Prep Meetings (FC)

Story Meeting

Required: WR/DR • Optional: PR/PD/DP/ED

This meeting is an opportunity for writers/directors and the Writing & Directing instructors to reflect upon the story. It’s an opportunity for the director to convey their vision and explore it with the faculty. The meeting will be primarily conceptual — more about dreaming than practical logistics — but we will touch on production elements where relevant.

Post the latest draft of the script to the show’s Teams channel at least 24 hours in advance.

Optional: Any visual references that might be helpful.

Optional: Any casting hopes or possibilities.

Director Prepares Meeting

Required: WR/DR

In this meeting, the director of the capstone project will discuss the visual plan for the film with the directing faculty. This meeting will take place a few days after pre-production has started to allow the Director and DP time develop a language and advance the vision of the film. The hope is that by the time the meeting takes place, there will be a robust visual presentation of the film, enabling discussion of key elements of the story and allowing for fruitful conversation about the film.

Required elements:

  • Coverage plans for each scene: e.g., storyboards, overhead diagrams, and any other materials that the director may think are helpful in conveying their vision (e.g., photoboards or previs of key shots).
  • Any rehearsal footage considered relevant.
  • If any locations have changed since the previous meeting, please bring pictures.
  • If any of the actors have changed since the previous meeting, also bring materials for them (reel, pictures, audition, rehearsals.)
  • Any other elements discussed during prep or before, such as: a stunt, a particular element of a scene (prop, animal, etc..), any other visual elements essential for the film for which a visual discussion might be helpful.

Director’s Prep Meeting

Required: DR/PD/PR/DP/1D/2D/AR

This meeting with the Directing and Cinematography instructors will focus on the team’s holistic vision of the film. As these preps take place on Day 2 of pre-production, a final concrete plan isn’t expected. The goal is to make this a practical, productive work meeting to help the team prepare for the film.

Our main areas of focus are team collaboration, communication, and critical thinking among all the crew members. Please be mindful of the allotted time for each department.

  • DIRECTOR CONTENT (10mins)
    • A director’s statement: a one-page document that clearly states the filmmaker’s vision.
    • Casting Choices and Clips of Actor Rehearsals
    • Visual Effects Plan and tests (If Applicable).
  • PRODUCER (10 mins)
    • Give us a broad picture of the status of the film—status on casting, locations, props, etc. Please share with us a slide of tasks accomplished and things still pending, and the path forward you are considering in each pending element.
  • PRODUCTION DESIGNER CONTENT (20mins)
    • Production design plan (locations, costumes, essential props, and all other elements important in the film). All elements should be of real possibilities; it’s less about the intent, more about the attainable. Bring as many elements as you are able that have already been secured (location pictures, costumes, props, etc.).
  • CINEMATOGRAPHER CONTENT (10mins)
    • Visual references that convey ideas behind the film—e.g., mood boards, tone clips, and/or look books. Keep this brief.
    • Scene Workshop – DP presents FC Workshop from Summer B.
  • 1st AD CONTENT (5mins)
    • Preliminary set-up schedule reflecting each day’s call time, shot estimations, lunch, and wrap times.
    • One line set up schedule in preliminary shooting order

Deliverables

  • All of the above items must be delivered in a single “Producer’s Package” named as ##FC_DPrep_Package. This is one presentation document (Canva, Keynote, or PowerPoint) collated by the Producer that is used by all presenters during the prep and is then sent into the show channel by the start of D-Prep. Grading is based on a competent oral presentation for each position.
  • The Director is also required to deliver a Director’s Prep version of the script with numbered scenes and a title page clearly stating this is the “Director’s Prep version”, including show# to the show channel.
  • At the end of the meeting, the 1AD will do an overview of all notes taken for the Faculty to confirm. 24 hours after the meeting, 2AD will send this ACTION PLAN with notes sent to all faculty present at the director’s prep.

THE PRESENTATION FLOW (DAY OF):

Everyone must arrive 15 minutes before the start of prep. Please ensure ALL tech checks have taken place and that materials are ready to present on the main monitor in whichever room is designated. Preps must start on time.

The 1st AD will be tasked with taking notes during the prep, making certain to document faculty concerns and related resolutions.

First:

  • PRODUCER (2 mins): Opens with the name of the show, # of the show, shoot dates, introductions of ATL and the director.

Next:

  • DIRECTOR (10 mins): Reviews the show’s creative vision, including the content listed above.

Then:

  • PRODUCER (10 mins): Presents a comprehensive logistic status report of casting, locations, and any other pertinent challenges to the specifics of the film.

Then:

  • PRODUCTION DESIGNER (20 mins): Reviews the general art direction of the film, including the content listed above

Next:

  • CINEMATOGRAPHER (10 mins): States their two biggest concerns about executing the director’s vision. Presents FC workshop footage from the summer and a brief look book.

Then:

  • 1st AD (5 mins): This section covers the scheduling logistics of the shoot, including the shooting schedule, call times, shot lists (if applicable), and production concerns.,

Over to:

  • FACULTY (45 mins): Q&A topics to be reviewed may include story, casting, PD/VFX/SPX, stunts, intimacy, cine, logistics.

Then;

  • 1st AD (5mins): Presents the resulting action plan, and will subsequently submit the action plan to the show channel.

The presentation will not be considered complete until the action plan is posted in the show channel.