We Love It When A Plan Comes Together

Any fan of the classic show, The A-Team, will immediately recognize the famous line uttered by Col. John “Hannibal” Smith after a successful mission, “I love it when a plan comes together.

Storyboard Image vs Actual Shot

While this line may take us down memory lane, we cannot deny that having a plan when we say “Action” can be a crucial part of video production. Many businesses, when considering video, need something done quickly, for a low cost, but still done well. Approaching video marketing with a Ready, Fire, Aim mentality can end with wasted time and resources along with a second rate video that does not deliver results.

Imagine a builder showing up to a job site with no blueprints, a chef with no ingredients or recipe, or a painter with no brushes or colors. In all of these situations, we would classify the person as unprepared and possibly unqualified. So what should the expectation be for video production?

Any production company worth hiring, will be able to clearly explain their preproduction process and the purpose behind each step. From the initial discovery call to all the way to production day, the producer is asking questions, nailing down details, and honing clarifying the message and purpose of the content. This ensures that on production day, time is used efficiently and all shots are captured to properly tell the story or deliver the message.

What does a basic preproduction process look like?

1. The producer will learn about the purpose, style, and message you are seeking to deliver with your video content. This will help determine what kind of video is needed and if the company is capable of producing it.
2. Keywords and story will be developed. Keywords will help filter every decision of the production to ensure message consistency and time efficiency. Developing the story will provide and outline for the content being produced.
3. The DP (director of photography) and the Producer will develop a storyboard and a shot list. The story board helps flesh out what each shot will look like. Storyboarding can take place with as little as pencil and paper all the way to 3D renderings. The storyboard is then made into a shot list for production day, which can be checked off as it is complete.

As you can see, the entire video is planned and visualized before a camera is ever unpacked. If you are a producer, these steps can greatly help you minimize reshoots and reduce creative editing my maximizing efficiency. If you are a business seeking video, ensure those you higher are walking you through preproduction. If they are not, chances are you will either end up spending more on the video or you will be delivered a low quality product that does not accomplish your marketing goals.

At New Story, we know many businesses have a hard time telling their story, so we have created a storytelling process that helps clarify your message, create powerful marketing material, engages your customers, and grows your business. We would love to visit with you.