What does Principal Photography mean?
Principal Photography refers to the main phase of filming in a movie or TV production. It involves the majority of shooting with the primary cast and crew, including the bulk of scenes and dialogue that will appear in the final cut. Principal photography typically follows extensive planning during pre-production and is the most resource-intensive part of filmmaking, often lasting weeks or months depending on the complexity of the project. After principal photography wraps, the production enters post-production, where editing and visual effects are added.
Example:Principal photography for a big-budget film takes place over several months, with the cast and crew shooting in multiple international locations.
Example: A TV show completes its principal photography, with the majority of episodes filmed over the course of several weeks.
Did You Know?
Principal photography often involves long shooting days and intense schedules, with production working to capture all the essential scenes before moving into post-production!