Pre-production

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Welcome to the pre-production!

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One liner

An author writing a manuscript is unable to complete it due to unfavorable supernatural circumstances... However, the script isn't left unfinished - as some other entity does it for him!

Name suggestions

As the story was based on a horror genre, the name had to be something spooky. I thought of multiple names such as "The last words" or "Tip-toed to death". However, these seemed to be too monotonous so I decided to choose a title which would have a word that engages the audience. After much consideration, I ended up on:

The unfinished manuscript

This suggested the audience that a manuscript was being written which is left "Unfinished". The word "Unfinished" particularly catches the eye of everyone and I've also decided to differentiate it by using a unique font. 

Screenplay

Storyboard

I made this storyboard with the help of AI, by uploading images to it and converted them into these templates

Mood Board & COLOR Palette 

The color palette shows the colors which were used in my film while the mood board creates an eerie vibe which represents my film's mood too. It was set in the dark due to the genre being horror, while the yellow or golden color was used to create a contrast and also to create a mysterious ambience. 

Hiring of Cast & crew

Auditions

For the main character, I had to choose someone who had good acting skills as there were no dialogues. Only fear had to be shown through the expressions. I gave the dates for the auditions and got some willing people who could act in my film. 

 

First was the age restriction which I later realised I should've added. I got some people from age groups that were older than what I've thought, and some younger too. Thus, I did them again but with a clearer age limit this time.

 

Finalization

Although I recieved a fine amount of auditions, however, I ain't satisfied with the results and couldn't take more time to think on this. Thus, I am deciding to do this role myself, as I had written it, because of which I will understand the character's feelings better and could relate to it too. 

Locations

For the location, I need a room which would have a door corresponding to a desk or light source. Moreover, I also had to show stairs in the short film, so the area should also have a staircase. I firstly decided to use my own house as the first requirement was being fulfilled. However, as there is only a single portion, I won't be able to complete all the scenes there. To avoid the extra budget for travel, I am scouting a house (My relative's house) which will fill both the requirement and the advantage is that they also have a bed in the same room too. 

Budgeting

My film had a no. of props, lighting equipment and costumes used. For all of that, I've created a short list in according with their costs:

Audtion preperation  - 1000

Travel and Transport - 5000

Camera (IPhone 15)   - 3000

Lights (Ring and rgb)-  2500

Costumes                      - 1500

Refreshments               - 3000

VFX and editing           - 2500

  

Scheduling and rehearsals

Scheduling and rehearsals played a crucial role in bringing my short film to life. With limited time and resources, it was essential to plan everything carefully to avoid any delays or confusion. I started by creating a detailed schedule that outlined shooting days, locations, and specific scenes to be filmed, making sure each crew member knew their responsibilities. 

Rehearsals were just as important — they helped me get comfortable with my role and perfect my expressions and body language, especially since the video relies heavily on acting rather than dialogues. We also used rehearsals to experiment with blocking and camera angles, ensuring we could capture the right shots efficiently on the day of filming. This preparation not only saved time but also helped everyone feel more confident, resulting in a smooth and focused production process.