Organizing, Planning and Developing Visual Style in Screen Directing during Pre-Production

The screen director is the originator of the artistic vision and a repository of requisite knowledge and craft needed to bring all the arts and technology of filmmaking together. To be effective, the screen director must master the technology of film and learn how to manipulate the essential elements of the film form across the different stages of production. This paper outlines the processes and personnel needed to help the director achieve his/her duties optimally during the preproduction stage of filmmaking. This study from a participant-observer point of view developed as a result of years of experience in film production and pedagogy, describes practically, the various aspects of pre-production planning. From the shooting plan, which is a practical expression of the director’s vision of the script, to the creative decisions that emanate from that vision through a deep understanding of the theme or subject matter, the director creates a shooting script from the screenplay that is used by the producer and all departmental heads. The actordirector relationship is also very important to film production and this starts from the point of an actor auditioning for a role in a film. The rehearsal, which is the final stage of pre-production, is very crucial to filmmaking and every reasonable director rehearses the cast before principal photography. Working with colour, contrast, tone, pattern, etc., in choosing fabrics and materials, the costume, makeup, hairdressing and props team keys into the overall look of the film, in consultation with the director and the producer. This guide also explains the aspects of the schedule, budget, location, crewing and how it concerns the screen director. Everything about the film is concluded on paper well before production. From screenplay/rewrites, shooting script, floorplans, shooting plans, shot list, design sketches, lighting plots, camera movements and angles, through hiring crew; selecting and testing equipment, to location recce; auditioning and casting etc., a hardworking director makes adequate preparation at the pre-production stage.