Do you want to make your own videos or films? If you like creative activities, this might be the perfect thing for you. However, before you start, you must be aware of four fundamental aspects of video production. Read on to discover everything you need to know.
The Idea
The first step to video production is obviously the idea. Before even thinking about how to shoot a video, you have to know what the entire project is about. This is where you can dream big and figure out logistics later. Leave the budget, crew, and logistics for another time.
Pre-Production
Once you have your main idea, you are ready to get to work. This is where you need to put pen to paper and figure out the ends and outs of how you can make your dream come together. This will be a lot of work, but the better you do during this part, the easier it will be down the road.
Creative Ideas for Content
As a part of pre-production, you will need a pretty good idea of the content you want to shoot and how to shoot it. So, have plenty of creative meetings and really make a plan.
Target Audience Research
You should research your target audience to help inform your creative ideas for content. You will need to do dramatically different shots depending on who you are trying to target.
Location Research
Once you have a pretty good idea of the shots you want to take, you will need to secure all of the locations for the shots. This could take some time, but it is time well spent.
Acquire Equipment
Once your locations are locked in, you should get the equipment needed to achieve the shots you want or hire a company to supply them. For example, if you are shooting outside of Philly, look for video production companies in Philadelphia and hire one to help supply equipment.
Hire a Crew
Speaking of video production companies, they can also help supply the crew. Depending on the size of your budget and the type of video you wish to make, you may need a lot of people to get the job done.
Plan a Schedule for Shooting Video
The last item on the agenda for pre-production is to create a schedule for shooting your video. Video production can get hectic with different locations, crews, and multiple days of shooting. So, make a schedule and stick to it.
Production
The next phase of the fundamental process is production. This phase consists of the actual making of the video, including videos, audio, and lighting.
Follow Shooting Schedule
This is where your schedule will come in handy. Shooting a video can be time-consuming and rigorous so hire a manager or producer who can keep everyone on schedule. This will alleviate headaches and overspending in the long run.
Set Up Audio and Video Equipment
Setting the audio and video equipment up is the next step. The crew typically does this, but you will want to be there to ensure your vision is carried out the way you want.
Set Up Lighting
Before you say action, check that the lighting is correct. Appropriate lighting is what turns videos into professional videos. So, hire people or do your own research to get the lighting the way you want it.
Post-Production
After all the shots have been recorded, the final phase can begin. This part of the process brings all the pieces together as a cohesive whole. Here are a few things that often take place during this phase.
Video Editing
Depending on the complexity of your video, you may have multiple scenes, shots, and angles that you need to bring together. This is typically done inside a video editing software and can take several days to complete.
Music
During the video editing phase, along with lining different footage up, you will likely add music or score to your video for additional dramatic effect. It is best to purchase pre-made music or commission a talented person to score your video.
Sound Effects
Not all videos need this, but if you are making a movie or short film, you will want sound effects strategically placed throughout. These are usually added during the post-production phase.
Watch and Triple Check
Once you are done editing your video and feel happy with the results, you must watch your film and let your peers critique it. You want as many eyes on your video as possible to ensure no mistakes are in the final version. Once you have watched it through and triple-checked for any mishaps, you should be good to upload it to the platform of your choice.
The Bottom Line
Whether a short video for social media or a full-length feature film, you will always need to follow these four phases of video production. They may not need all the specifics, but you will always need to start with an idea, plan it out, record it, and edit it. So, take these fundamentals and go create your own video. Do not be discouraged if it takes a long time or doesn’t turn out well. That is just a part of the creative process. Oh, and don’t forget, you can always hire professionals to do the stuff you don’t want to do.
