3. Production / Shooting Stage

When the film reaches the shooting stage the shooting script is developed into a cross plot. It is a very elaborate schedule of each day’s work, which shows the dates for shooting each scene, its location, cast, equipment needed, etc. More crew will be recruited at this stage, such as the property master, script supervisor, assistant directors, stills photographer, picture editor, and sound editors. These are just the most common roles in filmmaking; the production office will be free to create any unique blend of roles to suit the various responsibilities during the production of a film.

The settings and details for every scene in the film are provided by the art director and his department: set designers, set decorators, set dressers, construction manager, property master, graphic designers, and a number of craftsmen (carpenters, painters, etc.) The art director discusses the type, size and shape of each set with the producer and other directors. He also collaborates with the location manager, hair stylists, makeup stylists and the special effects supervisor to make sure that all elements of a film are well organized.

The lighting of the set, the position of the camera, shots for each scene and the sequence of shots are determined and supervised by the director of photography who heads the camera crew. Camera crew consists of several people including chief electrician called gaffer who is assisted by best boy. Their group is in charge of lighting equipment. Key grip supervises grips. Cameramen operate cameras. First Assistant Camera (1st AC) is responsible for keeping camera in focus. He is helped by clapper-boy who also operates clapboard at the beginning of each take.

The costume department is responsible for the wardrobe of the cast, while make-up and hairdressing experts attend to the appearance of the actors and prepare them for shooting.

The film is shot in a studio and on location. Location shooting is the practice of filming in an actual setting rather than on a sound stage or back lot. Before filming on location it is generally wise to conduct a recce. Most films do a bit of both location shooting and studio shoots, although low budget films usually do more location shooting than bigger budget films because the cost of shooting at some place that already exists is much cheaper than creating that place from scratch.

During the shooting stage it is common for several members of the film crew including the director, cinematographer, editor and others to view and discuss the daily rushes. It allows to make sure there are no technical problems, the director is satisfied with the actors’ performances and a scene has been shot from all the necessary angles.

cross plot – календарно-постановочный план

elaborate schedule – подробный график

to recruit – нанимать на работу

property master – реквизитор

script supervisor (Am) / continuity-girl (Br) – помощник режиссера по сценарию,

ведущий запись съёмки

stills photographer – фотограф

to suit – соответствовать

responsibilities – служебные обязанности

set decorator – декоратор

set dresser – оформитель декораций на съёмочной площадке

construction manager – директор цеха декоративно-технических сооружений

graphic designer – художник-оформитель

carpenter – плотник

painter – маляр

gaffer – бригадир осветителей

best boy – помощник бригадира осветителей

key grip – старший рабочий на съёмочной площадке

First Assistant Camera / 1st AC – первый ассистент оператора

attend to smth, smb – заниматься чем-либо, уделять внимание кому-либо

sound stage – павильон с возможностью записи звука, звуковой павильон

back lot – съемочная площадка на открытом воздухе

recce = reconnaissance = location hunting= location sc – выбор натуры

daily rushes = dailies = rushes – отснятый за день материал

angle – ракурс, угол съёмки

Exercise 22. Match the words to make collocations.

3. PRODUCTION STAGE

1. reach A. lot

2. develop the shooting script B. from scratch

3. recruit C. of several people

4. suit D. with other crew members

5. collaborate E. more crew

6. sequence F. the shooting stage

7. determine G. a camera

8. consist H. stage

9. operate I. daily rushes

10. attend J. of shots

11. sound K. budget

12. back L. into a cross plot

13. conduct M. the position of the camera

14. low / big N. clapboard

15. create O. to the actors’ appearance

16. view P. a recce

Q. various responsibilities

Exercise 23. Read the text below. Find passive structures and learn the words and word

combinations in bold.