How do you plan a video production?
If those are your odds, then you need to read this.
There are 3 parts in the video production process; pre-production, production, and post production. The planning phase of the whole process happens in pre-production and I’m about to tell you how to plan for your video production.
The first thing you have to do is to figure out what your project is. Does it come from a client? If so, what does the client want? What do they want you to capture and how do they want you to capture it? Getting the most detail out of your client will help you come up with an idea on how to capture what they want in the best and most creative way possible. If it is a personal project that you or a friend has created, then you will need to figure out what you want your project to say. What are your objectives? What do you want to accomplish with your video? The answer to these questions will help you format your project and give you a vision on what you want your video to look like.
After you have the project idea locked down, you can start your script and storyboard for your project. Make sure you write the script first, and then storyboard. Storyboarding is not a must for the production process, but it will be very helpful in condensing time on set since you know what shots you want to capture.
(Storyboard Example)
Once the script and storyboard is done with, now it is time to find a location (if needed), set production date(s), and assemble your crew. If there is a location that is outside your studio space then you need to make a few trips to the location and work out all that will be needed for you at the location. Maybe take some still pictures of the locations to help visualize what you have storyboarded with the real location. After you have done that and realize what will be needed, you need to take inventory on equipment. What equipment are you going to use for this project; cameras, lights, audio, filters, cables, food for crew and cast.... Now break down your shoot days to the hour. How long will you be shooting that day? What will you be filming each hour? When is lunch? Using a call sheet to break down your day to the hour is immensely helpful to your cast and crew.
After you have figured all the above out you should have a very organized production day that should go by with relative ease. Just know that it is okay if you run a little overschedule, that is very common on a film set. Just stay calm and collected and you will conquer production day!
(Call Time Sheet Example)