During which phase of film making does the team outline their vision for the film?

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The phase of filmmaking during which the team outlines their vision for the film is typically called "pre-production." During pre-production, core members of the film's creative team, including the director, producer, screenwriter, and cinematographer, discuss the creative aspects and the vision for the film. They establish the overall look, tone, story, and style that they aim to achieve. Key activities during this phase include scriptwriting and editing, storyboard creation, casting, scouting and selecting locations, designing sets and costumes, planning for visual effects, as well as budgeting and scheduling. All these elements contribute to solidifying the team's vision before actual filming begins.

Extra: Pre-production is a critical stage in the filmmaking process because it sets the groundwork for everything that follows. It is where conceptual ideas are transformed into actionable plans. The screenplay is of particular importance, as it serves as a blueprint for the film. During pre-production, the team creates a storyboard, which is a sequence of drawings with descriptions that represent the shots planned for the film, essentially illustrating the film’s narrative. Casting is another vital component, where actors are selected to bring the characters from the script to life. Location scouts find appropriate places to shoot the scenes according to the requirements of the story. Production designers and art directors work on creating the sets or adapting existing locations to fit the visual style of the film. Additionally, the director will work with the director of photography to determine the visual look of the film, including lighting and camera angles. All these steps are crucial for ensuring that the team has a clear, shared vision, which will guide them through the production and post-production phases.