Producing

Drama works from a script with actors in constructed sets, while documentary generally relies on real people in real locations. That said, very few documentaries are "point and shoot" - they have often been carefully researched with a clear story and characters in mind in the same way as drama. The plan should be worked out during pre-production. The producers two key responsibilities on any film are the shooting schedule and the budget. A major part of pre-production planning is working out a budget based on the available funds. In order to do this, you need to have a checklist of all possible costs. Once a budget is defined it becomes a blueprint for the production of the film. And this budget is fundamental to the end product. Decisions have to be made about how the available budget will be divided between the different departments.
The making of a film can take anything from a day to several months depending on the length and complexity of the script. The schedule breaks the shoot into a day by day plan of what will be shot and how many days it will take to complete the film. A backup plan, known as a contingency, is an important part of any schedule. For example, if bad weather interrupts an exterior day of shooting, a contingency plan will be needed so that alternative shooting can take place.
Shooting usually takes place in a combination of real locations and studio-built settings. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. When using a real location a 'recce' is carried out. On a recce practical considerations such as the available light and accessible power points for equipment are noted. Possible problems, such as any sort of activities that may interfere with filming, are identified.