Presentation from Post | Production World held at NAB 2016. In the summer of 2014, a crew of first-time film makers went to Iceland to shoot "Bokeh", an independent sci-fi feature film. Some had production experience, others were raw beginners. All learned a lot about the process of making feature films. Doug will share key lessons he learned learned from pre-production, principal photography, post-production and paperwork; lots of paperwork. Originally entitled "11 Lessons From Producing My First Feature".

1. FIRST FEATURE
LESSONS LEARNED

2. DOUG DAULTON
Writer, Director, Producer
doug@verge.pictures
@dougdaulton
@vergepictures

3. THE FILM

4. BOKEH
Independent Feature
“Twilight Zone” Drama
Shot in Iceland
Principal Photography = 6 weeks
Budget under $1m
Used Iceland Incentives
THEFILM

5. BOKEH
PREVIEW

6. THEFILM When I was a kid, there was no
collaboration; it's you with a
camera bossing your friends
around. But as an adult,
filmmaking is all about
appreciating the talents of the
people you surround yourself
with and knowing you could
never have made any of these
films by yourself.
- Steven Spielberg

7. CAST & CREW
Cast
United States (2)
Icelandic (3)
Crew
United States (12)
Icelandic (6)
Post
United States (6)
THEFILM

8. ASSUMPTIONS
GREAT SCRIPT
LIMITED BUDGET
LIMITED EXPERIENCE
LOTS OF GRIT

9. CHANCES ARE, YOUR
FIRST FEATURE WILL
NOT MAKE YOU RICH
FIRSTFILM
HAVE OTHER GOALS

10. OTHER GOALS
Improve your craft
Learn the business
Make your best film
Use it as a calling card
Build a crew
Build a network
Get to your 2nd film
FIRSTFILM

11. BE PREPARED IN
CASE YOUR FILM
“BREAKS OUT”
FIRSTFILM
MAY FORTUNE SMILE

12. PRE-PRODUCTION

13. OWN THE BUDGET

14. A FILM IS A LIVING THING
Talent = Soul
Crew = Heart
Script = Skeleton
Set = Flesh
Money = Blood
OWNTHEBUDGET

15. WHO “WRITES THE CHECK”?
Decide Early
Team Advises
UPM Executes
Debit Cards, Not Checks.
Make no mistake, a film
is a business venture.
OWNTHEBUDGET

16. MAKE SMART
CHOICES QUICKLY
OWNTHEBUDGET
TIME IS MONEY

17. AVOID BUDGET CREEP
Everything CAN require
more money and time.
Build a budget that can
realize the vision at the
lowest cost.
REMEMBER: You still have
to sell the film.
OWNTHEBUDGET

18. MOBILE GREEN ROOM
A VALUE EXAMPLE
OWNTHEBUDGET

19. CONTINGENCIES
Avoid temptation to spend
whenever possible.
Keep funds in reserve
because s*#t happens.
Have an initial budget that
lets you finish the film.
OWNTHEBUDGET

20. EGGS & BACON
A VALUE EXAMPLE
OWNTHEBUDGET

21. REPUTATIONS MATTER

22. REPUTATION IS …
Relevant Experience
Compatible Goals
Work Ethic
Attitude & Approach
REPUTATIONSMATTER

23. IT MATTERS WHEN …
Raising Funds
Attracting Partners
Attracting Crew
Winning Deals
REPUTATIONSMATTER

24. NO REPUTATION?
Be On Time
Pay On Time
Respect Your Team
Respect Your Partners
Pick Your Battles
Volunteer
REPUTATIONSMATTER

25. FUNDING

26. THE RAISE
Meaningful networks
Realistic budget
Strong pitch deck
Clarify risks & reward
Have contract in hand
FUNDING

27. KICKSTARTER
No Track Record
Better “in the can”
Supplemental funds
Build an audience
Established Audience
Part of Initial Raise
FUNDING

28. 4 KEY HIRES

29. ENTERTAINMENT ATTORNEY
4KEYHIRES
Value Added:
Counseled us on contracts.
Connected us to resources.
Prepared our sales package.
Good contracts equal
good relationships.

30. CASTING DIRECTOR
Value Added:
Believed in our script.
Guided us through casting.
Found us great talent.
Helped us see the talent.
4KEYHIRES

31. FIRST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
4KEYHIRES
Value Added:
Held our hands.
Kicked our asses.
Kept us on schedule.
Managed our ambition.
Grew us as filmmakers.

32. LOCAL CREW
4KEYHIRES
Vintage Pictures
Our Local “Fixers”
Arnar Kristjánsson
Location Manager
Einar Pétursson
Student Grip

33. PRODUCTION PLANNING

34. SCOUTING = PRODUCTION VALUE
PRODUCTIONPLANNING
Get on the ground.
Get a local fixer.
Know what is essential.
Need to haves
Nice to haves
Be prepared to pivot

35. SCRIPT BREAKDOWN
PRODUCTIONPLANNING
Scouting = Ideas.
Consolidate locations.
Multi-use locations.
Build lists.
Shooting days.
Shot lists.
Assets lists.

36. BUILD A TEAM

37. USING BREAKDOWNS
BUILDATEAM
Crew requirements vary
based on scheduled shots.
Manage cast/crew budget
with optimized schedule.
Armed with optimized
schedule, hire crew.

38. CREW SELECTION
BUILDATEAM
Inner Circle
Shared experience
Shared goals
Proven skill
Trusted Referrals
From inner circle
From local fixer

39. THERE WILL BE VFX
BUILDATEAM
Subtle VFX are required
present in almost every
film, including yours.
Bring VFX supervisor in
as early as possible.
Introduce VFX Supervisor
and Cinematographer.

40. INTERNS
BUILDATEAM
Skills can be learned.
Work ethic can be
illustrated.
Attitude cannot be
taught (easily).
Motivation is key.
Free still has a cost.

41. TEAM MANAGEMENT
BUILDATEAM
Manage your own ego.
Listen, then speak.
Let them do their jobs.
Feed them well; in body
and in spirit.
Use “Velvet Hammer”
only when required.

42. TONE & TEMPO

43. SET THE TONE
TONE&TEMPO
All comms matter.
Email, text, phone
The Decision Tree
Who makes what calls?
Clear assignments
Establish a feedback
loop for everyone.

44. THE DECISION TREE
TONE&TEMPO
Director(s)
Actors, Story & Action
First Assistant Director
Schedule & Tempo
Producers
Budget & Logistics

45. KICKOFF MEETING
ESTABLISH TONE & TEMPO
TONE&TEMPO

46. OWN YOUR EGO
LEADERSHIP
TONE&TEMPO

47. PRODUCTION

48. PLAN THE WORK,
WORK THE PLAN
PRODUCTION
IT’S A MARATHON

49. KEEP AN OPEN &
FLEXIBLE MIND
PRODUCTION
SERENDIPITY

50. AN ARMY RUNS ON
ITS STOMACH
PRODUCTION
CARE OF CAST & CREW

51. CHECK KEY SHOTS
THREE TIMES
PRODUCTION
FIX IT IN CAMERA

52. DON’T COUNT ON
CLEARANCE
PRODUCTION
LEGAL

53. BAD CONTINUITY
BREAKS BUDGETS
PRODUCTION
DONT RUSH

54. WHERE POSSIBLE,
GRAB WILD LINES
PRODUCTION
ROOM TONE

55. SOMETIMES, AN
EAR IS ALL IT TAKES
PRODUCTION
LEADERSHIP

56. POST

57. PLAN THE WORK,
WORK THE PLAN
POST
IT’S A MARATHON

58. ASSIGN A POST
SUPERVISOR
POST
ACCOUNTABILITY

59. DEFINE CLEAR
DELIVERABLES
POST
CONFORMATION

60. ESTABLISH A POST
REVIEW SYSTEM
POST
FRAME.IO

61. MAINTAIN COMMS
POST
ACCOUNTABILITY

62. MAINTAIN AN OPEN
& FLEXIBLE MIND
POST
S#@T HAPPENS

63. OUTSIDE CRITIQUE
CAN BE CRUCIAL
POST
IFP LABS

64. PREPARE TO KILL
YOUR DARLINGS
POST
THE EDIT CAN HURT

65. FILM MARKETS

66. UNDERSTAND THE
ROLE OF FESTIVALS
FILMMARKETS
HOW CAN THEY SERVE?

67. UNDERSTAND THE
FESTIVAL CIRCUIT
FILMMARKETS
WHAT DO THEY WANT?

68. WHO WILL HELP
YOU SELL THE FILM
FILMMARKETS
SALES AGENTS

69. SHOW BUSINESS,
NOT SHOW FRIENDS
FILMMARKETS
CONTRACTS BUILD AND
PROTECT RELATIONSHIPS

70. SELL YOUR FILM,
GROW AN AUDIENCE
FILMMARKETS
REMEMBER YOUR GOALS

71. COMMUNITY

72. CRABS IN A
BARREL
COMMUNITY
IGNORE THE HATERS

73. MOST CREATIVES
ARE NOT CRABS
COMMUNITY
YOUR SUPPORT SYSTEM

74. MENTORS WILL
SAVE YOUR ASS
COMMUNITY
SOMETIMES, FROM YOURSELF

75. PAY IT FORWARD,
BE A MENTOR
COMMUNITY
SAVE SOMEONE’S ASS

76. SUCCESS BREEDS
OPPORTUNITY
COMMUNITY
REPUTATIONS MATTER

77. CALL YOURSELF A
FILMMAKER
COMMUNITY
OWN IT

78. DOUG DAULTON
Writer, Director, Producer
doug@verge.pictures
@dougdaulton
@vergepictures