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The Complete FilmProduction HandbookFourth EditionEve Light HonthanerAMSTERDAM BOSTON HEIDELBERG LONDON NEW YORK OXFORDPARIS SAN DIEGO SAN FRANCISCO SINGAPORE SYDNEY TOKYOFocal Press is an imprint of Elsevier

Focal Press is an imprint of Elsevier30 Corporate Drive, Suite 400, Burlington, MA 01803, USAThe Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford, OX5 1GB, UK#2010 Eve Light Honthaner. Published by Elsevier INC. All rights reserved.No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronicor mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system,without permission in writing from the publisher. Details on how to seek permission, furtherinformation about the Publisher’s permissions policies and our arrangements with organizations suchas the Copyright Clearance Center and the Copyright Licensing Agency, can be found at ourwebsite: www.elsevier.com/permissions.This book and the individual contributions contained in it are protected under copyright by thePublisher (other than as may be noted herein).NoticesKnowledge and best practice in this field are constantly changing. As new research and experience broadenour understanding, changes in research methods, professional practices, or medical treatment may becomenecessary.Practitioners and researchers must always rely on their own experience and knowledge in evaluating and usingany information, methods, compounds, or experiments described herein. In using such information or methodsthey should be mindful of their own safety and the safety of others, including parties for whom they have aprofessional responsibility.To the fullest extent of the law, neither the Publisher nor the authors, contributors, or editors, assume anyliability for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a matter of products liability, negligence orotherwise, or from any use or operation of any methods, products, instructions, or ideas contained in thematerial herein.Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataHonthaner, Eve Light, 1950The complete film production handbook / Eve Light Honthaner. – 4th ed.p. cm.Includes bibliographical references and index.ISBN 978-0-240-81150-5 (alk. paper)1. Motion pictures–Production and direction–Handbooks, manuals, etc. I. Title.PN1995.9.P7H66 2010791.4302’32–dc22British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication DataA catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.ISBN: 978-0-240-81150-5For information on all Focal Press publicationsvisit our website at www.elsevierdirect.com10 11 12 13 14 5 4 3 2 1Printed in the United States of America2009052974

This book is for my momDIt’s also lovingly dedicated to the memoryof Peter – my smart, gentle, compassionate,story-telling, bowtie-wearing, Cubs-loving,big-hearted brother

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ContentsIntroduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xivAcknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xviiForms in the book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xviiiChapter 1: The Production Team andWho Does WhatIntroduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Producers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Executive Producer . . . . . . . . .Producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Co-Producer . . . . . . . . . . . . .Line Producer . . . . . . . . . . . .Post Production Producer . . . . .Associate Producer . . . . . . . . .Production Management . . . . . . .Unit Production Manager . . . . .First Assistant Director . . . . . . .Second Assistant Director . . . . .Production Supervisor . . . . . . .Production Coordinator . . . . . .11222233334444Chapter 2: The Production OfficeIntroduction . . . . . . . . . . . . .Office Space . . . . . . . . . . . . .Setting Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Phone Systems . . . . . . . . . .The Traveling Production Kit . . . .Answering the Phone . . . . . . . .Confidentiality . . . . . . . . . . . .Shredding . . . . . . . . . . . . .Watermarking . . . . . . . . . . .Production Assistants . . . . . . . .Interns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ain’t Technology Great? . . . . . .Techie Wanted . . . . . . . . . .Employees Driving Their OwnVehicles for BusinessPurposes . . . . . . . . . . . . .Staff Scheduling and Assignmentof Duties . . . . . . . . . . . . .Staff Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . .Office Lunches . . . . . . . . . . . .Time Management . . . . . . . . .Office Inventories, Logs, andSign-Out Sheets . . . . . . . . .11111315161818191919202222232323252425The Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Files of Blank Forms . . . . . . .Files for Features, Moviesfor Television, Cable orInternet . . . . . . . . . . . . .Series Files . . . . . . . . . . . .Day Files . . . . . . . . . . . . .Forms in This Chapter . . . . . . .252626272828Chapter 3: Basic AccountingIntroduction . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Production Accountant . . . .The Accounting Department . . . .Handling Payroll . . . . . . . . . . .Payroll Companies . . . . . . . . .Accounting Guidelines . . . . . . .Start Paperwork Packets . . . . .Payroll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Box Rentals . . . . . . . . . . . .Vendor Accounts . . . . . . . . .Competitive Bids . . . . . . . . .Purchase Orders . . . . . . . . .Check Requests . . . . . . . . . .Petty Cash . . . . . . . . . . . . .Online Purchases . . . . . . . . .Cell PhoneReimbursement . . . . . . . . .Auto Allowances . . . . . . . . .Mileage Reimbursement . . . . .Drive-To . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Per Diem and LivingAllowance . . . . . . . . . . .Invoicing . . . . . . . . . . . . .Additional TaxableIncome . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Budget . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tracking Costs . . . . . . . . . . . .The Audit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Forms in This Chapter . . . . . . 747Chapter 4: From Script to ScheduleIntroduction . . . . . . . . . . . . .It All Starts with a Script . . . . . .Script Revisions . . . . . . . . . .The Breakdown . . . . . . . . . . .79797981v

viContents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84858687Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Evolution of IncentivePrograms . . . . . . . . . . . . .In Flux . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .What to Consider . . . . . . . . . .Infrastructure . . . . . . . . . . . . .Types of Incentives . . . . . . . . .Rebate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tax Credits . . . . . . . . . . . .Refundable Tax Credits . . . . . .Transferable Tax Credits . . . . .Nonrefundable, NontransferableTax Credits . . . . . . . . . . .Up-Front or Back-EndFunding . . . . . . . . . . . . .89The Board . . . . .The Schedule . . .Day-Out-of-DaysBreakdowns . . .Chapter 5: Incentives8990919292929293939393Chapter 6: Pre-ProductionWhat Is Pre-Production? . . . . . .Establishing Company Policies . . .Stages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Meetings, Meetings, and MoreMeetings . . . . . . . . . . . . .Communications . . . . . . . . . .Cellular Phones, BlackBerrys,Wireless Internet and More . .Walkie-Talkies . . . . . . . . .Previsualization . . . . . . . . . . .Plan Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sample Pre-ProductionSchedule . . . . . . . . . . . . .Week #1 (8 weeks to go) . . . .Week #2 (7 weeks to go) . . . .Week #3 (6 weeks to go) . . . .Week #4 (5 weeks to go) . . . .Week #5 (4 weeks to go) . . . .Week #6 (3 weeks to go) . . . .Week #7 (2 weeks to go) . . . .Week #8 (final week of prep) .Daily Prep Schedules . . . . . . . .More on Logs and Sign-OutSheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . .Collecting Information andMaking Lists . . . . . . . . . . .Crew Information Sheet . . . .The Crew List . . . . . . . . . 05105106106106106The Executive Staff List . . . . .The Cast List . . . . . . . . . .The Contact List . . . . . . . .Better Safe than Sorry . . . . . . .Pre-Production Checklist . . . . . .Starting from Scratch . . . . . .Creating Your Own ProductionManual . . . . . . . . . . . . . .For Your Own Good . . . . . . . .Forms in This Chapter . . . . . . .106106110111111111117118118Chapter 7: Insurance RequirementsIntroduction . . . . . . . . . . . . .General Insurance Guidelines . . .Errors and Omissions (E&O) . . . .Comprehensive GeneralLiability . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Certificates of Insurance . . . . . .Hired, Loaned, Donated orNonowned Auto Liability . . . .Hired, Loaned or Donated AutoPhysical Damage . . . . . . . . .Workers’ Compensation andEmployer’s Liability . . . . . . .Guild/Union AccidentCoverage . . . . . . . . . . . . .Production Package (PortfolioPolicy) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cast Insurance . . . . . . . . .Essential Elements . . . . . . .Bereavement Coverage . . . . .Production Media (Film, DigitalElements or Other Medium)/Direct Physical Loss . . . . .Faulty Stock, Camera andProcessing . . . . . . . . . .Props, Sets and Scenery;Costumes and Wardrobe;Miscellaneous RentedEquipment; OfficeContents . . . . . . . . . . .Extra Expense . . . . . . . . . .Third-Party PropertyDamage . . . . . . . . . . . .Supplemental (or Optional)Coverages . . . . . . . . . . . .Umbrella (Excess Liability) . . .Use of Aircraft . . . . . . . . .Use of Watercraft . . . . . . . .Use of Railroads or RailroadFacilities . . . . . . . . . . .Use of Valuables . . . . . . . .Use of Livestock or Animals . 32132132132132132132132133