Trainspotting financial constraints

Pre-production video notes: Tips and advice

• Ensure your planning is 100% accurate before you begin the production process.
• Use a development checklist that the script speaks to your audience and that its polished and approved (edited, treated  and checked)
• Ensure you have the right budget for the project's needs 
• Create a story board to ensure you know what you're doing next and work out any issues you may have before you arrive on set
• logistics check list: have the correct cast and the crew are all in place on time along with the equipment. Make sure a shot list is available and in line with your schedule 
• The call sheet: everything in one sheet and sectioned into clear schedule and information so that everyone knows where to be and when to be there along with extra suggestions eg. colours for clothing or makeup
• Create a backup plan (contingencies). Make sure you cover all bases eg.understudies, weather  or extra clothes 
• Make a bonus checklist: including equipment, location, previsualization with the key members and that everything is ready

Case study: Trainspotting (1996)

• Budget was £3.5 mil
• Directed by Danny Boyle 
• Written by Andrew MacDonald
• Based off of a novel by Irvine Welsh which was a part of a series 
• Rights to screenplay: if you want to translate a novel to a film you have to get screen rights. In trainspotting they could not get the screen rights off of another company.
• They were offered $250,000 from a Hollywood mogul Scott Rudin to film whatever project they desire 
• The rights were problematic and so channel 4, who was financing the film, refused to help however Irvine was ready to help them in court.
• Pre-production lasted for 7 weeks (generally 4-7weeks)
•  Then rehearsals began in the second week of may in a flat in order to keep budget low 
• Location recce: document including multiple locations to look at where you might want to shoot, risk assessment , planning permission for set if it's on private land, terrain for shots , lighting 
• Set design: read the script, discuss and then do research working with many departments to make the set look as realistic to the reference photographs as possible.They would have to sketch the design and add props or create them and or costumes.