The Video Production Process
Learn the three basic steps to creating an effective commercial or corporate video
Quick Overview
Here is a 10,000ft look at the three phases of the video production process. Scroll down further for a more in depth explanation of each step.
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Pre Production
This is everything that takes place before the day of the shoot. From scriptwriting to casting.
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Production
Just like it sounds, this is where the magic happens. Think lights, camera, action!
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Post Production
Perhaps the most important part of the process. This is where the editor weaves together video, graphics, music and more into your finished video.
Pre Production
This is the planning phase where we will work out as many details as possible in order to make the shoot go smoothly.
When you choose a video production service this phase will often define the success of the rest of the project. There are many production companies across the great state of Texas but not all of them invest the proper amount of time in pre-production to ensure the success of your video shoot. While you may already have an idea of the structure and style of the video there are still many questions that need to be asked and answered. While it may seem overwhelming at first, one of our experienced Producers will be there every step of the way to help lead you through the process.
Some sample questions we may ask:
• What is the approximate length of the finished video or videos
• Will it be professional actors or real people
• Is this going to be filmed on location, in studio or some combination of the two
• Will you utilize any professional voice over
• Do you want music in the video and if so what style
• Will it be scripted, interview style or documentary
• What is the final destination for your video (website, TV, social)
These are just a few of the hundreds of questions a Producer will help you think through to make sure that when production starts your corporate video or commercial goes as smoothly as possible.
In the meantime, we are also working in the background to prepare some of the following elements:
• Location scouting
• Scheduling our camera crews, location sound engineer, makeup and more
• Choosing the camera gear that will help us best tell your story
• Creating a shooting schedule
• Developing storyboards and shot lists
• Developing concepts, creating treatments, writing scripts
Our goal is to over prepare so that when you step on set for the first day of shooting it is a fun, pleasant experience that fosters a sense of creativity for everyone involved. So, when you are choosing a video production company in Dallas or Fort Worth make sure they are asking you the right questions early on in the process. That is the secret to what makes a good TV ad, commercial or corporate video production.
Production
It is here! The day of filming has finally arrived. It will be full of excitement, lights, gear and crew.
Production days, or “shoot days” is when all of the planning and preparation finally comes together. Depending on your situation we may have been planning this for weeks or just a couple of days. Now, it is time to execute the plan we have put in place.
Once the crew arrives there is generally a few minutes of unloading gear, evaluating the location and deciding on the specifics of the first set up. Then the magic of a professional crew begins to unfold before your eyes.
Camera rigs get built and mounted. The Producer whisks talent off to makeup. The set gets decorated, or “dressed”, as we like to say. As the talent heads to set the sound engineer places a microphone on them and off…we…go.
The typical corporate video production will consist of on camera interviews (which are sometimes referred to as “talking heads”) and then additional footage called b-roll that reinforces the content of the interview. B-roll is all of the shots you see that are edited in over the sound of the interviewee talking. So, if the person on camera is talking about how to operate a specific machine, we would then go get shots of that process taking place to be edited in with the interview.
Depending on the scope and scale of the project it might be as simple as one location or multiple locations over multiple days. Once the last shot has been filmed the Director calls “Cut!” and if everything has been checked off the list it is followed up with “And that’s a wrap.” Congratulations! You’re project is “in the can” and we are headed to post production.
Post Production
There is an old adage in the film business that a story is told three times. Once when it is written, again when it is filmed and the final story is told in the edit.
Editing is where the magic really happens. It takes a unique ability (and a lot of time) to wade through the footage and find the arrangement of clips that works the best. The editing style will be informed by the purpose of the video. If you have a piece with a lot of information then we might integrate some motion graphics to help communicate key points. Is it a polished piece designed to feel like a movie trailer? In that case we might render out some impactful 3D elements to supplement the footage.
Once the edit is locked and you are happy with the content we then layer in sound design, music and final graphics to round out the piece and give it a polished look and feel. From color correction to the sound mix it is really the last 10% of the process that separates a "good" video from a great one. Sometimes a microscopic one frame adjustment can mean the difference between a cut working or feeling jarring. As they say, the devil is in the details.
When it comes time to deliver the final product we utilize the latest hardware and software in order to offer full 4K editing and delivery capabilities. If it is for your website we can send you a download link in the proper format so you can begin using it immediately. Is it for broadcast? We can upload it to a service that will distribute it to all of the networks where you've purchased airtime. Depending on the final destination we will hand you a product that is ready for anything from an HD web video, to a movie theater or even a cell phone.
