Top 6 Things That Go Into Making A Movie!

Watching a movie on the big screen or the craze of Netflix and Chill: the perfect get-aways on weekends! There are movies that help with your insomnia, and then there are others who don’t let you sleep at all.

Nonetheless, all movies are a result of hard work and a lot of ideation and creativity. Let’s understand the top 6 things that go into making a movie!

1. Characterization

Characterization in a story refers to how a character evolves within a story. The character is introduced to the audience with a general introduction. Then the character moves on to interact with others and reacts to different situations. This way, the audience understands how the character thinks and reacts. The character then faces situations that help him evolve to become a better human being and work for the greater good.

For a very long time, movies were plot-centric. The storyline always focused on the stream of events more than character development. But the new world brought with it humanization- and the focus gradually shifted towards the characters. The most successful movies focus primarily on character development and revolve the movie plot around it. As the audience realizes that the plot is affected by the actions of their character, they begin relating to them. That’s where catharsis happens. The audience places themselves into the shoes of the character and relates to them. This association makes them like the character and develop positive feelings towards the movie!

2. Camera

There are many aspects involved in creating a visually aesthetic video or movie. The camera is a fundamental element in this process. Camera enhances the backdrop. If it is a beautiful, mesmerizing location, a 360-degree camera movement covers all of it and gives the shot a grandeur look. When it’s a horror movie in a grotesque location, slow dolly-in gives the audience a feeling of gradually approaching a place of an object and highlights the spookiness.

3. Sound and Music

A horror movie might not give you goosebumps if you watch it on mute or a movie might get extremely boring if there are no situation-specific songs inserted in between.

Sound engages the audience by delivering the right message, evoking an emotional response. When sound, music, or even silence are inserted at the right place in the right amount, they elevate the mood of the movie exponentially.

Sound cannot make up for shabby animation, bad acting or improper camera shots, but when it comes to creating an overall experience, sometimes sound plays a more important role than the video. It connects the audience to the emotion in the movie and enhances the video.

4. Production

This stage is divided into 3 parts:

    a. Pre-production

It’s where all the planning takes place before the camera rolls. From the script to the location to the costumes, all preliminary work takes place in this stage. Budgets are drawn up and the requirements are decided based on the resources required.

    b. Casting

After all the groundwork has been established, the producers start hiring the cast and the crew for the project. The cast includes all the actors and actresses in leading and supporting roles, and the crew is made up of the singers, music composers, field assistants, line managers, production managers and production assistants, spot boys, makeup artists, dance teachers, body doubles and cameramen. The crew members send in their cover letters and resumes and the producers screen to choose the best from them. To know more about what goes into cover letters and resumes, you can visit Resume Points.

    c. Production

Roll camera, action!

This is the most integral and expensive aspect of the entire process. Props are brought in, the cast and the crew travel to the shooting location, food and drinks are brought in, the real work happens, and everyone is paid.

5. Editing

Right after the shooting ends, the footage is reviewed, assembled and edited to make it a single chunk with no mistakes. Here’s where the directors and the visual effects, music and sound teams come together and make amends wherever required. This editing ensures that the final piece is flawless and good to reach the audience.

6. Crew

While the audience mainly appreciated the cast, producers and the directors when they like a movie, little credit is given to the crew members. The cameramen are who take visually pleasing shots, the music assistants are the ones who blend in the perfect music, the production assistants ensure a smooth production journey and the makeup artists create magic with their brush. To summarize, they are the ones who give life to the movie.

Now that you know all about the tiniest of elements that go into a movie, it’ll be easier to distinguish good sound from the bad, plot-focus from character-focus and the work of the crew members!