tournage

Tournage is the French term for the process of recording visual material, commonly used to refer to film or television shooting. In the context of audiovisual production, the tournage stage follows pre‑production planning—such as scriptwriting, casting, location scouting, and storyboard creation—and precedes post‑production activities like editing, sound design, and visual effects. The word derives from the verb « tourner », meaning “to turn” or “to shoot,” reflecting the rotation of film stock through a camera or the turning of a camera on its axis.

During a tournage, a crew assembled under the direction of a réalisateur (director) works to capture the intended scenes. Key participants include the directeur de la photographie (cinematographer), cadreur (camera operator), ingénieur du son (sound engineer), assistants, and various technical staff. Production design, lighting, makeup, and costume departments contribute to the visual authenticity of each shot. The schedule is typically organized into a plan de tournage (shooting schedule) that lists scenes, locations, and required equipment, aiming to optimise time and resources.

Tournage can occur on set—controlled environments built in studios—or on location, where natural surroundings are used. In recent years, digital recording technologies have largely supplanted analog film, though the term remains applicable to both formats. Safety regulations, union agreements, and local permits often govern the logistics of a tournage, especially when involving stunts or large crowds. The successful completion of the tournage phase is essential for providing the raw footage that will later be shaped into the final audiovisual product.