So, pre-production officially began on Monday. We have hired production staff, started location scouting, begun casting sessions for the non-principals, finished contracts, started contracts, and put the production offices together. 

And again, I keep coming back to what is the most important thing to do. Hire a good line producer. A good line producer knows everything about the place you’re going to shoot in, when you know nothing. they know the people to bring in, and the people to keep out. They know where, in that city, are the places you need to spend your budget, and where you can NOT spend budget. 

Now, this can be a tricky situation. We hired our line producer before ever meeting her. And often, this is the case. You hire your line producer after a series of phone conversations, a ton of calls to the last people they worked with, some recommendations, and your gut feeling. That gut feeling can never be dismissed. Get in tune with your gut. 

Because of our line producer, we have been able to bring on an amazing AD. Now, I know what you’re thinking…if you know all the agents…it should be easy to find an AD. But, this guy wasn’t represented, so no one was pitching him to us, and the only reason he came on our radar as available for a non-studio movie was because of our line producer. She brought us a viable option for a key location (outside of also bringing us a fantastic locations manager)

 In short, this is not the place to try to save a couple pennies, because a good line producer will save you hundreds of thousands over the course of a shoot. 

And now, let’s see what Week 2 brings.

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