Principal Photography
The main period when a film or TV show is being shot.
Definition
Principal photography is the phase of film production when the bulk of a project is shot with the main actors and crew. It follows pre-production (planning) and precedes post-production (editing, effects). This phase is typically the most expensive, with each day costing thousands to millions of dollars depending on the production scale.
Why It Matters
Principal photography is when cameras roll on the main shoot—the most intensive and expensive phase of production. Everything before prepares for this period; everything after processes what's captured.
Managing principal photography effectively requires meticulous preparation and daily problem-solving. Days lost to weather, illness, or technical issues can devastate budgets and schedules.
Examples in Practice
A film's efficient 35-day principal photography schedule delivers coverage for a story competitors would take 50 days to shoot.
A production builds contingency into the schedule, accommodating weather delays without budget overruns.
A director's thorough preparation maximizes productivity, completing a complex film in remarkably few shooting days.