It’s a term you may have heard bandied around when looking into having a video produced but what is pre-production? Well essentially it’s everything that happens before the cameras start turning. It’s all the much needed preparation that goes into making sure your project runs smoothly and you end up with the video you set out to make. åÊSome videos will require a large amount of pre-production time and others not so much, it all depends on the complexities and various requirements of your video project. Let’s look at a few of the things that may need to get sorted before we get to lights, camera, action!
Scripting
Whether it’s a voice over script, a series of interviews or actors speaking dialogue, the script is crucial to make sure that the tone and message are correct and in keeping with your brand and ideas.åÊIt’s important to get a script written early so we can start planning all the other bits around it. If the script requires a certain location or piece of equipment then we’ll need to know so we can arrange that.
Storyboarding/Pre-visualisation
Once a concept and script are in place it might be worth looking at producing a storyboard. This helps us plan out shots and åÊincorporate all the elements that you require to make sure the video fits in with your vision. We can even shoot a ‘draft’ version of the script to help you visualise what the final version will look like.
Casting
Not every project will require a casting but some might need either actors or models or even a voice over artist. We can work with you to ensure that the people (or voices) appearing in your video are in line with what you want and we’re sure to find the right person for you.
Location scouting
Whether it’s a studio shoot, hired location or even your office, it’s really important for us to have a good look around before committing to film there. We have to check the suitability of the location for filming and make sure it isn’t going to be too noisy if we’re recording sound. It’s also a good chance to plan out shots, look for the best angles and work out what lighting might be needed.
Equipment Hire
Having seen the location we can then check that we have the appropriate equipment to film the video. We have a large amount of in-house equipment including cameras, lighting, sound, a jib & slider that covers us for most situations but it might be necessary to hire in extra kit.
Crewing
The personnel that we use on every shoot make all the difference. We only work with experienced, highly skilled crew members who we know and trust. If it’s a multi-camera shoot we may need extra camera operators or at a live event we’ll probably bring along an experienced sound engineer so everything sounds right. åÊWhatever the project we know the right people to fill the gaps.
This is just a simple over view of pre-production but hopefully this has given you you a bit of insight into how we plan for every video production we undertake. If you would like more information or want to discuss your video production with Echo Video please contact Will or Andy on 01273 911345.