Film and Video Production Stages
Production happens in 5 stages: Development, Pre-Production, Production, Post-Production and Delivery/Distribution. Here they are in a nutshell.
1. Development:
The main task of the development phase is to create a feasible, working idea and hone it. Any research and proposal writing for a project takes place in this stage. Take your idea, do the necessary research, create a proposal and refine it. The proposal should include a budget, timeline for the next 4 stages and the expansion of the idea into a treatment (short summary of the movie). Complete? Satisfied? You can move into pre-production.
2. Pre-production:
The main task of pre-production is to get ready for production. During this time, you’ll secure finances for the project; write the script; create storyboards; prepare a production schedule; audition, select and prepare the cast; hire and prepare the crew; get equipment; find and secure locations; prepare and sign necessary contracts; revise your original proposal; get supplies and props; do production design (preparing the locations and props); prepare wardrobes; and build any sets that need building. By the end of pre-production, you’ll be able to go on pre-setup locations with your actors, crew, equipment, supplies and script, and begin shooting the project.
3. Production:
The main task of production (aka principle photography) is to capture your script (or developed idea) on film or video. Production is the moment where all your preparations come together.
4. Post-production:
The main task of the post-production phase is to finish your project. In this phase you’ll edit the picture; find music; do any foley (sound effects) work; do any ADR (automatic dialogue replacement) or voice overs; edit the sound; do color-correction; do any pick-up shots; preview the project; edit some more; add titles and credits; do any special effects; print the final to film, video, dvd, or whatever mediums were decided on for your project; get your publicity materials together; do any design work; submit it to festivals; and duplicate the project for release to your target market.
5. Delivery/Distribution:
The final stage is delivery and distribution. Your original proposal should have a plan laid out for distribution of your project. This is the time to implement. Questions to ask: Will you be distributing it? Will you find a distributor? Your answers to these questions will vary your implementation steps widely. If you are distributing your own work, this is the time to take those copies you made and begin the process of reaching your target market. If you have an outside distributor, it’s time to work out your deals with them and get them the deliverables they need to do their job.
The process of making a film or video can vary in intensity. A feature-length narrative will be more time and resource consuming than a 5 minute video about a loved one. Regardless, each project can be sorted with these 5 steps.