Many directors think about how to shoot their own series, or how to become a showrunner for a series. Without experience, this task will be very difficult, but if the “director” has already shot a feature film and is familiar with large shoots, then there should be no problems. Let’s determine what we need for this. Let’s start with the team, who exactly we need for a similar project. Of course, the holy trinity: director, cameraman and artist. For example, if one of them is Ibrahim, a great name, then half the success is already in your pocket. The director takes on the help of a second director who handles the processes, as well as a line producer. In addition, you need a production company that will flawlessly perform video production and editing services.
The operator takes the camera technician to his team, although he himself will come, since the camera usually does not come to the series alone. Then comes the gaffer and lighting team who will design and set the lighting for all the locations. The production designer is responsible for the design of locations, images of characters, main characters, background and other plans. According to the created images, then the costume designer, make-up artists and their assistants begin to work. At this stage, when the actors have not yet been approved, we will need a casting director with his team, who will be engaged in the selection of actors and signing documents with them.
Shooting a series
When the holy trinity is assembled, at some point a location manager will work with them, who knows all the movie locations on the ground and tells you where to find this or that room or territory. When casting finished and locations are selected, you can proceed to script readings and rehearsals if there is something difficult there. Although without this, in a large project, you should gather for reading script, filming the process on several cameras to show the producers that their money is not wasted and that the organization of the filming process is built in the right way. After reading at the table, you can walk around the location and start rehearsals.
Shooting a series, like film shooting, requires a huge effort from each participant in the process. To organize the processes at the location, there is a location manager who deals with organizational issues, where and what to bring and take, whether the equipment was brought on time, where the lighting base was taken, and so on. In general, he reports to the line producer. Of course, do not forget about catering, we order catering. In almost every city there are companies dealing with food on the site. Nothing better has been invented than to immediately hire such a turnkey company, but you can do it yourself if the project is budgetary.
Order a series or shoot a pilot?
Shooting a series to order is not an easy task, but doable. Suppose there is a customer with an idea and money for production, Netflix, Apple, Amazon, it doesn’t matter. Their representative says that they want to order a series on such and such a topic for such and such a duration. You make an estimate of the project, and if you agree on money and other conditions, then you shake hands, and the shooting of the series begins. In this case, you simply fulfill the order, giving out a finished and edited series at the end. But until that moment, the showrunner of the customer and probably his director will work with you. The showrunner is often the author of the idea, so he has the right to change the project on the go.
It often happens that by the 4th series the script ends and it is given out only one series ahead. This is done when the project is already very popular, to avoid leaks or to give the actors certain directorial tasks. It’s rare, but during the filming process a video production company loses actors. They leave the project for various reasons, sometimes even die. In this case, it is necessary to change or reshoot already captured materials. Not so long ago, the principle of cancellation became fashionable, when for various reasons, often false, actors are cut out of an already filmed project, as with Kevin Spacey or Johnny Depp.
Is it possible to film a series?
Yes. Many productions are already starting to make good money on this. Even in the Russian-language segment, Sreda sold several of its series to Netflix. If we look at foreign companies, then there is almost no talk of failed projects. Each series earns some box office on streaming services. Look even at the Polish TV series market, which is close to us. He is rapidly gaining momentum. This can be seen on Netflix, which during the year was loaded with about a dozen fresh and quite interesting series. All of them were filmed in Poland, such as The Mïre, Krakowskie potwory.
Why can’t we make such a product in our country? There are several reasons for this. Firstly, experienced and creative specialists leave here, and only a few remain. Secondly, big cinema here passes through state-owned companies, in which the main part of the estimate is “sawed”, and there is nothing to shoot for. Because of this, the plot, picture and acting suffer. The remaining money cannot be used to find worthy specialists, and as a result, the product becomes impossible to sell. Thirdly, the tax system and leadership cadres lag behind the world for many years, so investors do not come here to order the series.