PRE PRODUCTION:

A couple of things separate pre production from production proper; first, many projects never get past the pre-production stage as for whatever reason, they are abandoned. Second, because the pre-production often involves very few people who may not even be working full-time on it, pre-production can sometimes occur over a very long time with relatively little expense being incurred.

Once funding has been secured for a project and the production proper commences, the need will then be to complete production as soon as possible.

1  idea/concept

Every production starts with a concept, whether it's a scribbled note on the back of an envelope or a conversation in a pub. This is the germ of the idea that will be expanded to become a film.

 2  treatment

A fuller proposal. This reads like a description of a film as though one has just seen it and is trying to convey it to someone else. It will not include any dialogue or detailed scene breakdowns.

3  script

The script is the first really detailed description of the film. It is quite similar to the scripts used for live action productions.

4  storyboard

Many live action directors like to storyboard, but the majority of live action films are not storyboarded. By contrast, in animation every production is; it is absolutely vital as a means of communication for everyone engaged on a project. Storyboards are broken down into sequences, scenes and or shots. Each scene or shot will consist of one or more frames containing drawings which show how the shot will be staged. Under each drawing is a box in which any dialogue is written, together with sound effects and music plus anything else that will make it plain what is going on. The storyboard's function is to act as a reference for everyone involved in the film process and to make everything as clear as possible. Nothing is in stone, of course, and things like framing and order of shots may well change as the production progresses.

5  design

Obviously, all the elements in animation need to be designed and this part of the process will often be happening at the same time as, or even before the script is developed. The storyboard work cannot be properly done until dialogue and designs are both well advanced.

6  voice recording

The actors' dialogue is recorded. Mostly, today, dialogue will be recorded on to a digital format such as hard disk or DAT. Before the dialogue tracks can be used, decisions need to be taken concerning which takes to use and the dialogue needs to be laid (don't use this term in the States, by the way ! It's mixed or dubbed there). This means that each actor's track is mixed and edited together with the other actors' tracks so that it sounds like one naturally occurring voice track.
Most music is added to a film after animation has been completed. The exception to this is when animation must synchronise to music, (for example a character dances), in which case the music will be recorded first.

7 animatic or leica

Many directors like to film the storyboard, together perhaps with some extra frames as a sort of slideshow presentation of what the final film will look like. It may have a few camera moves, but for the most part will be a succession of static images. This will usually be cut to the dialogue tracks but be minus music and sound effects. It will be cut to the same length as the final film so can be a useful guide to overall pacing.

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