How long does it take to film a movie?

Question

Actually to FILM it. With actors and actresses in front of the camera saying lines. I know it takes a long time to scout locations and hire cast and crew and after filming to finish production, but how long are the cast and crew actually on location FILMING?

And if it depends on things, which I've seen written before, how long was the longest time filming? How short was the shortest time filming? For an average film, (90-120 mins.) how long does it take?

Answer 1

Well, the more special effects and computer generated effects will take in account how much the actors spend before a camera.

There's 3 stages to producing a film.

1) Pre-production - cast assembling, script writing, gaining funds etc, In bigger releases this will probably take less time, as time is money, more money means more can be done in less time/

2) Production - This means filming all the necessary scenes, I think this is what your question is referring to.

3) Post production - This is where all the special effects, editing and the like are done, ready to make the film released.

Now, production times can vary, let me give you some examples.

A movie like shrek would have low production times, because it only requires voice overs. Whilst that's all good, the Post production is where all the work is done - lots and lots of video and computer stuff.

A movie like pride and prejudice however has nearly all the work done with production (along side an overstretched wardrobe and costume people). Bar none post production except editing and the like.

It's interesting, because with big releases, I read that typical movie only has about 6-9 months total production time. It can take just as long for pre-production to set budgets and finalize the scripts etc. and then just as long again to get all the special effects done and get it edited and done as well.

So, it does really vary, not only because of the different movie genre/type but also the amount of funds and budget that movie has as well.

Often actors themselves would have already shot a second movie by the time their first one is already released.

I saw an interview with Will Smith about how he had finished Hancock when he was being interviewed about I am legend.

Also, not all movies will be released when finished.

As an example Harry potter 6 was going to be released next november. But warner bros pushed it back to summer 09 so it would have a better reception.

Often if they do this, it can give the movie better time to be ready, but most of the time post-production is thought out thoroughly and the correct times are given to be allocated.

Answer 2

I think its about 1,2,or 3 years for from start to the end product in the movies but  it takes even longer than that for an animated movie!

Answer 3

Depends on the story, the amount of special FX and other production issues that go into it.

A comedy like Knocked Up or a drama like Juno is NOT going to take as long as let's say... Lord of the Rings, Titanic, or Star Wars by virtue of all the things that go into crafting each of those films.