Although Empowered Films can provide film and video services for any corporate, commercial, industrial or training product or project, we focus on this website on the four basic stages involved in the production of motion pictures: project development, project financing, film production, and film distribution.
Project Development
In the development process, a literary property is acquired or optioned or a writer engaged to finalize a screenplay, sufficiently detailed to provide enough information to estimate the cost of production. A director and key actors will normally be contacted about the project to determine their interest and availability, and in some cases will be engaged during the development process.
Project Financing
Although one of the key elements of Empowered Film’s services and production capability is financing, the second basic stage of production is Pre-Production.
In Pre-Production, the actors and production personnel not chosen during the development stage are selected and contracted, the budget finalized, shooting schedules prepared, locations and other logistical matters determined, and most important, the necessary project financing is secured.
In addition to private investment, distribution and pre-sales are typically a project element accomplished by Empowered during Project Development and Pre-Production, in order to secure film financing.
Film Production
Production usually begins with rehearsals just prior to the beginning of Principal Photography, the actual filming of the motion picture. Principal Photography usually lasts from four weeks to three months, depending on the film.
Film Distribution
Again, although one of the vital elements of our services and production capability is distribution, the fourth basic stage of production is Post-Production. Post-Production includes editing and soundtrack synchronization, as well as the addition of optical effects and titles. The completion of this process yields the final edited negative, which is used to create release prints for theatrical exhibition and masters for home video/DVD and other electronic delivery methods and uses. Also in the post-production phase, materials that are to be used in the distribution process are prepared. Finally, project marketing, film distribution, and the negotiation and sale of other ancillary rights is finalized.
Production Services during the Project Development, Financing, Film Production, and Distribution phases of each project include the following project services and elements:
- Aquisition of Literary Property/Screenplay
- Prepare Production Budget and Schedule
- Select Principal Actors and Director
- Agreements with Actors and Director
- Finalize Production Budget
- Finalize Shooting Schedule/Locations
- Secure Foreign Distribution/Pre-Sales
- Secure Project Financing
- Rehearsals and Principal Photography
- Editing/Soundtrack/ Effects/Titles
- Prepare Marketing Materials
- Secure Domestic Distribution
- Project Marketing and Ancillary Rights Sales