Here are a few pointers for individuals who aren’t aware of how much preparation goes into a professional performance. Newcomers to the field of video production may be surprised by how much preparation goes into creating a polished final product. We hope that our breakdown of essential elements of pre-production will make for a more streamlined production once filming begins.
The Direction of Visual Production and Art Design
The amount of these more time-consuming techniques is determined by the piece’s overall look and feel, which must be decided early in the video production process. These are as follows:
- Creating costumes
- Building sets
- Deciding where to film
A Production Schedule is What Outlines When and How Something Will Be Made
The Production Schedule is heavily influenced by the artistic judgments made during the pre-production phase, which shape the final result. The same holds for the creation of animated videos.
It is a document that details the various pre-shoot responsibilities of each department. In addition, it specifies crucial checkpoints and due dates to ensure that everyone participating in a shoot is aware of what they need to do and when they need to do it.
Location Management
Obtaining the necessary filming licences is also a significant aspect of pre-production. It is highly recommended that someone from the production company reccie the area to make sure it is suitable in terms of production needs, safety, and aesthetics. Although clients often provide potential locations for film, the production firm must nevertheless give its stamp of approval for a variety of reasons.
Can we take audio recordings there, and if so, are we required to? Is there any noise pollution if this is the case? For example, (traffic, construction, dogs, and crowds). Is there enough room to install everything you need while still pulling off your ideal design? (Note that the volume of space required for filming in space is frequently underestimated.)
The site is stunning to the naked eye, but can it translate well to film? The Director, Cinematographer, and Production Designer are in the greatest position to make a quick assessment of the colours and textures that will be seen in the shots and camera angles.
Is there access to natural light? For reasons of continuity and extended takes, this is not always beneficial for a film team. The decision between controlled and uncontrolled illumination must be made on a case-by-case basis.
Should I Get Permission to Enter This Area?
Location Deeds and Releases must always be signed by an authorised representative of a property. However, obtaining the necessary official approval from a council or private/government organisation is sometimes necessary as well, and this process might take many weeks of back-and-forth correspondence.
Talent
The procedure of talent coordination and any necessary casting might also differ greatly. The on-screen talent you’re working with could be an interviewee (who is essentially being themselves) for a documentary-style video, or they could be an actor portraying a fictional character. Differences in contractual responsibilities are substantial.
Working with people who may not have had much experience in front of the camera can be challenging, but there are ways to make them more at ease. However, it’s possible that more time on set would be necessary to accomplish this goal, as the director will need to work closely with the cast to get the best performance out of them.
From a production standpoint, it is still crucial to have “real people” sign a Release Form that explains in detail what they are being videotaped for, how long the footage will be kept private, and how it will be utilised in the future.
Actors
Actors can either work alone or through a talent agency when collaborating with a production company. The onus is on the film or video production business to get the talent to fill out the appropriate legal documentation so that the client can utilise the talent’s likeness by the provided brief or direction.
When an actor is represented by an agency, the production company often only communicates with the agency regarding the actor’s compensation for the services they will provide across the necessary platforms. While there are no concrete guidelines for how much an actor should be paid for their job, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Actors receive compensation for more than simply their time on set. Remember that a performer is signing away his or her likeness to be connected with a product or film depending on the extent to which the performer is included in the material. If the film is used commercially, the price is based on the value of the firm or brand’s appearance in the film rather than the length of time spent on set, however, the two factors are commonly combined.
Two, the rights to an actor’s likeness are not infinite. Commercial contracts that give a performer’s likeness to a brand for longer than two years are unusual. A “rollover” fee will have been discussed and detailed in written contracts to artists before they were signed. This means that the company or brand that wants to use the performance for a longer term will have to pay the performer more money.
Cast List
Shot lists are often created by the Director or the Director and the DoP working together. This is not generally something that is shown to the client and is typically not the friendliest looking of documents. However, once finished, it serves as an excellent reference for the First AD to use while developing the Shooting Schedule. It’s important to keep in mind that it’s usual to practice shooting production in reverse order to maximise efficiency.
Shoot Scheduling
Shoot scheduling is a sophisticated and nuanced process that calls for expert eyes; someone with an in-depth familiarity with the many moving parts of the filmmaking process and how each department interacts with the others.
For instance, the time required to do a talent’s hair and cosmetics is sometimes underestimated. If just one talent is needed for a certain shot (say, a guy whose makeup can be applied in less time), then that shoot can begin with just that person. This allows production to get rolling immediately while more actors get their hair and makeup done in preparation for subsequent scenes. This is only one of the many scheduling conundrums that may face the 1st Assistant Director.
If your production company is insisting on having a highly qualified 1st AD on set, bear in mind that this person can frequently help you save a lot of money by keeping things running smoothly and efficiently.