# Pre-production

Source: https://storiara.com/glossary/pre-production
Last updated: 2026-09-14
Author: Spencer Kaufman, Storiara

> Pre-production is the phase of a film between development or greenlight and the first day of principal photography. The production hires crew, casts, scouts and secures locations, breaks down the script, builds the schedule and budget, and prepares everything needed to shoot.

## The order work happens in

Pre-production isn't a list you tick in any order. Most tasks depend on earlier ones:

1. Lock a draft for breakdown and number the scenes.
2. Break down the script into cast, locations, props, wardrobe, vehicles, effects.
3. Build a first [stripboard](https://storiara.com/glossary/stripboard) and day count, then a first budget from both.
4. Hire department heads (production designer, DP, costume, locations) and the 1st AD.
5. Scout and hold locations; cast principal roles; set start dates.
6. Revise schedule and budget as locations and cast lock.
7. Tech scout, final production meeting, safety plans, [locked budget](https://storiara.com/glossary/locked-budget).
8. Rehearsals, then day 1 of [principal photography](https://storiara.com/glossary/principal-photography).

On a real show several of these overlap, but a schedule built before the breakdown or a budget built before the schedule usually has to be redone.

## A simple prep timeline

For a fictional 18-day indie feature with six weeks of prep:

| Prep week | Main milestones |
| --- | --- |
| 1 | Producer, UPM, 1st AD start. Breakdown and first board |
| 2 | Department heads start. Location scouting begins |
| 3 | Casting sessions. Budget v2 from revised schedule |
| 4 | Locations held. Wardrobe fittings start. Crew deal memos out |
| 5 | Tech scout. Stunt and effects meetings. Permits filed |
| 6 | Production meeting. Final schedule, call sheet for day 1 |

The [prep week](https://storiara.com/glossary/prep-week) entry covers how weeks are counted and paid.

## What goes wrong in prep

Starting it too late is the most common problem on small shows: a crew hired a week before day 1 hasn't read the script, and locations are still unconfirmed when the first call sheet goes out. Permits need lead time too, and city processing times vary, so file early.

Another is letting the script keep changing without re-breaking it down. If scenes are added in week 5 and nobody updates the board, the schedule and budget are both wrong on day 1. Keep revision colors and re-run the breakdown after each set of new pages.

The [pre-production checklist template](https://storiara.com/templates/pre-production-checklist) covers this in more detail, and the [pre-production learning hub](https://storiara.com/learn/pre-production) groups the guides by department.

## Frequently asked questions

### How long is pre-production for a feature film?

It depends on budget, script complexity, and how much is already in place. A small indie might prep for a few weeks, while a large studio feature can prep for months. The schedule and department needs set the length.

### What is the first thing to do in pre-production?

Lock a script version for breakdown and do the script breakdown. The breakdown drives the first schedule and budget, and everything else, including hiring and scouting, depends on those.

### Is pre-production the same as prep?

Yes on set. Crew say 'prep' and deal memos list 'prep days' or 'prep weeks'. Pre-production is the more formal name for the phase.