A Step-By-Step Guide to Video Production
Recent studies show that more than half of businesses are currently using video and 64% of marketers expect it to dominate their strategies in the near future. It’s an exciting time to be investing in video!
However, if you’re unfamiliar with the process, taking your first step into the world of video content creation can be a little overwhelming! Every video production involves an array of equipment, computer software, workflows and administrative procedures.
Never fear. We’ve put together this step-by-step guide to give you an idea of what to expect from each stage of the process:
Strategy & Concept
The foundation of a smooth video production workflow begins with a solid strategy. So, before we even think about picking up a camera, we take the time to get to know your brand, target demographic, top-level objectives and the core message you want to convey with your video. Using this information as a starting point, we head to the drawing board and develop a concept that ticks all the right boxes.
Pre-Production
As soon as the concept has been approved by all parties, writing a script is usually at the top of our to-do list. The script serves as the blueprint for the video and helps to dictate many technical and logistical elements — including locations, actors and props. Creating a storyboard to accompany the script also helps us visualise the video shot-by-shot, and gives us a clear idea of lighting, framing and other creative aspects.
Unless you’ve opted for a fully-animated video, we then begin to organise and schedule the shoot. This can be quite an undertaking, depending on the complexity of the project. Tasks usually include: location scouting and booking, casting actors, hiring a production crew, organising equipment and writing call sheets.
Filming
With a detailed brief and script completed, it’s up to the director and production crew to turn vision into reality. Following the script closely, they will ensure that the video is well-lit, well-shot and well-framed — and that enough footage is filmed to make the editing process as easy as possible.
If your video is full-animated and doesn’t require any live-action footage, filming is skipped entirely and we move straight onto the next step!
Post-Production
Once filming is complete, all footage is handed over to an editor. They will select the best footage and cut it together to ensure your core message shines through, as well as mixing in any background music, sound and voiceovers. Any required motion graphics, animation and special effects are also created at this stage.
Distribution & Marketing
Once everyone is happy with the final cut, it’s time to format your video ready for distribution. There are various options available to us, and your video’s intended use will guide our decision here.
With formatting complete, it’s time to distribute and actively promote your video to ensure it reaches your target audience. Taking full advantage of social media and other online tools will allow you to maximise exposure and boost the return on your video investment. Here are six tips to get you started!
Want to learn more about the video production process? Download our free “A-Z of Video Production” ebook here!