What is principal photography?

What is principal photography?

• A. The editing phase
• B. The planning phase
• C. The staging of the film only
• D. The phase in which the majority of footage and sound are recorded

Answer: (D)

Principal photography is the main filming period when the movie is actually shot and the bulk of the material is captured. During this phase, cameras roll on most scenes, actors perform, sets or locations are filmed, and production sound is recorded on set. That combination of picture and on-set sound constitutes the majority of the footage you’ll use in the final edit, which is why this phase is defined by capturing most of the film’s material. This differs from the planning phase, which happens before filming starts and covers concepts, schedules, and logistics. It also differs from the editing phase, which takes place after shooting is finished and involves selecting takes, cutting them together, and shaping the narrative. Staging the film refers to blocking and rehearsing scenes, which occurs during production, but principal photography specifically describes the actual filming of most footage and recording of production sound.

Principal photography is the main filming period when the movie is actually shot and the bulk of the material is captured. During this phase, cameras roll on most scenes, actors perform, sets or locations are filmed, and production sound is recorded on set. That combination of picture and on-set sound constitutes the majority of the footage you’ll use in the final edit, which is why this phase is defined by capturing most of the film’s material.

This differs from the planning phase, which happens before filming starts and covers concepts, schedules, and logistics. It also differs from the editing phase, which takes place after shooting is finished and involves selecting takes, cutting them together, and shaping the narrative. Staging the film refers to blocking and rehearsing scenes, which occurs during production, but principal photography specifically describes the actual filming of most footage and recording of production sound.