Below is a glossary of terms that you will find in the AFS Grant application. We start by defining four stages of the filmmaking process that are referenced in this cycle. After that, the rest of the glossary is in alphabetical order.
PRODUCTION STAGES
Development
The development phase of the filmmaking process is the initial stage where the idea and creative vision for a film is refined, scripts and treatments are written, and key crew is assembled. A filmmaking team will build pitch materials and pitch the project in order to secure funding and support. For a documentary, the development stage refers to the period that involves researching the topic or subject matter, identifying key interviewees to feature, and conducting pre-interviews to help solidify interviews.
Pre-Production
The pre-production phase is where planning and preparation take place before filming begins. For narrative films, this involves script revisions, storyboarding, casting, location scouting, set and costume design, and hiring a crew. For documentaries, pre-production includes securing access to locations or events, creating filming schedules, and filming.
Production
For narrative films, the production stage of filmmaking involves capturing scenes as they are written in the script, directing actors, managing technical aspects (like lighting and camera work), and coordinating various crew members to bring the vision of the film to life. For a documentary, the production stage refers to the phase of filming interviews, documenting events, and capturing B-roll footage.
Post-Production
The post-production phase of filmmaking occurs after filming is complete. It involves editing the footage, adding visual effects, sound design, and scoring to create the final version of the film. Color correction, sound mixing, graphics, and other technical processes are completed to ensure the film is ready for distribution.
Distribution
Once a film is complete, it is ready to be shown to an audience. This is the distribution phase. Depending on a filmmaker’s goals, a film can be distributed in various ways, including: submitting to film festivals for festival distribution, self-releasing online, holding screenings, and pursuing distribution via streaming or broadcast platforms. This stage of the filmmaking process involves implementing marketing strategies and promoting the film.
GLOSSARY
Budget Summary
The budget summary shows a quick glance of totals across each stage of the filmmaking process. It summarizes the totals established in the Detailed Budget.
Crowdfunding Campaign
This is a type of fundraising avenue where a filmmaker uses a website to accept contributions online for a specific amount of time. Filmmakers will typically assign rewards for specific tiers of contribution. Some platforms take admin fees for processing the funds and hosting the film’s web page.
Detailed Budget
A detailed budget is a line-by-line projection of labor and expenses for a production from pre-production to distribution. If you’ve already wrapped certain stages of the filmmaking process, you might be working with actual numbers instead of estimates.
In-Kind Donations
“In-kind” donations refer to either goods or services that are donated to a production. All goods and services have a monetary value assigned to them. Anything donated to your production is given “in-kind” at that amount. This could be someone working at a reduced or waived rate for your production. It can also be an item that is being loaned to you that would typically have cost money. If something is not in-kind, we refer to it as a “cash donation,” even though it does not literally mean that it will be paid with physical cash.
Investors
People who provide funds for your film with the expectation that they will receive a return on their investment. This typically comes in the form of being promised a percentage of sales for the film.
Logline
A logline is one or two sentences that are designed to convey the essence of the story, characters, and central conflict of a film.
Lookbook
A visual guide that showcases a film’s style, mood, and aesthetic through images, comps, color palettes, and design references.
Pitch Deck
A visual presentation that outlines a film’s story, vision, team, production plan, and strategy to attract investors, producers, or collaborators.
Project Synopsis
A synopsis of a film is a brief summary that outlines the main plot points, characters, and key events of the project. The purpose of a synopsis is to give reviewers a clear understanding of the narrative arc, themes, and central conflicts of the film.
Story Treatment (Documentary)
A documentary story treatment is a detailed document that outlines the concept, objectives, structure, and intended approach for a documentary film. It provides a detailed overview of the subject matter, themes, key characters or interviewees, and the filmmaker’s perspective or angle on its topic.
Story Treatment (Narrative)
A narrative story treatment is a detailed document that outlines the plot, characters, themes, and structure of a project. It provides a comprehensive overview of the proposed narrative, often including scene-by-scene descriptions, character arcs, and key plot points.
Tone
Tone conveys the overall mood and emotional feel of a film and how it is shaped by its visuals, dialogue, music, and storytelling style. Some examples of tone include: light-hearted, gritty, serious, satiric, suspenseful, whimsical, or somber.
Vérité
In documentary filmmaking, this involves choosing to film things as they unfold rather than staging them.
Works-For-Hire
This is work that is commissioned by a third party. This can include a project that is spearheaded by, and that will be owned by, a company or an organization.
