What Goes Into Video Production?
A breakdown of time spent on a typical 3 minute promotional video
Have you ever wondered how much proportional production time goes into making a typical 3-minute promo video or film?
Of course, all video briefs and objectives are bespoke, but this chart represents an average indicator of the time assigned to each part of production on a ‘typical’ schedule for a promo video produced with a creative video production company such as Slinky Productions.
The chart doesn’t represent budget distribution, however, as a filming day (for example) may be crewed with multiple cameras and complex location requirements for a single day’s filming – that doesn’t compare with that of a single day filming with a single camera unit.
10% – Initial Briefing / Budgeting
Finding the initial concept for your video (in line with the project budget) takes time and careful consideration, as this lays down the foundations of the whole video production process. In this stage, we work together with you to establish a creative brief, look and narrative. To do this, we need to know a few key details, such as the video objective, target audience, project timeframes, the required content, number of filming days, and locations involved.
25% – Pre–Production / Script Development
The pre-production phase turns that creative idea into a reality, arranging all the logistical elements and details that need to be finalised for the actual production to take place. At Slinky, we design a comprehensive plan focusing on everything, from scheduling and equipment booking to preparing for the anticipated weather for each filming day. It will also cover practical elements such as camera positioning and movements, lighting design, sound set-up, and shot lists. If needed we may create a storyboard, particularly if the video project is animation based. Thorough pre-production is also key to ensuring all legal requirements and paperwork are in order. Risk assessments, call sheets, licenses and contracts for both locations and actors (if required) must also be in place.
15% – Filming / Production
People are often surprised that only 15% is spent on production or filming content. It is the only phase where we actually fire up our cameras; switch on the lights and microphones to capture all the visual and audio materials. This could be anything from a simple talking head to camera, flying our drones for aerial shots, capturing a busy location over time with time-lapse photography, or recording a voiceover artist. If the pre-production stage is thoroughly planned out, then the shoot days themselves run smoothly.
35% – Post-Production
Post-production combines all the elements and materials created in the production stage. Raw video is not ready for distribution, so editing is the process of cutting, re-arranging and clearing away what is not needed from the footage to put across your message. Everything needs to be correctly logged and organised, and relevant information, branding guidelines and notes from the shoots also need to be collated and applied. Special visual effects, motion graphics, music, sound effects, narration and colour correction may also be added. The first draft edit(s) also go through several stages of internal review before being sent out for client review.
10% – Client Feedback / Edit Revisions
In post-production, our editor will usually make an initial rough cut before finalising a first draft with the director. This will be sent over to you for any fine tweaking and revisions. Our online video review system allows you to review your video with your team and add live feedback so that you can talk about specific details and changes as they appear on screen.
5% – Finishing / Exporting / QC
After the creative processes and approvals have been made, your content is mastered and provided in the correct format for your distribution requirements. A 21-stage quality control process is used to ensure there are no issues with the digital files or deliverables.