Page 328 What Happens When Licenses Expire?......Page 329 Safety Meetings......Page 330 General Code of Safe Practices for Production......Page 331 General Rules......Page 332 Hand Tools and Related Equipment......Page 333 Preparing for an Emergency......Page 334 Working Under Hazardous Conditions......Page 335 Visit Locations Prior to First Day of Shooting......Page 336 Forms in This Chapter......Page 337 The Location Manager......Page 342 Filmmaker's Code of Conduct......Page 346 Sample Notification Letter......Page 347 Forms in This Chapter......Page 348 Location Managers on Distant Location......Page 356 The Traveling Production Office......Page 357 Distant Location Checklist......Page 358 Welcome to Location......Page 359 Interacting with Local Communities......Page 360 Form in This Chapter......Page 361 Before You Make Your Plane Reservations......Page 364 Instructions for Crossing into a Foreign Country......Page 367 The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)......Page 368 P Visas......Page 369 H-2B Visas......Page 371 Travel Considerations......Page 372 General Travel Information......Page 373 Housing......Page 374 There’s Always Someone......Page 376 Alternative Housing......Page 377 Forms in This Chapter......Page 378 Shipping Companies......Page 384 General Shipping Guidelines......Page 385 Dangerours Goods......Page 386 Ocean......Page 387 Manifests......Page 388 Shipping Dailies......Page 389 Shipping Animals......Page 390 Returns......Page 391 Sea Containers and Rolling Stock......Page 392 General Customs and Shipping Guidelines......Page 393 Brokers and Freight Forwarders......Page 394 Pro-Forma Shipping Invoices......Page 395 Fees......Page 397 Returns......Page 398 Forms in This Chapter......Page 399 Visual Effects......Page 408 Mechanical Effects......Page 411 TV Directors......Page 414 Overview......Page 415 Airdates......Page 416 A Prep Schedule......Page 417 The HD Factor......Page 418 Reality as a Genre......Page 419 Staff and Crew......Page 420 Half-Hour Sitcoms......Page 421 Specialty Divisions......Page 424 For Starters......Page 425 Rights......Page 426 A Business Plan......Page 427 Financing Models......Page 428 Bank Loan......Page 429 Distribution......Page 430 Some Additional Resources......Page 431 General Suggestions for Low- and Ultra-Low-Budget Films......Page 434 Filming on a Shoestring......Page 436 Some Very Important Notes......Page 438 Short Films......Page 439 Marrying Creativity with Business......Page 440 Film Festivals......Page 441 Direct-to-DVD......Page 442 Documentaries......Page 444 Music for Your Film......Page 446 Forms in This Chapter......Page 447 What Is New Media?......Page 454 Cross-Platforms......Page 455 Studios and Networks......Page 456 Games......Page 457 Marketing in the Digital Age......Page 458 Website Resources......Page 459 Final Thoughts......Page 461 Developing, Bidding and Awarding......Page 462 Differences......Page 464 The Wrap Book......Page 465 Forms in This Chapter......Page 466 Recoverable Assets......Page 468 Getting Started......Page 469 Tentative Screen Credits......Page 470 Short Ends......Page 471 Construction......Page 472 To Submit to Your Production Exec or Parent Company......Page 473 Wrap Checklist......Page 474 Forms in This Chapter......Page 476 Introduction......Page 482 Shooting on Film......Page 483 Shooting Digitally......Page 484 The Director's Cut......Page 485 Post Production Sound......Page 486 Schedules and Workflow......Page 487 Screen Credits......Page 488 Performers – Television Motion Pictures......Page 489 Sample Screen Credits......Page 490 Negative and Picture Elements......Page 494 General Documents......Page 495 Post Production Terminology......Page 496 Film Terms Translated to Their Digital Equivalent......Page 500 Introduction......Page 502 Conserve Energy!......Page 503 The Production Office......Page 504 Craft Service/Catering......Page 505 What Can Be Recycled......Page 506 Green Guidelines......Page 507 Green Links......Page 508 #2: Being Prepared......Page 514 #5: Understanding the Power of Networking......Page 515 #8: Developing a Thick Skin......Page 516 #12: A Winning Attitude......Page 517 #16: The Seven Ps......Page 518 More on Getting Through the Tough Times......Page 519 Getting Work......Page 520 Developing Good Work Habits and Necessary People Skills......Page 522 Easier Said than Done......Page 523 Remembering Why You Got into This Business to Begin With......Page 525 Glossary of Terms......Page 528 Index......Page 536 Variety_Ad......Page 544 Ad_page......Page 545

• Comprehensive step-by-step coverage of the production process
• Both book and companion CD-ROM contain all essential forms for launching a production office
• New edition examines basic accounting procedures and the role of the production team

The Complete Film Production Handbook is a comprehensive step-by-step guide covering the essentials of the business, from checklists and sample pre-production and post production schedules to contracts and company policies relating to insurance, talent management, and even customs and immigration details. The book contains all of the many necessary forms including SAG, DGA, and WGA forms, together with standard production forms, deal memos, and release forms which are found both in the book and on companion CD.

Booknews

A guide to the day-by-day details of film production, that Honthaner has developed from her notebook as she worked for several companies on many films over the years. Among the topics are pre-production tasks, establishing company policy, insurance, setting up files, dealing with the talent, music clearance, visas and customs, and a little bit of post production. Includes reproducible forms for every conceivable situation. Acidic paper. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

The production team and who does what The production office Basic accounting From script to schedule Incentives Pre-production Insurance requirements During the shoot Building strong industry relationships : making good deals and navigating the politics Deal memos Unions and guilds Principal talent Background talent There's an animal in my film Clearances and releases A guide to music clearance Safety Locations Distant location Foreign locations Travel and housing Shipping Effects Specifically television Independent filmmaking Practical low-budget filmmaking New media Commercial production Wrap Post production overview Greener filmmaking Industry survival tips.