There are many factors that affect how long it takes to film a movie. It’s not just the size of the crew or the quality of the film. The amount of time it takes to prepare the film for production and post-production also affects the total cost of the project. You might be surprised to learn that a 30-minute movie can take five or seven days to shoot. If you’re shooting a feature-length movie, you can expect it to take at least a month.
One way to calculate the time it will take to film a movie is to divide the script’s runtime by the number of pages. For example, a 110-page screenplay is equivalent to a 110-minute film. This means that you need at least five pages to shoot each minute of footage. However, there are some circumstances where this might not be the case.
Photo by Osarugue Igbinoba on Unsplash
Among the most important things to consider are the type of scenes and the number of camera setups you’ll need. In addition, you need to take into account the time required to set up each minute of footage. If you’re planning to shoot a film with a lot of action, you’ll need more time than if you’re making a documentary.
Filming a movie can be a long process. Some movies can take years to finish. Movies with a lot of special effects and a multi-star cast might take longer to film. A war epic might need to schedule hundreds of extras and difficult stunts. Depending on the story, it can take a while to write the script. On the other hand, a comedy or rom-com can be shot in just a few months.
Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash
Usually, the pre-production stage is a three-month to a year long process. Pre-production is divided into three phases. During this phase, the writer, director, and producers work together to craft a script, select the actors, and organize the crew. Ideally, you’ll have a script and a cast before the shooting begins, so that you can reduce the chances of surprises during the production.
Principal photography is the period of time when the film is shot. Shooting can range from a few weeks to a few months, but the average length of this phase is three and a half months. Often, it’s the hardest part of the filmmaking process. Many movies require thousands of shots. Fortunately, there are a number of techniques that can help you cut down the shooting time.
Post-production is the most crucial phase of the filmmaking process. During this period, you’ll need to add sound dubbing, color grading, VFX, and audio mixing. During this time, you’ll also be able to make changes to the final product. After your film is finished, you’ll need to release it. Depending on your film’s genre and audience expectations, you may want to plan for a wider international distribution.
The average production time of a full-length movie is two to three years. But the length of the film depends heavily on the genre. While movies such as Pinocchio and Boyhood took nine months to make, a horror movie can take up to 81 days.