Video production has become more important than ever for businesses. That’s because video content is being consumed more than any other medium. In fact, video is responsible for a staggering 82% of global internet traffic.
If you’re about to take the leap into the world of video creation, then you’ll want to know where to begin. The process of video production is busy (but exciting) one that spans everything from ideation and planning to filming, collecting feedback, and getting approval.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the video production process from start to finish. Let’s get started.
What is video production?
Video production is the process of creating video content. That might be for a film, a commercial, or an explainer. For TV, for your website, or for social media.
What is the video production process?
Video production is an elaborate process that takes multiple steps before your video is ready to take on the world. It entails everything from the initial idea for the video, to its final execution.
All stages of the video production process have to be well organized to make sure you’ll end up with a video that everyone is proud of.
Three stages of the video production process
The video production process is broken down into three areas:
- Pre-production – where you plan the shoot or animation schedule.
- Production – where you shoot your video or create the animation.
- Post-production – where the video is edited and reviewed.
Let’s take a look at video production process steps in more detail.
1. Pre-production – plan the shoot or animation schedule
Pre-production is the longest phase of the video production process. It’s all about planning. Good planning is integral to a successful shoot and extends from the moment you decide to make a video right up until the point where you start shooting or animating.
In video pre-production process you’ll determine what you’re going to produce, who your audience will be, what resources you’ll need, and your budgets and timelines. You’ll also map out the full plan for the video, including a script, shooting locations, talent, and a schedule.
We’ve broken this phase down into bite-size pieces. Allow plenty of time to work through each of these steps to ensure the rest of the process runs smoothly:
Define what you need to create and why
First things first, define the objectives of the video. Why are you making it? Determine who your audience is and research their common problems, their interests, and what they watch. How will the video benefit them? Think about the core message you want to get across to them and put this at the center of your strategy.
Then turn your attention to your budget and timeline. Be realistic with both, and carefully consider how you will stay within budget and meet your deadline.
Write your script and storyboard
Now for the creative part. Decide on your creative approach and brainstorm what your video should include. Write your script, and create your storyboard to visualize how your video will be shot.
Using the script and storyboard, create a plan of the people, places, and equipment you’ll need to get these shots.
Find the best locations to set the scene
If your video is live action (rather than animated), now’s the time to scout locations for your shoot. If you need to shoot outside or at a specific location, you might need to get permission ahead of shooting. If you’re filming outside, make sure you have a backup plan in case it rains!
Organize equipment that’ll help you get the money shot(s)
The main equipment you’ll need for the production stage of the video production process is a camera, a microphone, and lighting. Or if you’re creating an animated video you might need to get your hands on some specialist software.
Check your storyboard for any extra equipment you might need.
Search for talent to bring your script to life
This might mean professional actors or voiceover artists. Or it could simply mean employees or customers. When casting talent, keep referring back to the message you want your video to put across, and make sure you find personalities to match.
Schedule the shoot to ensure smooth running on the day
The pre-production phase of the process is nearly complete. All that’s left to do is schedule the shoot. Consider your deadline and the availability of your talent and shooting location before locking in a date.
Then plan a schedule for the day itself. Think about how much you need to get done and the distance between locations. Ensure equipment and crew are sorted, as well as makeup and wardrobe.
Once that’s done, it’s time to move on to the next phase. Production.
2. Production – shoot your video or create the animation
The production phase is when the actual filming takes place. Your carefully planned schedule will give you a pretty accurate idea of how long this stage will take.
These are the typical steps in this part of the process:
Set up your equipment
Allow plenty of time ahead of your shoot to set up your camera and lighting at your selected location. If you’re moving between locations or taking lots of different types of shots, make sure you’ve factored enough setup time into your schedule so that you don’t end up running behind.
Rehearse
It’s always worth having a run-through before you start filming to ensure that everyone knows what they’re doing and everything is in order.
And action!
Switch the camera on and start filming. Refer back to your storyboard to ensure you get all the shots you need and keep an eye on your schedule to ensure you’re sticking to the set timings.
3. Post-production – edit and review your video with stakeholders
The third and final stage in the video production process is post-production. The video post production process involves taking all of your footage, editing it, and getting it reviewed and signed off ready to distribute.
Check out our guide on the best post-production software to help you turn your raw files into professional-standard final edits.
Edit your video
It’s time to make the magic happen! Compile all of your best takes and get them in a rough order (referring back to your script and storyboard). Get rid of anything you don’t need, cut down each clip to the right length, and stitch it all together.
Add graphics
Graphics, animation, and text can help bring your video to life by emphasizing important points and visualizing ideas. This can help make information easier to process and boost viewer engagement.
You might want to add a graph to highlight a key statistic. Or an animated clip to help explain a complex concept. Or you might just want to add your brand’s logo.
Record a voiceover
Now that the structure of your video is all worked out, you can record a voiceover (if your video needs one), edit it, and add it to your video.
Add sound
Adding background music and sound effects that complement the mood and tone of your video will take your final edit to a whole new level. It’ll make it more engaging for viewers, and it can even help communicate your core message.
Send it for review
Once you’re happy, you can share your final edit with your stakeholders and collect their feedback.
While there are a number of video review tools out there, we recommend using Filestage. Our platform makes it easy for you to get in-context feedback from all of your stakeholders, in one place. So you can see exactly what needs amending, and get your video signed off and published in record time.
All approved and ready to publish? Render your video in the appropriate format (MP4 is usually best). Upload it to your chosen hosting platform. And promote it via your website, social media, and newsletters so that it reaches your desired audience (and beyond)!
Why is the video production process so important?
Having a standardized video production process without skipping any necessary steps will help you create great video content. This means that your videos will always follow the vision and fulfill the goals that are set in the beginning of the process.
Plus, everyone involved with the process will know the status of the video project at all times and have an opportunity to make changes if needed.
How to create an effective video production workflow
With Filestage, you can set up a video production workflow template to use across multiple projects. This lets you create review steps and add your reviewers in advance. So when you create your project, everything’s ready to go.
Here’s a quick example of a video production workflow template:
- Video production review step
- Director
- Director of photography
- Project manager
- Video editor
- Advertising agency review step
- Creative director
- Art director
- Copywriter
- Creative
- Client review step
- Brand manager
- Marketing manager
- Product manager
- Legal specialist
Final thoughts
With careful planning, good organization, and a focused strategy, you’ll soon be creating professional-grade videos that will appeal to your target audience and help you meet your business’ KPIs.
To get your video content published even sooner, book a free trial with Filestage today to see how it could help to make your feedback and approval process quicker, easier, and more collaborative.
