# How Long Does Principal Photography (on a movie) Take? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 29, 2013, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-principal-photography-on-a-movie-take/654225 "2013-03-29T00:00:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-principal-photography-on-a-movie-take/654225/1 "2013-03-29T00:00:28Z")
I know that the answer to this will be “it varies.” But to make things simple, imagine that I’m not asking about direct-to-DVD stuff, or arthouse stuff, or major summer blockbusters. Just run-of-the-mill movies, like _Mama_ or _Identity Thief_. About how long does it take from the first day the cameras start rolling until they stop? ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-principal-photography-on-a-movie-take/654225/2 "2013-03-29T00:26:01Z")
It varies. Mama filmed for two months and two weeks. > **[Mama (2013 film) | Production](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mama_%282013_film%29#Production)** > > The film began production in Pinewood Toronto Studios on 3 October 2011. Production ended on 9 December 2011. Parts of the film were also shot in Quebec City, Quebec. Although the film was produced in Canada, it is set in Clifton Forge, Virginia. The film was initially scheduled for release in October 2012, but was later rescheduled for January to avoid competing with Paranormal Activity 4. Its success at that later date has, among with other dump months horror films, convinced studios to star I couldn’t find the dates for Identity Thief, but I found a few other 2013 releases. Gangster Squad filmed for three months and one week. > **[Gangster Squad](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangster_Squad#Production)** > > Gangster Squad can refer to: The Last Stand filmed for three months > **[The Last Stand (2013 film) | Production](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Stand_%282013_film%29#Production)** > > In June 2009, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura and studio Lionsgate pre-emptively picked up Andrew Knauer's spec script for The Last Stand. Back then, the script involved Cortez escaping with a Gumpert Apollo. One year later, South Korean director Kim Jee-woon became attached to the project. di Bonaventura stated that Jee-woon was invited because he felt that in his filmography he "makes the simple feel rich". Kim in turn declared that he was attracted to the plot of "protecting something im Liam ... ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-principal-photography-on-a-movie-take/654225/3 "2013-03-29T03:30:58Z")
Moved to Cafe Society. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-principal-photography-on-a-movie-take/654225/4 "2013-03-29T03:30:43Z")
Moved to Cafe Society. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-principal-photography-on-a-movie-take/654225/5 "2013-03-29T04:01:38Z")
It varies. For a studio production 3 months is a common figure. You need to get your director, crew, and major actors dedicated to working for some time period, you need to reserve equipment and sets and arrange locations shots, you have problems along the way, and 3 months ends up being a tight schedule. But the rest of the work can expand out into years. Scenes may be reshot later, you may have seperate location crews working at the same time, adjacent time periods, or a long time apart. Redubbing, scoring, re-cutting, and all the post-production work can go on and on. And all of that doesn’t start until the auditions and casting has been done, numerous reworks of the script, and all of the pre-production work to gather a crew, and do all the planning work so the resources are available when filming starts. Some producers would tell you that principle photography is the easiest part of the job, it happens after all the planning has been done. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-principal-photography-on-a-movie-take/654225/6 "2013-03-29T04:03:13Z")
I looked up Saw for a different discussion a little while ago. That one filmed in 8 days. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-principal-photography-on-a-movie-take/654225/7 "2013-03-29T04:13:53Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > I looked up Saw for a different discussion a little while ago. > > That one filmed in 8 days. Perfect example of how to do it quick and easy. It’s primarily one set, two experienced actors, almost no action just talking, and the other actors have quick simple scenes with little interaction. I’m surprised they needed 8 whole days. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-principal-photography-on-a-movie-take/654225/8 "2013-03-29T04:41:22Z")
For something as harrowing and epic as it gets, principal photography on the Lord of the Rings trilogy took [274 days.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principal_photography_of_The_Lord_of_the_Rings_film_series) > [@Wikipedia](#): > > Principal photography for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy was conducted concurrently in New Zealand for 274 days from October 11, 1999 through to December 22, 2000. Pick-up shoots were conducted annually from 2001 to 2004. The trilogy was shot at over 150 different locations, with seven different units shooting, as well as soundstages around Wellington and Queenstown. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-principal-photography-on-a-movie-take/654225/9 "2013-03-29T04:59:11Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > For something as harrowing and epic as it gets, principal photography on the Lord of the Rings trilogy took [274 days.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principal_photography_of_The_Lord_of_the_Rings_film_series) But that was for three simultaneous movies, so dividing that out yields… 3 months of principal photography per movie, much like other movies. I’ll agree this was indeed a harrowing production to pull off. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-principal-photography-on-a-movie-take/654225/10 "2013-03-29T05:02:46Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > For a studio production 3 months is a common figure. Even a big production can get it done in that time frame. For example, _The Phantom Menace_ finished its [principal photography](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_phantom_menace#Filming) in 3 months (6/27/97 - 9/30/97). However, it’d been in serious pre-production for three years before filming started, and editing and effects work took nearly two more years after the end of filming. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-principal-photography-on-a-movie-take/654225/11 "2013-03-29T05:05:43Z")
[ul] [li]Six weeks or less for a low budget, Indie, or otherwise simpler movie (e.g. the aforementioned _Saw_ or a motion capture film like _Tintin_).[/li][li]Two to three months is typical for a drama or romantic comedy.[/li][li]Six months for a big blockbuster action movie with loads of complicated stunt or VFX sequences.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-principal-photography-on-a-movie-take/654225/12 "2013-03-29T05:08:51Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > But that was for three simultaneous movies, so dividing that out yields… 3 months of principal photography per movie, much like other movies. > > I’ll agree this was indeed a harrowing production to pull off. True. But, like the books, the production was pretty much handled as one long, singular movie shoot. A 9+ month long shoot makes my stomach turn. I don’t know how Jackson made it out alive! ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-principal-photography-on-a-movie-take/654225/13 "2013-03-29T05:54:08Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > A 9+ month long shoot makes my stomach turn. I don’t know how Jackson made it out alive! Oh, heck yeah. No argument. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-principal-photography-on-a-movie-take/654225/14 "2013-03-29T06:03:08Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > For something as harrowing and epic as it gets, principal photography on the Lord of the Rings trilogy took [274 days.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principal_photography_of_The_Lord_of_the_Rings_film_series) > > > [@](#): > > > > Principal photography for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy was conducted concurrently in New Zealand for 274 days from October 11, 1999 through to December 22, 2000. Wouldn’t that actually be 439 days? ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-principal-photography-on-a-movie-take/654225/15 "2013-03-29T06:36:23Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Wouldn’t that actually be 439 days? Hunh. Perhaps with holidays, breaks, production delays due to injuries of key cast members among myriad other things that can crop up, it was 274 days spread out over 439? I dunno. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-principal-photography-on-a-movie-take/654225/16 "2013-03-29T06:41:35Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Wouldn’t that actually be 439 days? Huh. Yeah, it would. I got no principal dog in this fight, but the cite for 274 is [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principal_photography_of_The_Lord_of_the_Rings_film_series). Talk to the wiki. I guess? ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-principal-photography-on-a-movie-take/654225/17 "2013-03-29T09:56:50Z")
Kubrick took more than a year to shoot “The Shining”. ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-principal-photography-on-a-movie-take/654225/18 "2013-03-29T10:10:33Z")
As noted above, shooting time can vary. On the low end, it takes about 3 weeks to get a feature film in the can. An hour drama - the term for any hour long fictional show, even a comedy like Ugly Betty - takes 8 days to shoot. That’s 8 days to get footage for 45 minutes of screen time. Double that, and you’ve got enough for a 90 minute, low budget feature. Hour dramas shoot about as fast as it’s possible to shoot and still produce a watchable product. These shows do have the advantage of using standing sets that they are already set up perfectly to light and shoot. Features can shoot on a 6 day week shooting schedule, TV shows typically use a 5 day week, so that can make a difference too. Three 6 day weeks will give you 16 shooting days plus a couple of days to make up for whatever goes wrong. (Something always goes wrong.) ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-principal-photography-on-a-movie-take/654225/19 "2013-03-29T11:16:14Z")
Define “Principal Photography”. All films undergo pick up shots most have some reshoots, other major reshoots. In many cases the cinematic release has more shot from outside the principal photography than in it. The Star Wars prequels each had major reshoots (Natalie Portman ages and deages in each films noticeably) which took place months or years after principal photography wrapped and _Revenge of the Sith_ was essentially reshot after it’s original shooting. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-principal-photography-on-a-movie-take/654225/20 "2013-03-29T15:59:34Z")
A very loose rule of thumb: One page of a script is about one minute on screen - thus a 120 page script will be about a two hour movie. There are lots of variables, but it takes about one full day to shoot 5 to 7 pages. Using the above info, you can get a rough calculation of the length of time it will take to make a film. But as mentioned, lots of variables: how many different locations; availability of actors and crew; weather; make up and special effects; unexpected events/problems; etc. etc. etc. A good friend of mine makes a nice chunk of change putting together film budgets for major studios. He can take a script and tear it down to time and cost. He is quite good at, for instance, giving comparisons to filming in Paris, Rome and London versus filming in Budapest, Prague and Warsaw (for the same visual effects and style of background for 1/3 the price). He also knows the laws in each country regarding hiring locals, taxes and fees, and any government incentives that will cut costs. Trust me, there were very good reasons the recent series Hatfields & McCoys was shot in Romania instead of the US! So yeah, it varies. But a good budget accountant can do wonders with predicting the eventual cost and time it will take to film a big budget film. Often he will get some great script (huge cast or huge star or big budget series), only to have the entire project shelved when they realize it is going to cost double or triple what they originally had thought it would cost. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-principal-photography-on-a-movie-take/654225.md?page=2)