Most descriptions of the video production process assume a crew of thirty. The underlying stages are the same at any scale — what changes is how many of them one person is doing.
1. Brief and concept
- What is this video for, and who watches it?
- What does it need to make them do?
- How long is it, and where does it go?
- What does success look like?
2. Pre-production
- Write the story in order
- Build the shot list
- Scout locations and confirm access
- Schedule the day, grouped by location and light
- Prepare and test equipment
3. Production
- Film in shoot order, not story order
- Tick shots off as you get them
- Record room tone at every location
- Log card and filename against each shot as you go
- Check the list before leaving each location
4. Post-production
- Back up footage twice before touching anything
- Organise by shot, using the same names as the plan
- Assemble in story order against the original list
- Edit, grade, mix
- Review against the brief, not against the footage
5. Delivery
- Export every required format and aspect ratio
- Archive the project and the footage
- Keep the shot list — it becomes next time's template