The Ultimate Checklist for Filmmaking

Filmmaking is a creative process; like any creative process, it’s easy to forget the more practical things. Without the right direction, creativity can take you so far off track that you are no longer making the film you set out to make. The exciting parts of filmmaking are writing your script, seeing it come to life before your eyes, and seeing how audiences respond. People get into filmmaking to share their art and to push boundaries, not to think about practicalities like distribution and budgeting. So, we thought we’d make it easier for you by putting together the ultimate checklist for filmmaking. If you’re like most aspiring filmmakers, your budget will be pretty tight, so we’ve added some tips to help you keep your project budget-friendly.

Come Up With a Great Idea For a Film

This one sounds a bit silly, we know!

But a bad idea will never come good, no matter how many times you rewrite it.

For example, let’s say your concept is a sitcom pilot about monkeys who work undercover for the FBI.

Your family might tell you it sounds great, but they will be the only ones.

The point is that you can waste months or more trying to correct something that will never work.

Then you end up ditching it to start over again anyway!

When you have an idea, consider a few things.

Is it possible? Writing for a major Hollywood studio might come with very few restrictions, but going at it alone is very different.

We can help you sound like a Hollywood movie on a tight budget, but the rest takes some work.

If you have a killer idea for the next big superhero movie, that’s awesome!

But think about how that will look when your special effects max out at swinging your Lego man in a cape past your camera phone.

Technology allows us to do so much from a laptop, especially with the influx of AI models, but know your limits.

Creativity knows no bounds; unfortunately, reality does.

In other words, make something that looks like you meant it, not sub-standard, because you aimed higher than your tech and ability allowed.

Did you know that AI can even help you to fine-tune your script?

Is there an audience for it? It might interest you, but if your concept isn’t compelling to others, no one will watch.

Has it been done before? If your idea has been covered before, it’s not necessarily a deal-breaker.

It’s rare to find a genuinely unique idea these days.

However, you must find a new approach that makes an old idea interesting again.

Build your project on solid foundations, and you can’t go wrong.

But remember, Mafia Monkeys was our idea first!

first!

Develop Your Idea Into a Screenplay

An idea is just the start; it needs structure before you can move forward.

This process is when you arrange your idea into distinct sections that make up a complete story.

Screenplays generally follow the three-act structure, which goes as follows.

Act 1 – Setup

Act 2 – Confrontation

Act 3 – Resolution

You can think of it as beginning, middle, and end in simple terms.

Act 2 is the most important and the longest, usually taking up around half of the duration of the film.

You will need to consider the total length of your film and how much of that time you want to allocate to each act.

Allocating time well is a must; if any part of your film seems rushed or drags on too long, viewers will lose interest.

Make sure you learn more about the three-act structure.

That takes care of how you shape your story, but how you put it down on paper is just as important.

If you don’t format your screenplay correctly, there is every chance it won’t be read.

Remember that the people you want to read your screenplay will likely receive many, many submissions

Have a look at these screenplay format guidelines.

Lock in your Script

Whether you are writing a 10-minute short or a feature film, creative works are always subject to change.

You don’t realize the need to change certain scenes until you shoot and watch the playback.

That doesn’t mean it’s okay to start with an unfinished or thin script and make it up as you go; that won’t end well.

The integral parts of your story must be locked in, like the protagonist, the leading players, and the structure.

By this point, your story should have a clear timeline, so any major plot points should be identifiable in your screenplay.

If you have the critical aspects of your story in order, it’s easy to make small changes on the fly during filming.

For example, you might decide a particular scene will work better at night rather than during daytime.

Slight prop or dialogue changes are also common.

Not everything you see on the screen was written in a script.

Think about even the most basic tracking shots and everything the camera passes.

Everything you see in the filming environment can serve a purpose.

Having a locked script means you can go deeper than the main subject and plan secondary visuals.

It also allows you to plan your budget more accurately because you’ve accounted for all major requirements.

Distribution and Marketing

Assuming a relatively small budget, we imagine your film won’t hit cinemas nationwide.

That doesn’t mean you don’t have options; you should start thinking about how you will get your film out there.

You can stream your film exclusively online, with easy access to platforms like YouTube,  Vimeo, etc.

Those examples are just a couple of the best platforms for indie filmmakers.

Many online platforms are free to upload, with millions of potential viewers waiting.

The hard part is convincing viewers to choose your video over the millions of others available.

That’s why identifying your target audience is crucial; otherwise, any marketing budget you have will go straight down the drain.

Let’s say you are making a film about skateboarding; your audience isn’t likely to be people over 70 years old. (Possible but not likely)

Identify the people most likely to relate to your film through age, gender, location, interests, etc.

Doing proper research before spending on social media advertising could save you a lot of money.

It will never be a perfect process, but anything that can help you maximize your reach is worth the effort.

There are then huge subscription-based streaming services like Netflix, but getting your film on those services is a different game altogether.

Whether you want to submit a screenplay or a finished film to a service like Netflix, you must go through a licensed literary agent, producer, or executive who has a working relationship with the platform.

So it’s not impossible, but it’s a tall order, especially for a first-time filmmaker.

It may be that submitting to platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video comes after you’ve put your film out and got a good response, or if you are fortunate – they approach you.

As a filmmaker, there’s nothing quite like a theatrical release and seeing your name up in lights, or at least your film.

Another option is to submit your film for consideration to independent movie theaters.

This process can be quite lengthy, so if you plan to do it, make sure you allow enough time in your schedule.

We won’t go too deep into submitting to movie theaters because a quick Google search will tell you if and when theater groups accept submissions.

For cases where it’s a single small movie theater rather than a chain, it wouldn’t do any harm for you to pop in for a face to face chat.

If you can’t get your film into any movie theaters, but you want a public showing, you haven’t reached the end of the road yet.

You could arrange a screening yourself in partnership with a different type of venue.

For example, if it was a skateboarding film, an outdoor screening at a skate park could be perfect.

If the venue doesn’t have a license to show films in public, you will need to pay for one yourself.

So factor that cost into your budget and any other event expenses you may incur.

For many new filmmakers, the dream is to have their film shown at prestigious film festivals worldwide.

It’s something that you could aim for before or after your original release, but there are some do’s and don’ts when submitting to film festivals.

The main thing you need to have is a definite distribution path for your film.

Don’t rely on something that might not happen, have a solid plan, and if something bigger comes along, that’s great.

As for marketing, we mentioned social media ads already, and that’s probably where most of your focus should be.

Here are a few things you can do to ensure people hear about your film.

Understand your audience

We already touched on this one, but it’s the foundation of any marketing campaign.

An excellent way to find your target audience is to look for similar films and find out who watched them, who shared it online, etc.

Seek out influencers, groups, and publications within your target audience

Depending on your target demographic, this can include social media, printed publications, or a mix of both.

There are always people better placed to reach a specific audience.

Find them, and work out a deal to share your content.

Make an awesome trailer

So much is shared on social media, and people scroll past most of it.

That means to make people pay attention, you need to wow them!

Put together a stylish, attention-grabbing trailer without giving everything away.

Show enough highlights to make the viewers have questions that only watching the entire film can answer.

Take shareable photos

This tip is similar to making a great trailer.

It’s an excellent idea to photo-document the entire process as best you can.

You’ll end up with some great shots for your collection and, more importantly, behind-the-scenes stuff for social media sharing.

It all helps to create a buzz before release.

Write a clear synopsis

Whether it’s for your film’s Facebook page or a press pack, make sure your synopsis is engaging and clear.

Don’t waste space with stuff that doesn’t add value; give people a little insight into your film that will leave them wanting more.

Budget for promotion

An obvious thing to say, but it’s one of the most overlooked items in anyone’s budget.

Allocate Your Budget Wisely

Assuming a reasonably small budget again, you must make sound decisions when spending your cash.

Don’t blow half your budget on the latest special effects for a 30-second scene and leave yourself with poor video and sound quality due to insufficient funds.

Before you get too far ahead of yourself, make an expenditure list, including everything you need to complete your film.

If you locked in your script, you should be able to make a pretty comprehensive list.

Every project will have different requirements, but here are some common examples.

• A camera (or cameras)
• Microphones
• Audio Recorder
• Tripod
• Lights/Reflectors
• A Computer
• Editing Software (Unless you are paying a professional video editor)
• Talent Fees (On and off-screen)
• Props And Special Effects
• Distribution and Marketing
• General Production Costs – Travel, licenses, permits, etc.

For some of you, not everything on that list will apply; others might have a much longer list.

Whatever is on your list, you should account for everything so you aren’t caught short down the line.

Proper financial planning also lets you stretch your budget further, enabling you to be more creative.

If possible, it’s also a good idea to put some money aside as a contingency fund.

Buy the Right Equipment for Your Film

This one falls under the budgeting umbrella, but there are some areas where you can save money if you are smart.

Buying a Camera for Your Film

One potential pitfall at this stage is that you watch an episode of CSI, and the 20 camera angles in 5 seconds make you think you need multiple cameras.

Next thing you know, you’ve got multiple cameras and no money left.

Think about what you need, not what you think you want; this decision will be vital for your film and your pocket.

In simple terms, don’t buy two cameras if you can do it with one.

We have a great guide on buying the best budget camera for filmmaking. That’s an excellent place to start.

Get the Sound Right

The fact is you can’t make a film without a camera, so that’s the most vital piece of equipment on your list.

However, it’s a fact that poor sound quality puts viewers off more than poor video quality, within reason, of course.

We’ve all watched a movie with less than perfect video quality.

Have you ever sat through an entire film when you couldn’t hear the dialogue properly?

Most probably not!

Here are a few types of microphones to consider.

Shotgun Microphones

If you aren’t sure what a shotgun microphone is, they are those slim, cool-looking ones.

Besides looking cool, they do a few very useful things.

As the name suggests, they are point-and-shoot directional microphones, but they don’t fire the cleanest shot, like a shotgun; they pick up some surrounding noise.

If you are recording dialogue, you end up with a mix of vocals and ambient noise.

That ambient noise makes the viewer feel like they are right there in the action.

It can be anything from traffic in the background to simple room noise like a refrigerator humming in the corner of the room.

Some ambient noise needs to be enhanced in post-production.

Shotgun microphones are great for recording foley, too.

Video Microphones

Video microphones are essentially shotgun microphones that attach to your camera.

We typically use them as an upgrade from basic camera audio but by no means perfect quality.

In certain situations, a low-budget film, shot in the right conditions (indoors), might get away with using a video mic as your only shotgun mic, especially if you work some magic in editing.

But even if you have a high-quality shotgun mic, a video mic is still worth having.

It creates a better reference track than your camera alone would, making it easier to sync the final audio and video later.

Lavalier Microphones

Lav microphones are those little mics you see clipped onto shirts and jackets on talk shows and things like that.

They are commonly referred to as lapel mics for that reason.

These microphones are crucial for capturing clean dialogue.

Lav mics are small enough to conceal under a shirt and can be wireless, too.

Just remember a wireless mic needs a wireless audio recorder, which might add to your spending.

For some scenes, you could go old school with a wired lav mic going to a small recorder in your subject’s pocket; the audience will never know, don’t worry.

Capturing great audio for your film will take a combination of these microphones; this isn’t where you want to cut corners.

Accessories

The last thing you want to see is the camera shaking like The Blair Witch Project when it should be stationary.

It pains me to say that some of you may be too young to remember The Blair Witch Project; it’s a mockumentary horror film where kids run around the woods with a handheld camcorder.

You’ll need a tripod if you want a nice, steady video.

Tripods can be very cheap or expensive, but unless you’re filming with a $20,000 camera, a reasonably cheap tripod will do!

A decent tripod will not only set your camera in a steady position/height but will also allow you to rotate the camera very smoothly to follow your subject.

A handheld camera stabilizer is another excellent accessory that won’t break the bank.

You will undoubtedly be doing some freehand shooting if it’s a small-budget film.

A good camera stabilizer will make a huge difference and make holding the camera much more comfortable.

If you are flying solo as the director, cameraman, and sound engineer, a stabilizer is handy for mounting gear like an audio recorder.

You can monitor your audio levels as you shoot.

You can pick up a track dolly slider for a bit more lateral movement for your tripod.

Again, this is something that can be relatively inexpensive.

Let There Be Lighting

Lighting is tricky because it’s both a practical and creative decision.

On the practical side, it’s an area where you can save money.

You don’t need Hollywood studio lights to make your shot look good; you need decent lights used correctly.

Revert to your script.

You might not have exact locations yet, but you should clearly know what kind of area your main scenes will take place in.

This info should help you decide what kind of lights and reflectors (outdoors) you need.

Then, you can get the lighting rig you need at the lowest possible price.

We have an awesome guide on lighting in film that you need to check out.

Editing Software

If you like to control every aspect of your film, as most creatives do, you’ll want to get some good editing software.

Alternatively, you hand your project over to a video editor and pay them to do it.

The problem is that it’s tempting to micromanage and complicate the whole process rather than trust them thoroughly with your baby.

Editing software can be pretty expensive, but the good news is that most developers, like Adobe, now offer their software on a monthly subscription basis.

Adobe Premiere Pro is an industry-standard video editing platform, and we’ve put together a beginner’s guide for you.

Casting the Right Talent for Your Film

Commonly, the talent in small-budget films is friends, relatives, and associates of the filmmaker.

In this case, you should save some money on fees!

However, we must insist that you treat your talent fairly.

As a low-budget film, the cast will likely be small, giving you more opportunities to develop their characters on screen.

The downside is that the characters have to ring true more than ever because they have fewer people to shoulder the weight of the story with them.

While free acting from friends and family sounds fantastic, you need to find the right people for the parts, free or not.

Getting some help behind the camera can be important, too.

You can also rope your less experienced family or friends into holding a mic boom, for example.

Consider getting an experienced sound engineer if it’s not one of your strong points.

You might even want to consider bringing on board a camera operator if you want to step back and take it all in as the director.

Who you bring in behind the scenes will depend on your approach to filmmaking as well as your budget.

Here’s a tip to save some money on talent, and this goes for cast and crew.

In the creative world, it’s normal for people to exchange services rather than money.

Find talented people who believe in your project and would benefit from involvement.

Providing a platform for them to showcase their ability could be the perfect exchange for their services, and everyone furthers their career at the same time.

As a footnote, we suggest that doing things yourself is a great way to save money, but stretching yourself too thin is a sure way to fail, so be sensible.

Location, Location, Location

So you have your script, equipment, and talent; now you need a location or several.

Again, your script should already be dictating the type of location for each critical scene.

You need to find the exact locations now and ensure they are available.

Indoor scenes should be more straightforward without worrying about weather conditions or random interactions.

If you have access to houses/apartments through friends or family that work for your film, that’s ideal.

That should cover a lot of your indoor shots, but if you need different types of properties, commercial or retail, partnering with people is a good option.

You need to think outside the box sometimes; you’ll be surprised how willing some people are to help with a special thank you in the credits.

The worst they can do is say no!

Shooting outdoors is trickier; apart from weather conditions, you need to consider how populated the area is at certain times.

If you want to shoot a scene on the Las Vegas strip at night, you’ll probably have every second passersby waving at your camera.

The same goes for any busy public area, so the ideal location isn’t always perfect when you get there.

That means you might need to make sacrifices to find a suitable location where you won’t be disturbed.

If you’re filming in a public area, bringing some people to act as buffers to guide people safely around your scene is a good idea.

Remember that if you do that, you appealing to people’s good nature, so do it politely.

Another issue with public locations is that you may need a permit to film, so always check with the local authorities to ensure you have everything in order.

If you are on private property, then, of course, get consent from the owner.

The final thing to consider regarding your locations is continuity.

Don’t shoot half a scene in the rain and finish it the next day with sunshine.

Similarly, don’t film a scene in some obscure location that looks amazing if it doesn’t make sense for the story and the other locations.

Choose the Perfect Music for Your Film

There are different opinions on how and when you should think about music for your film.

Some people will tell you to choose the main themes/tracks once you created characters and plot points, and others will tell you not to think about music until you finish filming.

It should be a combination of both; you should be thinking about music from day one.

As you start writing characters and scenes, you’ll get ideas about what kind of music will work.

These ideas don’t need to be exact; they could be as simple as saying you think a scene will suit a chilled piano instrumental.

If you do that, you’ll soon have a pretty clear template matching scenes to styles of music.

Once you start to go into production, you can develop those ideas more by browsing our library of incredible royalty-free music.

We have everything from in-your-face action to elevator music you only notice when it’s gone.

It’s the perfect resource to start shortlisting tracks for each scene; when you have footage, you can use our exclusive Video Preview Tool to make sure you choose the ideal match.

At this stage, you can tweak ideas from your original template, and it’s not unheard of that a particular piece of music will convince you to make a slight change to your visual.

So, as we said, think about music right from the start, but don’t set anything in stone.

It has to be an ongoing development of original ideas to combine the two creative elements: video and music.

It’s powerful, so check out our guide on finding the perfect music for your video for inspiration.

Create A Production Schedule

Any project will run more smoothly if planned well from day one.

Even though we are discussing a production schedule, it’s also a good idea to schedule your pre-production tasks like casting, scouting locations, etc.

Scheduling rehearsal times is something that can cause unnecessary problems.

Consider everyone’s schedule, which means your cast and crew, not just your own, and arrange a timetable that suits everyone.

When scheduling your shooting days, don’t forget to think about the availability of your locations.

Don’t expect to shoot everything chronologically like it is in your screenplay.

Get your filming done when locations are available and the conditions are right.

For example, don’t schedule two days of outdoor scenes when the weather report warns of a storm on the way.

Similarly, if you get the perfect weather conditions to shoot your outdoor scenes, don’t spend the time filming indoor scenes that you could do anytime.

Plan as much as you can. If you do that, it will be easier to move things around if any obstacles arise.

That’s about enough from us, so get started, and remember us when you are a big-time filmmaker.