A Beginners Guide To Video Production

Video production is the step by step process involved in creating a video. It includes depicting moving images, also known as videography, and editing various parts of the video in production and post-production stages. The captured video get stored in electronic media like HDD’s or SD cards. The final version of the edited video can be distributed digitally in several formats. Video production Melbourne is similar in all aspects to filmmaking, just with better technology and digitally recorded images rather than film stock

Video Production Process

If you’ve ever shown an interest in making videos either for personal or professional use but don’t know how to begin, the following steps will highlight just how you can start. A lot of factors should be considered before production of your video can start. The key steps of interest in video making are pre-production, production, and post-production. The goal of all videos is to incite appropriate responses among targeted viewers and even casual viewers.

The steps in video production are:

Pre-Production

Pre-production is that aspect of your project that starts and determines the outcome of the project. It mainly includes drafting your script. Every movie, television show, and video advertisement began with a great script. The success of your video is typically determined by the script even more than any other factor. You can decide to write the script yourself, or you can hire a team to handle the script writing for you. Writing your script is, of course, is cost-effective.

The script serves as the manual for video shooting and editing. The first step in writing a script is collecting information from everyone involved with the project. The ideas that go into the video should center on what you or your client wants and the available budget. It is important to be creative with your ideas especially when working for a customer. Determine the goal of your video and what the client hopes to accomplish; this will help you in creating your script.

Once you’ve both agreed on your script, the next stages in the pre-production phase comprise finding a location, getting transportation, hiring camera equipment, including lighting and sound equipment, hiring personnel and talent casting.

Video Production Melbourne

Production involves the actual videography process and all its various moving parts. A proper schedule organization will contribute significantly to how well your production flows. The electric, sound and set design departments should be a full step ahead of the cast and the rest of the crew. It is important to allocate time for them to set up scenes that are about to be shot ahead of the director, so no one gets to stand around waiting. Hair and makeup artist can make use of this setup time to prepare the stars, or have some last minute read through of the script alongside the director. Set up secure communication lines between you and your client as well as the rest of the staff. An excellent team relationship goes a long way in having a great final product.

Post-production

The post-production process is the final step that ties the entire video production Melbourne together. Post-production process involves video and audio editing, adding motion graphics and making color corrections. It is a time-consuming process that requires skill. Several variables contribute to determining how long the entire process will take. Having a well thought out script will go a long way in reducing the time involved in post-production. Logos, first graphics, good music and even photographs get included during editing. Providing your client with a sample edit will help to reassure them that the job is moving in the right direction

Tips to Ensure Great Video Production Melbourne

The tips outlined below will help take you from inspiration to final wrap without any unwanted interruptions to your creative flow. Having a robust framework will contribute to guiding you through your production days.

Know your Target Audience

No matter the aims of your video, to influence the general public, or a fraction of the population, the initial stage of your pre-production process is to define your audience. The ability to narrow down the people who view your video towards a particular buyer persona will help in creating a widely targeted and efficient video in the long run.

Create a Message

It is important to know your target audience and market, but it is equally as important to understand the message. In other words, your video should have a specific goal in mind. A simple video having a particular message and goal is the more useful long term. These days, content marketing videos gear towards content: that is, not how much you can say but how much of what is said is of importance.

Map Out your Budget Cost

After you’ve mapped out your target audience, and the goal of your video, the next thing is to define your budget. A well-defined budget will aid you in managing expectations; otherwise, you will end up promising what you can’t deliver. Once you’ve defined your audience and your message, you need to set your budget. Having your budget prepared on time also lets you know what is and is not possible for a particular project, clearing the need for a lot of backpedaling.

Create and Edit your Script

Not everyone can write a good script. It is for this reason that business scriptwriting services exist. At the post-production stage, a lot of the original script usually gets abandoned. The importance of having a script is that it determines to a large extent the progression of your production and post-production schedules. Getting professional input on your script during the pre-production stage is always a welcome investment.

Add Greetings and Sign-offs

An excellent way of fully leveraging the average attention span of your audience, and getting the most from your rate of completion, is by including brief greetings and sign-offs to our script.

Use your First Eight Seconds Wisely

Most viewers are likely to give up on a video following the initial eight seconds, and it won’t be your fault: not completely anyway. In 2013, the typical attention span was eight seconds. Fortunately for you, this isn’t necessarily bad. Eight seconds are enough for you to include a brief greeting and for any speaker to talk about their product (when your video is an advertisement). Uninterested parties would likely end the video after the welcome leaving only interested viewers engaged.

Gauge your Video Length

Studies show that a direct relationship exists between video duration and audience fall off. Most videos above the minute mark see a significant increase in viewer drop off. Unless your video is targeted at particular audience demographic, leaving it less than 30 seconds will retain about 75% of your viewers, this, of course, will require you to make adjustments to your script as necessary.

Be transparent

The last and final guideline for an effective scriptwriter is being open as well as authentic. Authenticity goes a long way in helping you gain viewer loyalty and trust. A clear and authentic script allows viewers to identify with you as an adept making them more likely to place their trust in you.

Create a Storyboard

The use of a storyboard is a cheap and indispensable way of visualizing your shot before it takes place. It gives you the opportunity to carry out necessary adjustments that you garnered from your storyboarding process.

Create a Shot List

A storyboard breaks down a video scene-by-scene whereas a shot list breaks down a scene shot-by-shot. A shot list includes things like where cameras are placed as well as the direction of lighting. An excellent way to save time during production is by figuring out the storyboard and shot list well ahead of time with the videographer and producer.

Establish a Production Schedule

The production schedule, or shooting schedule, is important to have as it will aid you in making judgment calls, knowing whether or not your video is going to plan, and managing time expectations. The production schedule helps you track video location, Scene/Shot, video equipment, crew and personnel, Contact info, and the Date. It answers any concern and production question that may pop up and as such should be regularly updated.

Extend the Time Frame

A great rule in life and video production is to under-promise but over-deliver. A simple way of doing that is to exceed the time required for production. It is better to overestimate than to underestimate the production time; this is to allow breathing room for any adjustments and corrections that need to occur. It is never a good idea to rush things, and if it is the first time you’re behind the scenes of a video project, by giving yourself ample time, you can watch for and correct any mistake that might take place during production.

Choose Between Location and Studio

No decision makes more of an impact on production schedules than deciding where to shoot, either at a studio or a particular location. It may not look like such a big deal till you realize the effect it can have on your budget. The advantage of a studio is that it has everything already in place. All you have to do is show up with your actors. Location shooting, on the other hand, involves making arrangement for travel and transporting equipment.

Visit all Sites Before Time

Regardless of whether you’re shooting at a studio or at a location, it is important that you visit it before production begins. A good way to work out a proper shooting schedule is to visit sites early on and figure out which will create problem for you when you shoot. Such locations should fit into your schedule based on its availability. Shots done outdoors should be carried out very early to avoid weather changes, office shots on the other hand, after hours for adequate sound. Going to each location earlier than production schedule will also allow you the chance of previewing each scene, and updating your shot list with actual pictures. If you cannot make such visit, it is advisable to find someone that can get you the pictures.

Establish your Needs

Knowing which equipment you require for each single shot is not exactly an impossible task, but it is a complicated one. Individual shots may require several different lenses or steadier camera. Juggling this equipment list can seem like a daunting task. Simplify your job by placing the production manager in charge of the material needed.

Make an Inventory Equipment List

After creating the equipment list that’ll you need for all the shots, alongside your production manager, you should take a second to check through what is already with you on the list. Special equipment or high tech cameras could be available in larger companies. Take steps in finding out how you can make use of their own instead of spending large sums of money on rentals.

Create a Call Sheet

Whether or not you choose a professional actor for your role, one of those big spreadsheets you’ll need to make is your call sheet. A call sheet is the companion of the shooting schedule that cannot be left behind. It includes contact details of every one of the members of the crew along with those of the actors. The call sheet is also important in helping to manage expectations and keeping those nerves calm.

Create a Line up your Talent

After verifying that you have everything needed for production in place, that is, the script, the storyboard, your shot list, shooting schedule, and call list, you can then bring in your actors to the set to work their magic. It is important that your actors rehearse and practice their line reading as much as possible. It is also important to have your talents familiarize themselves with the location, dress, and direction before appearing for actual shooting. You should also get to know your actors before time, figure out their personalities and if you need to recast.

There’s no good production without a capable video production company Melbourne. You can save yourself the time and energy required in video production by investing in a team of professionals from a production company. Most professionals only need your idea. After you tell them what you want, they handle the production from the pre-production stage to the post production stage under your supervision.

Contact us today for all your video production needs. We can tackle any project including profile videos, music videos, animation videos, corporate videos, training videos and more.