Last updated on: August 14th, 2026

Key Pre-production Roles in Film: Who Does What

Pre-production is the planning phase before filming begins, and its key roles fall into three categories: Management and Logistics (producers, assistant directors, location managers — who make the production possible), Art Department and Visual Design (production designers, costume designers, the DP – who shape how the film looks), and Story Development (screenwriters, casting directors – who shape what the film says). Each role and its core responsibility are listed below, with a quick-reference table.
Every film that reaches a set has already passed through dozens of decisions no camera will ever capture. That planning phase is pre-production – the period between a greenlit script and the first day of shooting  , and it’s staffed by a specific set of roles, each responsible for a different piece of turning a script into a shootable plan.

Table of Contents

What Is Pre-production?

Pre-production is the planning stage of filmmaking that happens after a script is approved and before cameras roll. It covers everything from budgeting and scheduling to casting, location scouting, and designing the look of the film. Pre-production is widely considered the most consequential phase of a production; decisions made (or missed) here determine how smoothly, and how expensively, the actual shoot goes.

Quick-Reference Table

Role Category Core Responsibility
Producer Management and Logistics Oversees the entire production, secures financing, hires key crew
Line Producer Management and Logistics Manages the day-to-day budget and production logistics
Unit Production Manager (UPM) Management and Logistics Runs daily operations, schedules, and vendor logistics
1st Assistant Director Management and Logistics Builds the shooting schedule, runs the set during production
2nd Assistant Director Management and Logistics Manages call sheets, cast logistics, and daily paperwork
Location Manager Management and Logistics Scouts, secures, and permits filming locations
Production Designer Art Department and Visual Design Defines the overall visual world and look of the film
Art Director Art Department and Visual Design Executes the production designer's vision on a practical level
Costume Designer Art Department and Visual Design Designs and sources costumes that support character and story
Director of Photography (DP) Art Department and Visual Design Plans the visual approach — lighting, lenses, camera movement
Storyboard / Previs Artist Art Department and Visual Design Visualizes key scenes and shots before filming begins
Screenwriter Story Development Writes and revises the script that everything else is built on
Script Supervisor Story Development Ensures continuity between the script and the finalized shooting plan
Casting Director Story Development Finds and secures actors who fit each role

Management and Logistics Roles

This category covers the people who make a production financially and logistically possible – without them, no other department has the resources or schedule to do their job.
 

Producer

The producer oversees the entire production from development through delivery, secures financing, and hires the key department heads. In pre-production specifically, the producer is the person ultimately responsible for turning a script into an achievable plan.

Line Producer

The line producer manages the practical, day-to-day budget of the production, translating the producer’s overall vision into a detailed budget and making sure the production stays inside it.

Unit Production Manager (UPM)

The unit production manager runs daily operations during pre-production: booking equipment, negotiating with vendors, and managing logistics that the line producer’s budget depends on.

1st Assistant Director (1st AD)

The 1st assistant director builds the shooting schedule during pre-production – breaking the script into a day-by-day plan and will run the set once filming begins.

2nd Assistant Director (2nd AD)

The 2nd assistant director manages call sheets, cast scheduling, and the daily paperwork that keeps the 1st AD’s schedule executable.

Location Manager

The location manager scouts, negotiates, and secures permits for every filming location, working closely with the production designer to ensure a location can support the visual plan.

Art Department and Visual Design Roles

This category covers the people who determine how the film will actually look — its color, texture, light, and physical world.

Production Designer

The production designer defines the overall visual world of the film – sets, color palette, and physical environment — working closely with the director to translate the script’s tone into a concrete look.

Art Director

The art director executes the production designer’s vision at a practical level, managing the art department’s build teams, set dressers, and budget for physical construction.

Costume Designer

The costume designer designs and sources every costume in the film, using clothing to support character, period, and story rather than simply “dressing” actors.

Director of Photography (DP)

The director of photography, also called the cinematographer,  begins planning the visual approach during pre-production: choosing lenses, cameras, and lighting strategy in collaboration with the director and production designer.

Storyboard Artist / Previsualization (Previs) Artist

The storyboard or previs artist visualizes key scenes and complex sequences before filming, giving the director and DP a shared visual reference and helping identify problems before they’re expensive to fix on set.

Story Development Roles

This category covers the people responsible for what the film actually says – its script, characters, and performances.

Screenwriter

The screenwriter writes and revises the script that every other department builds from; in pre-production, screenwriters are frequently still doing rewrites in response to casting, budget, or location constraints.

Script Supervisor

The script supervisor ensures continuity between the script and the finalized shooting plan, tracking revisions and preparing the notes that will keep scenes consistent once filming begins.

Casting Director

The casting director finds and secures the actors who will play each role, working from the screenwriter’s characterizations and the director’s vision to fill the cast.

How These Roles Work Together

These three categories aren’t isolated; they’re in constant negotiation with each other throughout pre-production. A location the location manager secures has to support the production designer’s visual plan. A costume the costume designer wants to build has to fit the line producer’s budget. A casting choice the casting director makes can send the screenwriter back for a rewrite. The director and producer sit at the center of all three categories, making the final calls when priorities conflict.

Small Indie vs. Studio Production

On a large studio production, every role above is typically a separate, full-time person, sometimes with an entire department beneath them. On a small independent production, it’s common for one person to hold two or three of these roles simultaneously: a producer might also line produce, a 1st AD might also location manage, a director might also serve as production designer. Understanding what each role is responsible for still matters at small scale; it just means knowing which hat you’re wearing at any given moment.

FAQ

What are the key roles in film pre-production?

The key pre-production roles fall into three categories: management and logistics (producer, line producer, UPM, 1st and 2nd AD, location manager), art department and visual design (production designer, art director, costume designer, DP, storyboard/previs artist), and story development (screenwriter, script supervisor, casting director).

What is the difference between a producer and a line producer?

A producer oversees the entire production and secures financing, while a line producer manages the practical, day-to-day budget and logistics that turn the producer’s plan into a workable schedule.

Who is responsible for the look of a film during pre-production?

The production designer defines the overall visual world, working with the art director, costume designer, and director of photography to execute that vision across sets, costumes, and cinematography.

Does the screenwriter still work during pre-production?

Yes,  screenwriters frequently continue revising the script during pre-production in response to casting decisions, budget constraints, or location limitations.

What does a 1st AD do differently from a 2nd AD?

The 1st assistant director builds the shooting schedule and runs the set during filming, while the 2nd assistant director manages call sheets, cast logistics, and the daily paperwork that supports that schedule.