Pre Production in Documentary

Pre-production is the process of planning some of the elements involved in a film, play, or
other performance. There are three parts in a production: pre-production, production, and post-
production. Pre-production ends when the planning ends and the content starts being produced.

What does that even mean? Working in a video production company here in Orlando, it is
easy to see why we often use terminology specific to video production and forget that most
people do not know what all encompasses any given term. To us, pre-production is a term we
use in our vocabulary daily, so it’s easy to use the term with clients without realizing they may
not know what the terms pre-production, production, and post-production actually mean or what
they entail.
But you know us, ask and you shall receive. And some of our clients have asked us to elaborate
on the subject matter, so here it is.
The production process, in a nutshell, is pre-production → production → post production.

Q. What is Pre-Production?
A . P r e -p r o d u c ti o n is t h e wo r k d o n e o n a p r o d u c t , e sp e cia l ly a fi lm o r
b ro a d c a s t p ro g ra m b e f o re f u l l - s ca le p ro d u c t i o n b e g i n s .
Elements of video production such as the script, casting, location scouting, equipment and crew,
and the shot list all happen during pre-production. Pre-pro is the planning stage. It’s where we get
all of the ducks in a row so the rest of the production process is as smooth as gravy.

Having a strong concept is an essential component of a video. But unfortunately, spending the
appropriate amount of time in pre-production to nail down the video’s concept is often an
overlooked step in the production process. Not on our watch, though!

Understanding pre-production

Pre-production is an early stage of any project, including commercials, music videos,

short films, and feature films. This crucial step defines how efficient, organized and,
ultimately, how successful the production stage will be.
Before we dive into a Pre-production definition, let's take a quick look at the process.
In this clip, we'll see Spielberg working on Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the
Crystal Skull, including pre-visualization, costume choices, and casting Shia LaBeouf.
Who does what in pre-production?

There are dozens of tasks to complete during Pre-production by various crew

members. One of the key roles in the process is the 1st Assistant Director. Here's
Anya Adams, 1st AD for "Black-ish," walking us through a typical day on the set.
When does pre-production start?

Pre-production immediately follows the "development stage," where the script is

worked into a viable final draft. As soon as the screenplay is "locked," the process
can begin in earnest.
Below is a diagram of a basic Pre-production workflow. Every project is different but
this order of operations can apply to any type of production, including short films,
music videos, commercials, or feature films.
When does pre-production end?

Completing this stage means the cameras are ready to roll. You've cast your
actors; permits for locations have been secured; you've hired the crew and
arranged for equipment rentals.
Pre-production is an essential stage of any project and it will help the actual
production go as smoothly as possible. For a more detailed explanation of the steps
involved, our next article covers those topics and includes a free pre-production
checklist.
Pre-production checklist

Now that you’ve laid the foundation, let’s get into each steps in detail. The next post
describes the various steps in the pre-pro stage, including locking the script,
storyboarding, obtaining permits and insurance, and hiring the crew. You'll also find
a FREE pre-pro checklist to make sure your next project stays organized and
productive.