IFP/Los Angeles Independent Filmmaker's Manual, 2nd Edition

7PRE-PRODUCTION

“Well, if pre-production goes well, I am pretty much not very busy during production, and that is the ideal. Pre-production periods tend to be intensely geared toward organizing every single day as much as possible, all with an eye toward figuring if our days are that organized, we’ll be able to have a little time left.”

—Christine Vachon, Killer Films

For the line producer, the bulk of the work is during pre-production. Staying focused, organized, on schedule, and in constant communication with the crew (while trying to remain calm) will ensure a smooth run into production. There is a saying about producers: “If you’ve done your job right in pre-production, you’ll have nothing to do during production.” That, of course, is not ...