ABSTRACT
Making a narrative film, on any scale or in any format, is a multipronged effort. The creative dimension, which involves writing the script, visualizing the shots, working with actors, and then there is the practical dimension of film production, which involves the organization of time and personnel. Many films wind up feeling lifeless or mechanical because of an overemphasis on line production, to the exclusion of creative inspiration and exploration. Production design is all often overlooked on low-budget and student films. A great deal of production design is done during preproduction so that everything is available, secured, and in place when the camera starts to roll. On larger film projects, the script breakdown is usually generated by the assistant director, but the production designer will carefully double-check the list, adding specific details that are part of the designer's interpretation of the scene. Very closely related to production scale is shooting ratio.
