The moment finances are available and the budget is approved, your project can begin the preproduction phase, where schedules are confirmed, department heads recruited, cast and crew members hired, locations verified, and equipment secured. This is the first of many exciting, creative, and nerve-racking phases of filmmaking, and it's the stage that will determine the success of a production. Organization skills, flexibility, and common sense are the keys to maintaining order and keeping all of the major players focused on their number one priority — making your film.