How are Movies Made?
April 2, 2025
Ever watched a movie and wondered “How did they make this?”
From a screenwriter first getting an idea to a director delivering a final cut, there are numerous steps in the making of a movie and not every journey from page to screen is the same. Some movies get made after years – sometimes even decades – of development. Other movies are quickly greenlit. Some movies are made independently. Other movies are made by a major studio. Some have trouble free productions. Others are marred by difficulties. Every scenario is different and dependent on various factors.
That being said, there are 5 stages to the making of pretty much any movie:
1. A Screenplay is Written
First and foremost, you can’t have a movie without a screenplay. It all begins on the page.
There are various scenarios in which a screenplay is written. In most cases, a writer will take it on their own to write an original screenplay based on their own idea. This is referred to as a “spec script.” Sometimes a spec script is written by one writer; other times, they work with a writing partner.
After a spec script is finished, the writer(s) will attempt to circulate their script and get representation (a manager or agent). Usually a beginner screenwriter has a better chance of getting a manager than an agent, but ideally the manager will help them to get an agent and to get their script optioned or sold.
Sometimes a writer — usually one with a professional resume or a hot spec script — is hired on assignment to write a screenplay for a production company or movie studio. Also if the writer is well-established or has industry buzz (aka “heat”), they might pitch an original idea to a production company or movie studio. If their pitch is successful, lawyers will draw up a writing agreement and the writer is commissioned to write the script.
Whether they’ve written a spec script or have written one on assignment, at certain stages the writer will likely be asked to rewrite the script. This request will come from either a manager, producers or studio execs (or all of the above). This is referred to as “screenplay development” and it’s an important part of the process. A movie rarely gets made without a screenplay being rewritten.
2. A Director and Movie Stars are Attached
Sometimes a spec script is circulated to industry professionals — usually after the writer obtains representation — and it leads to a director or A-list actor reading the script. Other times, a production company has already optioned or purchased the script and they get it into the hands of a director or movie star.
Regardless of how it happens, gaining the right “attachments” is essential if a screenplay is going to be turned into a movie. A studio or film financier won’t “greenlight” (i.e. give permission to move ahead and bankroll a film production) a project unless a known director or bankable actor has agreed to make the movie. Depending on the script and whether or not it’s a “two-hander” or ensemble cast of characters, multiple actors might need to be attached (although usually only casting the top roles is necessary at this stage).
In some scenarios, an actor or movie star(s) will attach themselves to a spec script and it leads to its purchase. In another scenario, a studio or production company has already purchased the script or has assigned a writer to write one for them, and after the script is deemed “ready,” the producers will circulate the script to directors and actors — typically ones they already have a relationship with — and they ideally gain the necessary attachments.
3. A Movie is Greenlit and Goes into Pre-Production
All of the necessary elements are in place — a screenplay, a director and bankable actor(s) — and as a result, a studio or financier agrees to bankroll the production at a projected budget (i.e. how much it’ll cost to make the movie). When this happens, industry professionals refer to the project as being “greenlit.” This is often followed by an announcement in the trades.
Once a project has been greenlit, it shifts from screenplay development to pre-production (although further screenplay development is still likely to occur right through production). The director oversees various aspects of pre-production and will work with a production designer to help visualize the style and look of the film, a casting director to round out the cast, and a location manager to help scout for filming locations. A director will also hire a cinematographer, script supervisor and other key members of the film crew. If all goes well, shooting dates for the film will eventually be selected and announced.
As mentioned above, a director will usually continue to develop the screenplay with the writer throughout pre-production. If a movie star is attached to the project, they’ll likely also have notes on the script that will need to be addressed. When the director, producers, studio execs and lead actor all agree on a draft of the script, the writer will be required to create a detailed and production-ready draft of the script that’s referred to as “the shooting script.”
4. A Movie is Shot (aka Principal Photography)
After all the planning and the entire cast and crew is assembled, if all goes according to plan, principal photography will begin. This is the scheduled period in which the majority of filming occurs. Principal photography involves the director, actors, cinematographer (responsible for the camera shots and lighting), assistant director and other crew members to bring the writer’s words to life.
Most film crews include a script supervisor, whose job is to make sure everything being shot is consistent with the shooting script throughout the film’s production. However, there are times in which real-world or logistical issues force the director to rethink a scene during the film shoot (e.g., they’re having a problem making a certain shot). Because of this, many times the screenwriter will also be on set and they will revise the script if they’re asked to.
Ideally, the director gets all of the shots and performances they wanted and principal photography is completed on time and on budget. Directors who have a good track record at accomplishing this are likely to be in high demand.
5. A Movie Goes into Post-Production
Finally, the project moves into post-production. This involves the director and the editor compiling all of the footage from principal photography and cutting and organizing the shots together in a seamless fashion that tells the film’s story.
During this period, the director might also be working with a music composer to create the film’s score. The music composer will often be shown a “rough cut” of the film and they will write and record music accordingly.
In addition, post-production involves sound editing (adding music, sound effects and dialogue), sound mixing (harmonizing all of the audio elements) and in some cases visual and special effects (usually when it’s a horror, sci-fi or fantasy film).
After all of this work is completed, a “director’s cut” will be shown to producers, studio execs and sometimes a test audience. Depending on the reaction to this version of the film, the screenwriter might be asked to perform another rewrite in preparation for “reshoots” (i.e. additional filming). Reshoots occur when there are certain scenes that aren’t working (usually after a negative reaction from test audiences). This leads to the director, film crew and necessary cast to go through the process of filming the rewritten scenes.
After putting together this final version of the film, the studio will schedule a release date and it’ll eventually arrive at movie theaters or streaming platforms. That’s when it’s time for the general public to decide whether a movie works or not.
As stated, there are numerous steps in the making of a movie, but the primary stages are a screenplay is written, a director and movie stars are attached to the script, a studio greenlights the project and it goes into pre-production until the movie is finally shot and goes into post-production.
It takes a lot of people to make a movie, but it all starts with a screenwriter and a screenplay.
