What goes into the planning of a video production; A Checklist

Video production is a creative process that requires careful planning to achieve the desired outcome. From defining the goal and purpose of the video to finalizing the distribution plan, each stage of video production demands thoughtful and strategic planning.

Regardless of the type of video being produced, planning plays a critical role in ensuring that the production runs smoothly, efficiently, and effectively meeting the expectations of both the client and the target audience. Whether it is a corporate promotional video, a music video, or a short film, careful planning is necessary to achieve the desired outcome and create a final product that resonates with the intended audience.

Without a clear plan in place, video production can quickly become disorganized, expensive, and time-consuming. 

In this blog, we will delve into the different aspects of video production planning and provide a detailed checklist for each stage to help you stay on track and achieve your goals. 

Pre-production planning

The pre-production planning stage is where the initial groundwork is laid for the entire video production process. It involves defining the purpose and goal of the video, identifying the target audience, creating a script or storyboard, video budgeting, and deciding on the video format and style.

Defining the purpose and goal of the video is critical in determining the overall direction of the production. The video's goal could be to inform, educate, entertain, or inspire the audience, and this will influence the tone, style, and message of the video.

Identifying the target audience is also essential as it helps tailor the video to their specific interests and preferences. The audience's age, gender, location, and interests are factors that can influence the video's content, format, and style.

Creating a script or storyboard provides a visual representation of the final video, allowing the production team to plan shots, dialogue, and transitions. A script or storyboard also helps to ensure that the video stays on track with the intended purpose and message. You'll want to include the following in your storyboard, among other things:

• Which tone of voice will you use?
• How does it appear and sound?
• Who will be working on this project, what will they be doing on set, and how will they be involved?
• How long will it take you to make this video?
• The cast and crew in your video, and what will they be doing on set?
• When will it be shot?

Planning the budget is crucial to determine the resources required for the production, including hiring crew, equipment, location, and post-production expenses. Video Budgeting requires a lot of planning as it lays down the whole roadmap for the video. A higher budget allows a better filmmaking process when compared to a shoestring-budget video.

Deciding on the video format and style involves determining the type of video that will best convey the intended message and resonate with the target audience. Different formats include live-action, animation, documentary-style, and more. The video's style, such as humorous, serious, or dramatic, should align with the intended purpose and target audience.

Logistics planning

The logistics planning stage of corporate video production is vital for executing the pre-production plan successfully. It requires careful consideration and arrangements to ensure that the production runs smoothly and efficiently, within the allotted budget and timeframe.

Securing the right location is critical for the success of the video, and this requires identifying and booking a suitable filming location that aligns with the intended message and audience. Permits and permissions may be required to film in specific locations, and this needs to be taken into consideration.

Hiring crew and actors involve assembling a team of professionals to bring the video's vision to life. This includes hiring a director, cinematographer, sound engineer, lighting crew, makeup and wardrobe artists, and more. Actors or on-screen talent are also cast during this stage.

Scheduling shoot dates and times is a crucial aspect of logistics planning, as it helps ensure that the production stays on schedule and within the budget. The schedule should include time for rehearsals, setup, filming, and possible reshoots.

Planning for equipment and props involves identifying and securing the necessary equipment required for production, such as cameras, lighting, sound equipment, and other essential tools. Props may also need to be arranged if they are required for production.

Making travel arrangements is necessary if the production requires filming in different locations or if the crew and talent are from different regions. Transportation, accommodation, and meals need to be arranged to ensure that everyone is comfortable and able to focus on the production.

Production planning

This stage involves the actual shooting of the video and requires careful attention to detail to ensure that everything runs soothly.

Conducting rehearsals is an essential part of the production planning process. Rehearsals allow the actors or presenters to practice their lines and movements, allowing them to feel more comfortable and confident when filming begins. Rehearsals also help the director and crew to identify any issues or problems before filming begins, allowing them to make adjustments to the script or production plan as necessary.

Setting up equipment and testing is another crucial aspect of production planning. This includes cameras, lighting equipment, microphones, and any other necessary gear. It's also essential to test the equipment to ensure that everything is working as expected before filming begins.

Managing on-set safety and communication is also an important consideration during the production planning stage. This involves ensuring that everyone on set is safe and that all necessary safety protocols are in place.

Capturing raw footage is the primary objective of the production planning stage. This involves filming all of the necessary footage according to the production plan and ensuring that everything is captured as required. This requires careful attention to detail, as even small mistakes or issues can have a significant impact on the final product.

Post-production planning

Post-production planning is the final stage of film production and involves editing and enhancing the raw footage to create the final product. This stage includes tasks such as selecting the best footage, editing the video, adding special effects, and incorporating sound and music.

Adding special effects can enhance the video's visual appeal and provide additional context or information. Special effects can include animation, motion graphics, and other visual effects.

Incorporating sound and music is an essential aspect of post-production planning, as it can help create a specific mood or emotion for the video. This includes adding sound effects, and voiceover, and selecting appropriate music that aligns with the video's tone and message.

Finalizing the distribution plan is also part of post-production planning and involves deciding on the platform or channels through which the video will be distributed. This includes social media, websites, and email campaigns, among others.

Distribution planning

Once the video has been created, the next step is to plan for its distribution. This involves creating a distribution plan that outlines how the video will be shared with the target audience.

Creating a distribution plan involves identifying the target audience and selecting the appropriate distribution channels to reach them. This can include uploading the video to social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or other platforms like Vimeo or Wistia. It's important to identify which channels will be most effective for reaching the target audience and tailor the distribution plan accordingly.

Once the video has been uploaded, it's important to share it with the targeted audience. This can involve promoting the video through social media advertising or email marketing campaigns.

The distribution plan should also include any necessary tracking tools, such as Google Analytics, to measure the success of the video and make any necessary changes.

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Conclusion

Proper video production planning helps ensure that everything runs smoothly and that you're prepared for any unexpected issues that may arise during production.

Video production planning is a multi-step process that involves strategizing and preparation to ensure a successful film production. The filmmaking process includes pre-production planning, production planning, post-production planning, distribution planning, and a comprehensive checklist. By following these steps and using the provided checklists, you can ensure that you're fully prepared for every aspect of the corporate video production process.

Overwhelmed? Let us take care of your videos, from planning to production to the final deliverables. Contact us today for our video production service.