Last Updated On February 07, 2023

4 Stages of Video Production and What You Need to Know About Them

4 Stages of Video Production and What You Need to Know About Them
By Team TIS

Video production can seem like a mystery to those unfamiliar with the process, and different projects take place amid that process in different ways. If you want to understand the video production process, you first need to understand what goes into it and how each part of it affects the overall outcome of your final video. This can be confusing, but by breaking down the different stages of video production, you can ensure that you’re working within your budget and on a timeline that makes sense for you and your business.

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To help demystify the video production process, here are some of the different stages of video production and what you can expect to happen in them.

Pre-Production

The pre-production stage of video production, also called pre-pro, is the planning and preparation phase, where all aspects of the project are either organized or outlined in preparation for the actual filming. The pre-pro stage determines how your final production will look, mainly when you have limited resources. To help you understand the importance of this stage in making your video stand out and tell your story more effectively, here are some key aspects that should be considered during the pre-production of the video.

What are your objectives?

The objectives of this video are to help people understand the process of creating a pre-production video from start to finish. The information will be helpful for those who want to learn more about pre-production and might want to pursue it as a career path.

Who is this video for?

This video is for all who want to learn about the video’s pre-production. It is a type of project management used to identify potential issues or problems and solve them before production occurs. Pre-production usually starts with storyboarding, a series of sketches illustrating scenes and shots in brief detail. A storyboard can be made on paper or using a computer program such as Photoshop.

What is your core message?

When you’re producing a video, you must know your core message. You need to know what you want your viewers to take away from the video and how they can apply this knowledge in their daily lives.

Build a video strategy

Planning is key to a successful video. This process is about conceptualizing and strategizing your video, so it’s ready for production.  In this stage, you will identify who your target audience is and which messages you want to communicate with them to get them interested in what you offer. From there, you’ll need to create an outline of your video’s main points while planning how they will flow together in the final product.

Write a video production brief.

A brief production plan should cover all aspects of production, including schedule and budget. Writing this before starting with any sort of production is a must. For example, if you’re filming a press conference in front of a crowd, you may need to ask yourself what kind of space you need for that purpose or how many people are allowed to be in it. You may also consider parking for your staff and extra security for the event.

What’s your creative approach?

Having a clear idea of the approach to take in the video can be helpful create not only a quality video but also saving time. One can take many avenues when creating a video, from animation to live action. The most important thing is deciding what the video will entail and what style will suit it best.

Write your script

The script is essential to this stage as it sets out what your video is to be about and what kind of shots you need. Scriptwriting can be done in many ways, from writing it by hand to using screenwriting software. The more detail that’s put into your script, the better the final product will be. It’s important to consider how much dialogue there should be so that it doesn’t sound like an essay but not too little so that viewers don’t understand the message. If you want music or voiceovers, then mention these as well.

Create your storyboard

Before you can put together a video, you need to create your storyboard. This blueprint for your film helps you map out the scenes and their order. Your storyboard should include shots of all the people and objects in each location and any background that needs to be added in post-production. It also helps if your storyboard is annotated with notes about what’s happening in each shot, making sense when you’re filming. The bottom line is that a storyboard lets you plan and prevents last-minute confusion.

Scout locations to film in

Scouting locations is a vital part of pre-production. Locations are what make videos come to life and give them personality. When scouting, there are many things to think about.

  • What kind of shots will you need?
  • What time of day is best for shooting?
  • Do you need permits? If so, how many?

Make sure to scout multiple locations because it’s possible one might not be available when filming on set. Scout everything from scenic vistas to backyards that could be turned into gardens in post-production or local street corners with graffiti walls.

One thing to look out for when scouting is people who may be walking through the shot or too close for comfort on camera; this could affect the quality of your footage or distract from your intended message.

What video equipment do you need?

Video equipment varies depending on what you want to produce. For example, if you are shooting a documentary with interviews, you might need a professional microphone and a camera that has high resolution. However, your phone should be fine for just sharing your thoughts on video blogging. The point is to find out what will work best for your needs before making any purchases.

Cast talent

It is essential to cast talent that can bring your vision to life. The actors you choose will be the face of your project and will act as your brand ambassadors. As such, you must find the right person for the job. There are many things to consider when casting an actor, including their personality type, how much experience they have in front of a camera, and if they can portray the desired persona.

Schedule the shoot

The shoot should be scheduled when the desired location is vacant and the weather conditions suit. Depending on how well you plan, certain times of day are more favorable for shooting than others. For example, if you want to shoot outdoors and the sun is too intense in the afternoons, then it would be best to schedule the shoot either early in the morning or late in the evening. In addition, if you need to shoot indoors but don’t have building management permission, it might be best to avoid working on weekends or late nights when people are more likely to enter and disrupt your work.

Production

Video production is the process of capturing video and creating a video production out of it. It is the production process for video, video content, and video advertising. Here are some vital aspects of video production:

Set up the lights

When setting up lights, there are a few factors to remember. The first is the type of light being used. Some common types are natural light, incandescent light, and fluorescent light. Natural light is free and easy to set up by leaving your windows open or moving close to a window with some natural lighting. Incandescent lights are typically found in your home and office building’s rays, but they can be costly because they use a lot of energy.

Set up the camera

Setting up the camera is a crucial stage in video production. Positioning the camera where it should be for the best results will help produce top-quality content. The camera’s height and angle can also impact how your video appears to viewers. For example, looking up at someone or down on someone can change their perceived height and make them appear more friendly or imposing.

Direct the talent

Directing the talent is a crucial step in the video production process because their performance is the entire point of the video. This is where the creative and technical aspects merge, as it’s your job to ensure they’re not only happy with how they look on camera but also getting enough lighting and are framed correctly.

Get B-roll footage

It is a good idea to get B-roll footage to have something ready if the primary footage is unusable. B-roll footage includes anything that is not the main subject, such as shots of people walking, driving cars, or watching TV. It will provide a sense of context and variety for viewers.

POST-PRODUCTION

Post-production is the final process of making your video. It happens after you’ve taken the footage and edited it into the story that you want to tell. During this stage, you’ll add audio, visual effects, and transitions to complete your video production, making it ready to publish online or on any other platform. Here are some things you should know about post-production to ensure that your video project comes together as intended.

Edit your video

Once you’ve finished filming your video, it’s time for editing. Here are five things that you need to know about editing:

  • Editing is a creative process. The point of editing is to turn your footage into the best version of your story possible.
  • Editing is a technical process. It’s essential to have some knowledge of the technical aspects of video production to edit successfully.
  • Working with software is necessary. Depending on what type of project you’re working on, there may be specific editing software required.
  • Color correction and sound design will make or break your project. These two elements can make a good video great!
  • Don’t skimp on post-production. The final step in the post-production process is exporting your project file for distribution.

Record a voiceover

You’ll need a quiet space and a dependable microphone. Try to find a voiceover booth if possible, but if not, you can use the closet in your office or an empty room. If possible, set up your computer so the sound will be recorded directly into your microphone input (directly into the computer). This is preferred over headphones because it gives you more control over how loud or soft you want your voice to be.

Add graphics, animated text, and special effects.

Designing graphics, text overlays, effects, and transitions are everyday post-production tasks. From the basics like color correction and time remapping to more advanced techniques like frame blending or audio sweetening, you can improve your videos after they have been shot.

Coloring

The process of coloring is used to colorize the video footage. It can be as simple as a hue/saturation adjustment or involve more advanced coloring techniques, including keying and compositing. There are many different ways to color your footage, but they all share one common goal: to make your final product more visually appealing.

Add music

Adding music can add a whole new feel to your video. Music is an essential component of the production process and is often overlooked by those just learning how to edit. Music can make or break a video’s mood, and the wrong music choice can hinder the production quality.

Optimization and Distribution

You’ve created great content, but how do you ensure it gets the visibility it deserves? There are many steps in optimizing your videos and getting them to the right people, which are vital to success. The good news is that distribution and optimization don’t have to be complicated or intimidating — if you know what you’re doing, video distribution can be quick and easy! Here are some basic steps to help you get started on improving your videos’ reach and visibility.

Render the video

Once your edit is complete, it’s time to render the video in the appropriate format. To do this, you must first select the proper file type (i.e., MPEG, AVI, MOV), then choose the frame rate you want your video to play back at (i.e., 24p, 30p).

Setup analytics

The first step in optimizing your videos is setting up analytics. YouTube analytics is a powerful tool that can help you better understand what your viewers are watching, allowing you to optimize future video content better. Google Analytics is a great free tool that can give insight into how people interact with your web content.

Distribute and promote your video

Distribute your video on YouTube and other video-sharing platforms. Post on inappropriate Facebook groups, LinkedIn discussion forums, and relevant subreddits. Share it with your email list, post an embed code on your website so visitors can watch it, and then ask them to share it with their contacts. Don’t forget about video-sharing sites like Vimeo or Dailymotion. Once you have a video up, promote the heck out of it!

How To Hire A Videographer?

Finding the right videographer to make your video project happen is essential, especially regarding the budget. Here are a few tips to help you hire a professional video production company in India.

1) Get in touch with some people who have had their videos produced by the professional you are considering hiring. Ask them about their experience and what they thought of the company’s work.

2) Compare quotes from different companies to see who best suits your needs while staying within your budget. It is okay if one company’s quote is higher than another’s; as long as you know why that might be, such as whether or not they offer more editing options, it should not stop you from pursuing them further.

3) Don’t forget to ask about additional costs! Some videographers may charge for equipment rentals or lighting. And if you are shooting on location, transportation can also come into play.

4) If you don’t want to go with a full-service videographer (i.e., producer + editor), then consider going with an editor only (since editors tend to charge less).

Conclusion – Final words

Video production is a fantastic method that can be used to better your business and increase its visibility. However, video production doesn’t happen by accident. It requires knowledge, skills, and dedication. Plus, it takes a lot of work behind the scenes before any video shoots can happen. This is why hiring a professional video production company is vital in creating a high-quality video for your company. For example, if your video is filmed in an office, it would be best for a cinematographer with studio experience. If your video is outdoors or in a problematic location, then it might be necessary for a DOP (director of photography).

By Team TIS
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