Breaking It Down

This here is the production binder for Vaudeville Goes to Hell.

Why all the highlighters, you ask?

The first step of pre-production (after writing the damn thing) is to do what’s known as a script breakdown. What is a script breakdown? It’s where you go through, line by freaking line, number each scene and highlight each element, including locations, characters, props, make up, wardrobe, picture vehicles and special FX…

Yes, it is as meticulous and mind-numbing as you think it is. It is also critical. Each “thing” costs money. You can’t figure out your budget without breaking down your script. Also, once you’ve broken down your script, you can then schedule it. Depending on how many scenes and how fast you shoot, your breakdown will not only help you know what your movie costs, it will also tell you how many days you need to get it in the can.

At which point, you drink a bottle of tequila and laugh and cry hysterically as you realize you have a fraction (if any) of the money you need and a tenth of the time.

When you sober up, you do it anyway.

Welcome to Independent Filmmaking.

Gods, I fucking love it!!!

Originally published at ANGELA N. HUNT. You can comment here or there.