One of the biggest benefits of pre-production in scripted video production is you. Why? Because pre-production is an indispensable part of the video production process. Anyone planning a scripted project should engage in some type of pre-production. Without it, you might add many headaches to your video production project and your life. In this blog, I will explain why this is the video production stage everyone should start with.
Benefits Of Pre-Production Table Of Contents
What is Pre-Production?
Pre-production refers to the planning that happens before filming begins. It includes budgeting, casting, developing the script, hiring a crew, scheduling, scouting locations, and sorting through all the technical details. Essentially, it aims to minimize potential headaches on production day.
Why Pre-Production Matters
Let’s break this down with a scenario. Imagine you’re fresh out of college and decide to focus on corporate video production. You figure out how to start a video production company and choose to create a company overview video for a local law firm. You are the project director. You use friends as the talent and hire a local freelance videographer, makeup artist, hairstylist, and wardrobe stylist. You have your idea, cast, crew, and location. Then what? Now you will see why the following matters.
Organizes Production
You have all the important pieces for production, but no one knows anything beyond the date, time, and location of the law firm video production project. Everyone arrives without knowing what to do beyond their very particular set of skills. You could explain everything on site and wing it, but that approach may not seem professional and could cause issues. Instead, organize beforehand and confirm everyone understands their roles and tasks. This preparation minimizes disruptions during filming and keeps the project on track.
Saves Time and Costs
Continuing with the previous theme, addressing potential problems early saves time and reduces costs. Planning ahead prevents delays and helps manage the budget more effectively. Without a plan, you will spend extra time directing the cast and crew on production day. You might also need a better lighting setup if the room is poorly lit. Imagine telling your client on production day that you need to charge more because you didn’t plan to use a gaffer for the day.
Optimizes Creative Efforts
When everyone knows their role before production, the day will flow much smoother. Production day won’t be perfect; changes will occur due to various factors. However, having a creative outline before the shoot day will minimize adjustments during filming.
Key Steps in Pre-Production
- Script and Storyboard Development: Draft the script and create storyboards to visualize each scene. This helps in planning the narrative flow, setting up scenes, and camera setups.
- Budgeting and Scheduling: This is likely the most crucial step, especially when potential clients contact you for video production services. Develop a budget covering all stages of video production and create a detailed schedule to manage the timeline effectively. Don’t forget food for your talent and crew.
- Location and Set Design: Choose appropriate filming locations and design sets that support the narrative. Confirm that these elements align with the script.
- Casting and Crew: Select the right actors and crew members who will make your project better. Determine if you have good rapport with them. You don’t need to be friends, but you should feel comfortable working with them. Effective casting and team management are central to a smooth video production process.
- Technical Preparations: Organize and test all technical equipment, such as cameras and lighting. Conduct test shoots to identify problems before filming commences. Also, have backup equipment. Renting from a camera rental store is recommended.
- Legal and Administrative Tasks: Secure required permits, contracts, and insurance to cover the legal aspects of the production. Proper documentation and compliance are vital to avoid legal complications later.
Wrapping Up The Benefits Of Pre-Production
While this might seem like a lot and many want to get straight to shooting (me included), one of the biggest benefits of pre-production is you. Those steps are essential, but if you don’t implement them, you risk your project’s success. If you have a project in mind or a potential client wants to hire you, you must go through the pre-production process. It won’t guarantee your project will go without a hitch, but it will provide an outline for how the project will proceed. If you’re a current or future video production company owner or a potential client who wants to know more about the benefits of pre-production for scripted videos, please feel free to reach out.
