About this template
Film production is one of the most logistically dense projects in the creative world. Pre-production sets up everything — location, crew, cast, equipment, schedule — so that the shoot, which costs the most per day, runs without surprises. This 6-month template covers a short film or low-budget feature. The pre-pro and post-pro phases are intentionally long because compressed schedules in either reliably hurt the final film.
How a 6-month film project breaks down
Development
Script lock — multiple drafts, table reads, feedback. Budget. Producing partner or production company attached. Pitch deck if seeking financing. Most projects spend more time in development than any other phase; that is fine — the script and budget are the foundation everything sits on.
- Script drafts (3–5 passes)
- Table read
- Lock script
- Budget
- Producing partner
- Pitch deck (if seeking financing)
Pre-production
Crew hiring, casting, location scouting, schedule, shot list, storyboards, equipment rental, insurance. Pre-production failures cause production day overruns. Spend the time here so the shoot is execution, not problem-solving.
- Hire key crew (DP, AD, production designer)
- Casting
- Location scouting
- Production schedule (shoot order)
- Shot list and storyboards
- Equipment rental
- Insurance and permits
- Catering and craft services
Production
The shoot — typically 2–6 weeks for short films, 4–8 weeks for low-budget features. 10–12 hour days are common but unsustainable past 5 days/week. Daily call sheets distributed by 6pm the day before. Dailies reviewed each evening. Coverage notes — every scene shot from enough angles to give the editor real options.
- Daily call sheets
- Principal photography
- Dailies review (each evening)
- Coverage notes
- Wrap each location with checklist
Post — picture
Editor assembles a rough cut. Director and producer feedback rounds. Picture lock — the final cut where no more scene changes happen. After picture lock, sound design and color grading begin in earnest. Locking picture is the most-missed milestone in indie film — every additional change cascades into sound and color.
- Rough cut
- Director feedback
- Producer feedback
- Picture lock
- VFX work if applicable
Post — sound, color, music
Sound design, ADR (additional dialogue recording), foley, mix. Color grading. Composer scores to picture-lock. Music supervision for any licensed tracks. Final mix and master. These three departments work in parallel after picture lock.
- Sound design
- ADR sessions
- Foley
- Sound mix
- Color grading
- Composer scoring
- Music licensing
- Final mix and master
Distribution
Deliverables: master files in multiple formats, closed captions, trailer cut, key art, EPK. Festival submissions if going that route — most festivals require 6+ months lead time. Distribution strategy: festivals first, then streaming, or direct to streaming/VOD.
- Master deliverables (multiple formats)
- Closed captions
- Trailer cut
- Key art and EPK
- Festival submissions
- Distribution strategy
Tips from finished films
- Lock the script before pre-production. Changes after pre-pro lock cost real money.
- Spend more time in pre-production than feels comfortable. The shoot is execution, not problem-solving.
- Daily call sheets out by 6pm the day before. Late call sheets ripple into every department.
- Lock picture before sound, color, or music start in earnest. Every late picture change cascades.
- Submit to festivals 6+ months before the date. Late submissions are the most common reason indie films miss their target festival.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a film take to make?
Short film: 3–6 months. Low-budget feature: 9–18 months. Studio feature: 2–4 years. This template targets the short film / low-budget feature case.
What is the most common cause of overruns?
Insufficient pre-production. Compressed pre-pro reliably produces a chaotic shoot, which produces a worse film for the same budget.
Should I submit to festivals or go direct to streaming?
Depends on the film. Genre films and shorts often do better with the festival route; documentaries often benefit from a streaming-first strategy. Decide before locking picture.