What Is Primary Production?

by Erik Gudris

Overview

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Primary production is the part of the filmmaking process in which the majority of the film is shot on camera. This includes all acting scenes if the film is a narrative piece or all interviews and footage for a documentary film.
Significance

Primary production is often referred to as "principal photography," as it refers to the old method of shooting a movie on film. Even with most films being shot today on video, this stage is the most important as it is when actual filmmaking takes place during a production.

Sequence

The stage of primary production usually occurs as the third step of the overall process of motion picture production. It happens after script development and pre-production and is before post-production and project distribution.
Features

Primary production for a narrative film includes a complete cast and crew of actors, sound people, set designers, wardrobe, hair and makeup crew, lighting technicians and many more. For a documentary film, the actors are replaced by the documentary's host and subjects as the crew films interviews, places and more.
Time Frame

As part of the overall sequence of filmmaking steps, primary production can take as long as one day or several years. Script development, scheduling, financing, weather and many other factors will affect the length of this key part of motion picture production.
Considerations

As primary production can end up being very cost prohibitive, producers should use the pre-production stage to evaluate each day of primary production before shooting begins to ensure a smooth and uneventful production.