Every video project is an adventure, and every adventure must be approached with a plan. That’s why, in this article, we’ll guide you through the five essential stages a creative video production company like ours follows, so that you can join us in the wild ride of visual storytelling.
- Pre-Production: The Art of Preparation
Preparation is key to any successful video production. During the pre-production stage, we gather our team and brainstorm ideas, research the target audience (what they watch, where they are watching, and how they watch it), create a script and storyboard, scout locations, and plan out the logistics.
It’s during this stage that we lay the groundwork for the entire project and put the "creative" in a creative video production company, making sure that we have everything we need to make the shoot a success. From cameras and lighting equipment to art/props, every detail is considered and planned for.
- Production: The Magic of Filmmaking
With pre-production complete, we enter the production stage – the magic of filmmaking. This is where the story comes to life through the lens of the camera.
We set up our equipment and get to work, following the script and storyboard to create the shots and scenes that will eventually be edited into the final product.
At this stage, we’re constantly problem-solving, adapting to unforeseen challenges, and making on-the-spot creative decisions that enhance the story. Or sometimes we are simply finding ways to complete the project within the allocated time- a useful metric we use is the Hourly Shoot Cost: the total spend divided by the durations allocated. Decisions begin to make themselves when framed in HSC. (“Do we really want that safety shot for $650?” or "Shall we explore moving to that other shoot location that's $2330 away?" ) Here's an article on the topic but it’s not that common to use HSC on set - it should be! Even though as a creative video production company we place the idea first, the more complicated your shoot is, the more you should keep an eye on it.
- Post-Production: The Alchemy of Editing
After we wrap up production, we enter the post-production stage – the alchemy of editing. This is where the footage we’ve captured is transformed into a cohesive story that engages and captivates the audience.
We start by organizing the footage, logging it, and selecting the best takes. Then, we begin to assemble the story, crafting the pacing and rhythm through careful cuts, color grading, and sound design.
It’s during this stage that we bring the story to life, adding music and sound effects that heighten the emotional impact of the piece.
- Distribution: The Art of Reaching Your Audience
Once the video is complete, we enter the distribution stage – the art of reaching your audience. While this is typically the realm of the client media team and less that of a creative video production company, decisions like aspect ratio, duration etc all come into play here.
- Evaluation: The Art of Learning from Experience
The final stage of video production is evaluation – the art of learning from experience. After the video has been distributed, we analyze the metrics (provided our clients share them with us), feedback, and results, to determine what worked and what didn’t.
We take this feedback and apply it to future projects, constantly refining our approach and techniques to better serve our clients and create content that resonates with their audience.
Join the Dance of Cinematic Creativity
At the end of the day, creative video production is a complex and multi-faceted process that requires creativity, planning, and a willingness to adapt and evolve.
If you’re interested in joining the dance of cinematic creativity, we invite you to reach out and learn more about our video production services. From corporate videos to documentaries and everything in between, we’re here to help you tell your story and bring it to life on the screen.