Here’s What Happens When a Movie Wraps: The 7 Stages of Filmmaking
Finales and finish lines.
There’s nothing quite the same as that feeling of closure and accomplishment one receives when something you’ve worked hard for comes to a final close. Like the artist taking her last brush stroke or the writer finishing the last page, this same sentiment is shared on a film set when the director declares “that’s a wrap!”
Not so fast. If you’ve been following along in our seven-part blog series covering the ins and outs of filmmaking, you know it’s much more complex than that!
If you’re not up to speed, follow along with the series here:
1. Development
2. Pre-Production
3. Production
4. Photography
5. Wrap
6. Post-Production
7. Distribution
We’ve made it to the “Wrap” stage in filmmaking.
And while “wrapping” does conclude the production and photography phase of a film, it’s only the prelude to postproduction and distribution.
In review, you’ll see the first several blogs in our series dissect the process of transforming an idea into a motion picture, beginning with development.
Want to know what happens when the cameras stop rolling? Then you’re in the right place.
As part of a film crew — this means actors and actresses too — everyone plays a role.
When the cameras stop rolling, some roles come to an end, like the actors and some of the crew, while others are just getting started.
While The Black Widow and Iron Man likely don’t give a second thought to what happens to their on-set “toys,” once they leave the set, it’s the property master’s main concern.
The Wrap stage in the filmmaking process can be categorized into 3 main parts:
- Breaking down the set
- Organizing and cross-checking inventory
- Returning all borrowed property.
The Break Down
Pop the champagne, you’ve made it through filming!
Now that the party is over it’s time to clean up and take down the decorations — or in this case, the set.
When it comes to a film set (as discussed in the photography stage), there are a great deal of details that go into creating the perfect shot. When filming wraps, all the decor, bells and whistles have to go somewhere.
The iconic mock Hollywood sign has to come down. Room settings must be deconstructed, the furniture stored and the art taken from the walls. Actors must return their wardrobe, including shoes and accessories. Lastly, all the props need to be returned and screened so that they are in good shape and working condition. Renting these items is very cost-efficient for producers and necessary to stay within the budget so in most cases there is some aspect of rental returns of this sort involved when wrapping a film — and there is a dedicated person that handles it all.
Now that the cast has left, props have been collected and the sets are dismantled, it is time to organize anything lingering and regroup.
Regrouping
Organization post-production — in the “Wrap” stage of the filmmaking process — plays a critical role in ensuring that the budget continues to stay intact throughout post-production and into distribution (the next and final two stages of the process).
Many moving parts are in play during the organization aspect of this stage and these two matters most:
● Staying on Schedule
● Staying on budget
This regrouping component is like taking inventory — in reverse. What was there before? What’s left? Formulating a plan and good organization ensures no detail is overlooked.
Now that we are organized and have a plan on how to tackle our inventory, it is time to make some moves! Every remaining item has to be meticulously stored and/or returned, every barcode scanned and matched to its appropriate place — line-by-line, page-by-page.
Keep in mind, at this point you’re only organizing the inventory for return.
The Return
Remember our old friend that always comes back around, the budget?
Part of that budget was set aside for inventory rentals, on a time contract for returns. Otherwise, extended and/or late fees can occur, breaking the budget, and we aim to avoid that! Initiating the return is an intrinsic process and must be overseen with a keen eye.
Depending on the size of the project and who the film production company is, this may only involve simply verifying the condition of the prop before sending it back to the warehouse. However, for rarer props that are typically harder to find, a return to sender is necessary.
Handling the return of the set accessories is an important role that a property master is tasked with. Inspecting, packaging, shipping and returning and effectively communicating with producers regarding updates throughout the return process is vital. Being well organized as well as detailed for every person in the “Wrap” phase of creating a film is necessary that also ensures preparedness should an unforeseen reshoot be required.
That’s a Wrap
The wrap stage in filmmaking leans more on the manual labor of the crew needed in this phase rather than the artistic aspects generally associated with filmmaking. Nonetheless, it’s an evident and important component of the process.
Every aspect, detail and prop that was used to create the perfect scene throughout production is now rounded up and returned to its proper place. This helps to avoid any unforeseen costs and creates a stellar rapport that will come in handy for future business like another film and/or a sequel.
When creating a film, one must trust the process and that includes efficiently planning for and executing during the wrap stage in filmmaking.
It may be behind the scenes but in its own right, it takes center stage during this phase.
Still wrapped up in filmmaking? Make sure to catch next week’s blog as we dive into post-production and get closer to piecing a full movie together!
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