Pre-production is the planning process of filming. Aspects like casting, location scouting, script development, and budgeting happen during this stage. In other words, it’s where all the initial groundwork takes place. Here, we break it down for you.
In this post, we’ll cover:
Understanding the Pre-Production Process
While the process generally involves a lot of planning, it is more than simply writing things on a whiteboard. So, if you’re wondering what is pre-production. . . .
To start, pre-production is a set of steps that ensures that the story the client (in this case, you) wants to send to their audience gets sent.
To take a step back, the pre-production process also ensures that the story is told in the best way possible.
Concept Development
As straightforward as it is, concept development is all about developing the concept or story for your video project. Some production teams even go beyond and offer a couple of ideas for you to choose from.
There’s a lot that goes into creating even a short, 30-second commercial, and every second of it should be well thought-out. This is why concept development is one of the most vital steps in pre-production.
Research and Planning
Once the concept is finalized, here is where the research and planning stage comes in.
It’s like, now that you’ve decided to bake a carrot cake for Thanksgiving, you have to decide when to bake, when to shop for the ingredients, what ingredients are already in your kitchen, whether you should make a low-carb cake or not, and so on.
This step usually covers aspects like what costumes your casts will use if there’s a theme, or if it’s a minimalist interview-type concept, what colors would be used, say, for the background?
Where will you shoot? Is it better to use natural lighting throughout, or is shooting in a room with a few windows okay? Do you need to rent a space?
Budgeting and Securing Funding
Self-funding is only one of the many ways to fund a video project. And yes, funding is an integral part of the stages of pre-production, especially when the rest of the production depends heavily on the budget.
Other wants to fund a project include connecting with potential investors, doing a GoFundMe campaign, and applying for grants.
But before securing the funding, you should first be clear on how much the project would cost. This could entail some back and forth with your chosen pre-production agency.
Expect there to be some negotiations before a final amount is set.
Location Scouting
Every pre-production process includes location scouting. You can film from an empty building, the streets, a park. This all boils down to understanding the story that needs to be filmed and the atmosphere it needs, like open space, natural lighting, and so on.
For bigger or more specific projects, location scouting may take time because there’s a need to find a very specific place. As in, it can’t just be any empty building. It has to have a certain character to it.
Scheduling
Scheduling should never be missing from your pre-production checklist because—it may sound dramatic—this is the holy grail of the entire project.
Just like a product launch, a new feature launch, or any other major event for a business, filming requires a strict time-frame. This is so the post-production team would know when to come in.
That said, when working on scheduling, make sure you consider things like holidays and the weather. A good pre-production team would also always have a plan B, just in case of something unforeseen.
Crew and Equipment Assembling
What type of equipment does this project need? Will you be renting from one place or one company only, or do you require specific equipment that needs to be sourced out elsewhere?
Same with the crew. How many people do you need, and why that many (or few)? Is this the go-to crew of your chosen production company, or will they hire from elsewhere?
As a brand, it’s a smart move to know where the people who will potentially work on your video project have worked before.
Even better, what projects did they work on prior to yours? This is so you get an idea of how they work and what they’re capable of producing.
Casting
While the crew works behind the camera, the cast works in front of the camera.
Casting is an integral part of every pre-production, as this determines who sends the message across to your audience.
Ad agencies and film production companies work with various casting agencies or companies that have a roster of actors.
Storyboard and Shot List
A storyboard is like a script but in picture form. It’s a roadmap of the entire post-production and pre-production process. The shot list is like the signs that say “turn left” or “dead end.”
These things help every member of your cast and crew better visualize what needs to happen, scene after scene. Your shot list is the checklist that helps the team ensure every necessary shot is filmed.
Because you can visualize the shots before the actual filming, you can also see potential trouble spots, if any. This can help save time for the editing folks during post-production because things were already done correctly and efficiently during the shoot.
Factors That Impact the Pre-Production Process
Like any business, investing in video marketing (or any kind of marketing and advertising) means you’re investing in getting a message across.
But aside from the steps mentioned, what else impacts the pre-production process of a video project?
Size of the Production
In pre-production, teamwork is key. And for that team to work, you’ll need directors, producers, and assistant producers to begin with. These are just three of the many people you will need on your team.
This is why it’s important to understand the capacity and capability of all those involved, and know exactly how many people should be part of the production team.
Big doesn’t always mean better.
Scope of the Production
Another factor is the scope of production. Everything from the main deliverable, say a video ad, to the smaller deliverables, say a teaser or a few social media assets, these are all parts of the production scope.
If these things are not discussed clearly, it will affect the pre-production process.
Hiring a Professional Crew for Video Production
So, should you hire a crew or is your company teeming with creatives that you can produce this in-house?
Here are a couple of aspects to consider.
Cost and Budgeting
Examples of pre-production include cost and budgeting, and these two things are not always easy to figure out.
Knowing how much you should prepare for pre-production will depend on several variables, but for ads, prepare for between $8-10k.
Of course, this will adjust depending on various factors, like whether you need to be in one location or several, whether you need an animator or graphics designer, and how many casts (actors) the story needs.
Pros and Cons
Why hire someone if it’s only for a small project? Most brands have probably asked this question at some point. And, when it comes to video pre-production, why indeed?
One advantage of hiring a professional team is that you can sit back and relax because the people working on your project know what they’re doing. They have experience and pre-existing knowledge.
However, having a crew is not always the best choice. The process may take longer with a full pre-production team because more people are involved.
Understand that the process, in general, needs to go through multiple channels before a final decision will be made.
Pre-Production Process FAQs
What are the steps in the pre-production process?
The pre-production process includes various steps, including storyboarding, concept development, location scouting, casting, budgeting, and more.
How long does the pre-production process usually take?
Depending on the size of the film, the pre-production process can take anywhere from weeks to months. A 30-second commercial can take a few days to a few weeks.
Why is the pre-production process important?
The pre-production process helps ensure that everything that follows—the filming and post-production—flows as smoothly as possible.
We can’t control unprecedented events, but solid pre-production planning means having a solid foundation.
License this cover image via Stock Unit.
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