Ok, so let’s pick back up on this topic. We had discussed two important aspects of pre-production that come into play on various topics: the site survey and logistical coordination. Both equally important to many projects we produce.

Let’s take a look at two more services that can be provided in Pre-Production, and examine how they can be vital as well to the success of a project. Like we said in Part 1, it’s important to remember that each production has an identity of it’s own, and it’s needs may vary from this list.

Auditions. The need for auditions is obviously contingent on the project at hand. When producing a project that has training scenarios at hand, or requires a spokesperson on camera, time has to be allotted to find the proper talent to go along with the project. Calls to talent agencies are placed, and subsequently headshots and credits are emailed so that producers can have a preliminary glimpse of the candidates. After the headshots and credits are reviewed, auditions are scheduled. An audition is imperative because the production company finds out the range of the actor. Can they come across as an authority on a subject? Do they have the skill set to be an on-camera spokesperson? A good production company takes the time to do every audition and put each actor through the paces. It’s this attention to detail that makes a world of difference to the success of a project.

Creative Design & Implementation. Your client has called and they want to emulate a graphical look from that show that is biggest rage on TV right now. Can you do it? Hmmm…well anything is possible. But what type of budget are we talking about? Are we talking about the kind of budget that is associated with a prime-time sitcom that uses the latest and greatest effects…or are we talking about something a little less substantial? Probably the latter if you’re like most clients. It takes time and planning to try to execute some of the requests that clients have. In the end, it all comes down to coming up with an elegant solution. A look that not only makes the client happy, but an approach that makes sense financially as well. It’s all part of the planning and process that makes up Pre-Production.

Pre-Production has this admittedly mysterious air to it. The type of air that comes about when a first-time buyer of media production services is reading terminology from a budget such as “logistical coordination” or “site survey” or better yet (and this needs no quotations) rehearsals! Why are these services needed? Why can’t we just show up at the location the day of the shoot…and well, shoot?

Unfortunately, it just doesn’t work that easy. In fact, in some instances, some producers say that Pre-Production can account for 80% of the total effort put forth in a video project.

Let’s run through two services that can be provided in Pre-Production, and examine why they are essential. It’s important to remember that each production has an identity of it’s own, and it’s needs may vary from this list.

The Site Survey. It’s not always possible, but it makes things go smoother the day of the shoot if you are able to schedule a site survey earlier. OK…here’s the scene, the production team is coming out to your office to shoot some testimonials with some of your top employees…they need a central location to shoot. That location is key. It needs to be a big enough room to set-up lights, and tape an interview situation in, and in kind of a quiet area. The producer should find out prior to how loud the air conditioning system is in that room. If it’s too loud, it could be hindrance to the overall sound of the production. Not good! Oh yeah…and there’s that shot you need to get outside the building where the cool logo is. Is the sun hitting that in the morning or the afternoon? It’s important to know because that’s where one of the top execs is going to deliver his message…and we have to be mindful of his time. And security does know that a video production crew is coming into the building…right? These are the missions in mind when a producer comes out to perform a site survey. It’s time well spent ensuring that the project goes off with as little inconvenience as possible.

Logistical Coordination. Simply put…this is all the phone calls, the errands,
the to-dos, as well as the research that goes into pulling a shoot off. The client calls…they decide they’d like a shot from overhead for one of the scenes next week. A real bird’s eye view. The production company lets them know that they can get them a price for that and tells them that they will let them know what the extra charge will be. Now…the first job at hand, no, not lunch. Hello Google…time for a cherry picker search! Ahhh, there’s one 10 minutes from the office. We can check and see if there’s a 40 footer available for next week, and just arrange the delivery, the set-up and find out about any operational instructions we should have. Ohhh…and that shoot is going to be in the middle of nowhere out of the city limits next week. All day shoot, busy crew…no rest rooms, bad karma potential there! But that was taken care of when you rented the Port-O-Let and included that in the budget! You just have to make the preparations to make sure it’s delivered to the right place…since there really is no address. That in a nutshell is Logistical Coordination.

Part 2 will take a look at two more very important aspects of Pre-Production…one of the most underrated stages of producing video projects.