Pre-production techniques

Pre-production Techniques

Purpose of Pre-production

  • Pre-production is the planning stage before actual production begins.
  • It’s a crucial part of the production process as it outlines all aspects of production beforehand, saving time and resources.
  • It helps identify potential issues and solves them in advance, ensuring a smoother working process.
  • This process can significantly reduce mistakes and delays during the production stage.

Pre-production Documents

  • There are several common documents used during pre-production, like storyboards, mood boards, script, production schedule, budget and risk assessments.
  • All these documents are created during pre-production to help guide and track progress during the production and post-production stages.

Storyboards and Mood Boards

  • Storyboards visualise the storyline or sequence of events, it’s specifically useful in video and animation production.
  • Mood boards help to establish the aesthetic, style or feel of the project. They can include images, colours, textures, typography and other visual elements.

Script and Production Schedule

  • The script generally includes dialogue, actions, expressions and movements of the characters, and scene directions.
  • The production schedule outlines the timeline of the project, i.e. start and finish dates, specific milestones, and deadlines.

Budget and Risk Assessments

  • The budget estimates the cost of the production. It includes costs related to staff, equipment, locations, post-production etc.
  • Risk assessments identify potential hazards during production and provide actions to control or mitigate these risks.

Pre-production Meetings

  • These meetings are held to discuss and finalize all aspects of the production, from storyline to schedules and budgets.
  • The meetings ensure all team members are on the same page regarding their roles and responsibilities.

By understanding and effectively using these pre-production techniques you can set your project up for success and minimise potential issues during production./