Hi everyone,
I'm still fairly new here and have been spending time getting familiar with the different lounges. I've been focused on writing, but I'm really interested in learning more about the filmmaking side and how projects actually move from script to screen.
For those of you who've been through that process, what's something you wish you understood earlier about development or production?
Looking forward to learning from you all.
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My biggest lesson as a director has been that pre-planning everything makes for efficient shoots on the day. Having to come up with solutions for things that aren't working on the day burns time fast. So it's important to have back-up ideas for takes. And to schedule in some time for freestyling / having fun experimenting as well - with the actors and with the DP. You never know what the DP is going to find interesting to point a camera at.
As a writer, the big lesson is that once the Director's prepping to shoot, it's their project. You don't need to be involved saying "It's actually this line" or trying to micromanage the script. Just sit back and let them do their thing - it's what they're good at! Then of course, the movie's going to change slightly in the edit, when it's cut together based on what was shot
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Thank you for the insight
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the thing most writers don't fully grasp until they're on set: the script describes what happens, not how to shoot it. that gap is where pre-production lives.
a director's job before the shoot is translating every scene into camera decisions — angles, coverage, movement, blocking. the more of that work happens in pre-pro, the less time gets wasted standing around on the day figuring it out under pressure.
as a writer trying to understand the process, the most useful exercise is shot listing one of your own scenes. just describe shot by shot how you'd cover it. it quickly reveals what you're actually asking of a director — and usually shows where the scene is doing too much or not enough visually.
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Amit Timalsina That's an interesting way to look at it. I tend to visualize scenes pretty strongly when I write, so it's cool hearing how that translates in pre-production.
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Alisha Mull, this is such a great question, and honestly one of the most valuable areas to start exploring as you continue developing your work.
One of the biggest things I wish more writers understood earlier is that development isn’t just about having a great script, it’s about alignment. Alignment with a company’s taste, their current slate, their budget range, the market, and the audience. A strong script is the foundation, but understanding how it fits into the bigger picture is what helps it move forward.
It also becomes a process of constant refinement. Projects go through multiple rounds of notes, repositioning, and sometimes even reimagining before they’re ready for production. That’s a normal and necessary part of the journey.
I’ve actually written a couple of blogs that dive deeper into this if you’re interested:
The Skill That Will Change Your Career: Training Your Reading Brain: https://www.stage32.com/blog/the-skill-that-will-change-your-career-trai...
Understanding the Development Process: What It Really Takes to Get a Film or Series Made: https://www.stage32.com/blog/understanding-the-development-process-what-...
Also, there’s a new blog published here on Stage 32 every single day, written by industry professionals and fellow members of the community. It’s a great way to consistently learn more about the industry, different career paths, and various creative processes from real-world perspectives.
Really glad you’re digging into this side of things early, it’s going to give you such a strong advantage.
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Ashley Renée Smith! Thank you, I appreciate this perspective, especially the point about alignment beyond the script. That's something I'm becoming more aware of as I continue developing my series.
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Welcome Alisha Mull! Something I wish I'd understood earlier: development is not a straight line. A script can be "ready" for years before it finds the right partner. Also, the script you finish is often not the one that shoots—and that's okay. What part of the process are you most curious to learn about?
Sam Rivera I think right now I'm most curious about how projects move from being fully developed into actually finding the right partners and getting placed. I'm starting to understand the creative side, but I'm still learning the business side of it.