Published: November 8, 2024 | Last Updated: December 4, 2024
Production value Definition & Meaning
Production value is the technical quality of elements visible in a finished film. It includes set design, lighting, costumes, props, locations, hair and makeup, practical effects, CGI/VFX, and post-production elements such as color correction and grading. Production value does not include creative elements like writing, acting, or directing; it is solely the technical execution of a film’s visual components.
Movies are often labeled as having either high or low production value. In truth, this is a spectrum or range.
High Production Value Meaning
Image Source: Film-Grab
High production value is the quality and professionalism evident in a film’s technical aspects, such as cinematography, sound design, editing, lighting, and special effects. It often involves substantial financial investment, but the result is a polished, visually appealing movie.
High production value is often seen in blockbuster films or high-budget TV series, where attention to detail and craftsmanship are prioritized. Avatar (2009) and Avatar: Way of Water (2022) are great examples and still two of the top 10 most expensive movie sets.
Low Production Value Meaning
Low production value is a film or video project with limited financial resources that results in minimalistic or subpar elements. These can include poor-quality visuals, inadequate lighting, basic sound design, and simplistic sets or costumes.
Low production value is often associated with amateur or indie projects, where budget constraints impact the final product’s overall polish and professional finish. However, creativity and storytelling can shine through despite these limitations.
Low production value can either be intentional or unintentional!
Intentional low production value
Image Source: Film-Grab
Low production value can be intentional and is often used as a deliberate stylistic choice or to create authenticity.
A classic example is the works of filmmaker John Waters, who embraced low production values for his films – for example, Pink Flamingos (1972) mentioned above.
Another good example is horror films like The Blair Witch Project (1999) and Paranormal Activity (2007), which intentionally use low production value to create realistic, documentary-style horror experiences.
Reasons for embracing low production value in filmmaking
Throughout cinema history, directors and film movements have intentionally sought to embrace the low production value aesthetic. Reasons include the quest for authenticity, nostalgia, parody or satire, as a form of artistic expression, or as a way of stripping away high-production elements to focus on the story.
The Dogme 95 Movement, initiated by Danish filmmakers Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg, is a good example of a movement that emphasized simplicity and authenticity in filmmaking. The “Vow of Chastity” required filmmakers to use hand-held cameras, natural lighting, and no special effects or elaborate sets, often resulting in a raw, unpolished look
Another is the post-World War II film movement, Italian Neorealism, which focused on the everyday lives of ordinary people, often using non-professional actors, real locations, and a documentary-style approach.
Unintentional low production value
Unintentional low production value is often visible in amateur productions and campy B-movies and results from technical limitations, resource constraints, production problems, or all of the above.
Films like Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957) or the ambitious Danish monster movie Reptilicus (1962) are notorious examples of technical limitations severely impacting the viewing experience.
It’s worth noticing, though, that sometimes these films gain a cult following because they are so bad. Even if a movie didn’t intend the low production value, it doesn’t mean it can’t find an audience.
How to Achieve High Production Value on a Limited Budget
Okay, what if you aren’t born with a rich uncle in Hollywood Hills? Don’t worry; there’s still hope for us mere mortals. While substantial budgets often correlate with high production value, getting a little creative can elevate a production’s technical quality without robbing a bank.
El Mariachi, Robert Rodriguez’s groundbreaking $7,000 feature film, is a masterclass in maximizing production value.
Rodriguez used several low-budget solutions to achieve his goal, including:
- Using a wheelchair as a camera dolly
- Repurposing locations for multiple scenes
- Creative editing to suggest larger action sequences
- Maximizing production value through strategic shot selection
Leverage “Instant Production Value”
Another trick is to aim for instant production value using existing elements that naturally enhance production quality at no additional cost. This may require you to go a little “undercover” and shoot handheld without drawing attention to yourself, but as long as you stay within the limits of the law, the result can be worth it.
Sofia Coppola shot the Shibuya Crossing guerilla style – one of the world’s busiest pedestrian crossings – in Tokyo when shooting Lost in Translation (2003):
Other examples of instant production value include:
- Natural landmarks and architecture
- Public events
- Seasonal weather conditions
- Available infrastructure
That’s also why location scouting is so important.
Integrate Stock Footage
Don’t be afraid to use stock footage in your movie. High- and low-production value productions have done this for years, using everything from library shots to time lapses. It’s an inexpensive way to add footage from all around the globe.
Examples include:
- Establishing shots of expensive locations
- Aerial footage that would be costly to shoot
- Weather effects or natural phenomena from inaccessible areas
Summing Up
Production value is the overall quality of the film’s visuals, sound, and production elements. High production value typically involves polished cinematography, special effects, and high-quality sound, while low production value may feature less refined elements, which can be intentional and unintentional.
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