While you had pictured everything going smoothly, you were not prepared for the reality waiting at the shooting location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You go inside, and chaos unravels as your teammates start to arrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s missing equipment, people are late, and\u2014worst of all\u2014the coffee has not been delivered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Who was in charge of scheduling and planning this whole charade? <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Your enthusiasm fades rapidly in the face of disorganization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At this point, it\u2019s too late to play the blame game. You just have to work with what you\u2019ve got. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Good thing you\u2019ve stumbled upon this guide to video production workflow<\/strong>. Hopefully, you’ll avoid what happened here at future video shoots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ll go over the ABCs of video production workflow and discuss:<\/p>\n\n\n\n By the end of this blog post, you\u2019ll know how to create a standardized plan for your future video production projects. This includes ensuring everything goes well from pre-production to the final cut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let’s get into it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Table of contents<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n A video production workflow<\/strong> is a series of standardized, sequenced processes that a video production project goes through, from ideation to sign-off and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Specifically, a video production workflow includes activities like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the point of having a standardized workflow is not just to have a checklist of things you need to do. It\u2019s more about having a standardized step-by-step procedure<\/strong> that you and your team members can follow when working on any film or video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Think of a video production workflow as a video-specific project management technique. Having one ensures you’ll stay on budget, make the most of your resources, and have a clear overview of the project timeline<\/strong>. Teammates will also understand their role in the big picture (literally) and how their work will impact other teams along the production chain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Video production workflows can benefit any team or individual involved in video creation, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n And it goes beyond Hollywood. Workflows are useful to anyone working on any video project, be it YouTube tutorials, short promos, or films. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve already established that you need a concrete video production workflow. But we haven\u2019t told you why yet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s dive deeper into the reasons why it\u2019s important to have a well-thought-out workflow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you have every process involved in the creation of your project laid out before you, it\u2019s much easier to manage your budget. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The right video production workflow enables you to reduce unplanned expenses\u2014something most organizations struggle with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, little over 30% of businesses<\/a> actually manage to finish projects on budget. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If there\u2019s a chance to increase your odds of hitting the budget, why not take it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n A video production workflow is the way to go when you want to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, time management becomes easier when creating a workflow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since workflows help you improve time management and set clear and realistic due dates for each production process, delivering work on time is effortless<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, a video production workflow won\u2019t automatically help you avoid the planning fallacy<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To make sure your due dates are realistic, ask each team involved in the project to estimate how much time they need to complete their part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, keep in mind that we usually tend to underestimate the time we need to finish something and overlook possible delays or bottlenecks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To avoid falling into the trap of wishful thinking, Harvard Business Review<\/a> suggests that you overestimate the allotted time for a task by 25% more than the initial estimate. Most importantly? Prepare for the worst. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This tactic ensures that deadlines are achievable and that your project will experience the fewest delays possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you follow a standard procedure for every project, you can establish reporting, communication, and collaboration flows to make teamwork more effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For instance, you can add feedback sessions and weekly calls to your workflow. When doing so, your team will have dedicated communication and collaboration sessions<\/strong> for each project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Production quality increases when regularly scheduled feedback sessions are integrated into your workflow. Plus, regular feedback can assure teammates that they\u2019re performing their roles correctly, bringing about more job satisfaction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, a Clutch report<\/a> identified a strong correlation between job fulfillment and feedback. Namely, 72% of millennial employees that receive relevant and constructive feedback on a regular basis find their jobs to be fulfilling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n An added bonus? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Job satisfaction motivates employees to be more productive<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Video projects never have the same requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fortunately, this basic five-step video production workflow can be easily adapted to any project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n This workflow follows the three main stages of video production:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to the three production stages, we\u2019ve also included two steps dedicated to feedback sessions and sign-off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Plus, you will find an optional step that can help you improve your workflow for future projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Grab your planner and let\u2019s get some work done together!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hey, we know you can\u2019t wait to get shooting. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n\n\n\n But for the full-scale production to go as smoothly as possible, there\u2019s a lot of preparation and planning that you need to cover in the pre-production stage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, you\u2019ll have to do things like: <\/p>\n\n\n\n It sounds like a lot of stressful work\u2014and that\u2019s far from a complete list of pre-production tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, where do you start?<\/p>\n\n\n\n To make it easier, you can structure your pre-production workflow into three major tasks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scripting is the best method to download<\/em> your artistic view and video ideas onto a piece of paper so that the entire team can understand what your project is about. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To get your script right faster, you can schedule brainstorming sessions<\/strong> with all your teammates to ensure you\u2019re tuned in to as many inspiration channels as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, gather your marketers, editors, and anyone in between and create moodboard<\/a>s<\/strong> with imagery that conveys the concept behind your idea. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To make sure you\u2019re covering all aspects of video production, you can also create another moodboard with visual or immaterial elements, such as audio, sound, film, lights, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re creating video content for marketing or sales purposes, make sure to invite sales and customer support teams to your creative meetings\u2014they are closer to customers and can provide valuable insights into what your audience looks like or the types of messaging they respond to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you\u2019ve established the main idea behind the project and figured out the mood you want to set, create a creative brief<\/a> (a.k.a. a treatment)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The treatment needs to include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n After completing the treatment with all the info, make sure it\u2019s doable by getting it pre-approved by your sound and video engineers first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To share your treatment for quick review and contextual feedback, you can always implement annotation tools<\/a> like MarkUp.io. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next, share the document with your decision-makers and make any requested changes. Now it\u2019s time to start working on your script.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s the writers\u2019 time to shine! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, based on the approved treatment, the writers can start creating the script.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since first drafts are rarely approved from the get-go, you might want to account for a few rounds of feedback when outlining the schedule<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To get to script sign-off as fast as possible, you can use tools that enable you to share documents quickly<\/strong>, pin comments contextually, and keep track of feedback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As soon as the script gets the green light, it\u2019s time to move on to storyboarding<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n In this step, you\u2019ll bring your idea closer to life by breaking down each scene that will appear in the video. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Storyboards usually include brief descriptions of each shot (including any actions that need to happen), and details on costumes, among other components.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using both the storyboard and script, you\u2019ll then create a shot list of all the necessary shots and where they should be filmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The last thing left to do before shooting is to create a detailed schedule to ensure everyone is present on set at the right moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The schedule should be as detailed as possible and should not leave anyone out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, you\u2019ll have to create timetables for everyone\u2014from camera engineers, sound recordists, and light directors to video editors and actors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While you\u2019re at it, don\u2019t forget to allow time for the post-production workflow. For this to flow seamlessly, you\u2019ll also need to create a timetable for everyone involved in the editing process as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best raw footage is captured on an organized set. So, check your equipment prior to shooting your first scene to ensure hardware (like cameras and lights) will not break down and cause any delays in your schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once the cameras start rolling, it\u2019s important to have easy access to the storyboard and shot list you\u2019ve created during pre-production. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This way, you\u2019ll monitor progress easily and make sure you\u2019re sticking to the plan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep in mind that you don\u2019t have to shoot scenes in chronological order. You can always make the decision to re-order the shots you\u2019ve captured in the most schedule-efficient way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To make this work, establish simple naming conventions that are easy to understand. Otherwise, your post-production team will end up wasting a lot of time trying to piece everything together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking of time savings\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n While you\u2019re shooting the content, consider gathering b-roll footage at the same time. While this can save you lots of time, do note that it can be expensive as you\u2019ll need more equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regardless, if you have room in your budget for b-roll footage, you can also film behind-the-scenes footage, making-ofs, interviews, teasers, and other b-roll footage types you can release to keep your audience engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you\u2019ve got every shot covered and the footage stored and backed up digitally, you can step into the post-production workflow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is where all the magic happens! The post-production process can make the difference between engaging, high-quality content and an uninspired montage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All the raw footage collected during the production phase is now going to undergo several editing processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A video editing workflow usually includes adding:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the schedule and budget allow it, the video post-production process can start as soon as you\u2019ve got your first shots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To keep post-production as organized as the first two production stages, you can break it down into the six steps outlined below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s see what each step looks like and which video editing software can help your team successfully complete each stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your editors will first create a rough cut<\/strong> by going through the raw footage and cutting the relevant shots to create a coherent story that follows the script. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The rough cut is then polished<\/em> over and over again until the final cut stage<\/strong> is reached. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Tools<\/strong>: Adobe Premiere Pro, 2. CyberLink PowerDirector, Pinnacle Studio, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once the final cut is done, it enters another editing process: sound editing. At this stage, editors add background music, sound effects, and the soundtrack. Plus, they edit out any noise that shouldn\u2019t be there (i.e., background noise).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on the footage and project type, editors might also have to reorder dialogue to better follow the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tools<\/strong>: Premiere Pro, Riverside.fm, Audition, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When hearing the phrase \u201cvisual effects,\u201d most of us think of the complex computer-generated imagery (CGI) that we see in sci-fi movies. In reality, visual effects are super common in most video productions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Visual effects can include, for instance, replacing green screens with a cool background or adding animations of things the budget couldn\u2019t cover (i.e., adding a landing plane in a scene).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tools<\/strong>: Autodesk, Adobe After Effects, FXhome HitFilm Pro, Blender, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After visual effects, comes sound mixing. This is performed by sound editors and involves adjusting the video\u2019s audio levels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For instance, if background music overpowers a scene\u2019s dialogue, the sound editors will reduce the volume of the music so the actors\u2019 voices can be clearly heard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tools<\/strong>: Adobe Audition CC, Ocenaudio, Audacity, Audiotool, WavePad, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The last step in a typical post-production workflow is color grading. This stage entails frame-by-frame color adjustments that ensure visual consistency throughout the whole video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tools<\/strong>: DaVinci Resolve, Magic Bullet Suite, Adobe Premiere Pro, Color Finale 2, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As soon as the post-production edits are done, the resulting product is ready to be submitted for review.\n
What is video production workflow?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Who needs to establish a video production workflow?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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5 reasons video production workflow is important<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Reason #1: Stay on budget<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Reason #2: Better time management <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Reason #3: Stay on top of deadlines<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Reason #4: Seamless remote collaboration and communication<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Reason #5: Better production quality and increased productivity <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to establish the right video production workflow in 5 steps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"5-step](\"https:\/\/assets.markup.io\/app\/uploads\/2022\/06\/5Step-Video-Production-Workflow-961x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
Step #1: Pre-production planning<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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1. Briefing<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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2. Scripting and storyboarding<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"An](\"https:\/\/assets.markup.io\/app\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Storyboard_Taller-1024x734.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n3. Scheduling<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Step #2: Production (the actual video shoot)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Step #3: Post-production edits and reviews<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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1. Content editing<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
2. Sound editing<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
3. Visual effects<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
4. Audio level adjustments<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
5. Color grading<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
However, it\u2019s best to have more than one pair of eyes for each post-production step to ensure the editors are not overlooking important details. So, we recommend you add informal reviews to your post-production process<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Example](\"https:\/\/assets.markup.io\/app\/uploads\/2022\/06\/VideoComment-1024x792.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"Example](\"https:\/\/assets.markup.io\/app\/uploads\/2022\/06\/ResolvedComment-1024x792.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n