Top 5 Tips For Starting Your Video Production
Check out these top 5 tips for starting your video production.
So, you want to start your video production. Getting involved with this medium of entertainment and marketing is a great step towards enhancing your career or personal hobby. But it can seem daunting to start. Knowing how best to begin your video production is important and takes time in carefully working towards just how to begin this process. If you are a beginner, following the best tips and finding the right equipment is a must. If you are here just for a refresher, then some of this will sound familiar as you look to re-start your video production.
Video production can include all sorts of content, from an effective TV commercial or a viral video, to movies and television, and other forms of marketing or advertisement. Regardless of your medium of video production, many of the steps are still similar when it comes to starting the actual production.
The first and key thing to know is that there are three phases of production, being pre-production, the actual production, and post-production. Each of these phases is important and requires your attention when it comes to certain areas of the actual steps within each phase. Knowing your budget is something to note as well for often times video production can get expensive, however, if you seek the help of a production company, this can alleviate some of the burden as opposed to working on your own.
Let’s jump into video production and check out the best ways to start. It can feel daunting, challenging, and intimidating, but creating great content should be fun and with the right steps for beginning the actual process, you are well on your way to finding the best success.
What Is Video Production?
Video production is the actual process of creating and producing content in video form. This entire idea centers around three phases, and mentioned above, are pre-production, production, and post-production. While each phase is different, working to maximize your workflow and allow for a smooth operation is paramount in any successful video production.
5 Tips For Starting Your Video Production
Let’s take a look at 5 tips to start your video production to make your life a bit easier. Knowing how to start will better help you navigate the entire process so you can get to that final product you so desperately want to see and that viewers can appreciate the hard work you have put in.
1. Plan & Execution
Before you begin, it is best to figure out your plan and how best to execute this plan. This is includes everything from an idea, to the actual script, and all other initial thoughts needed to make this happen. Your script will most likely go through quite a few changes, especially if this is a film or television script, but knowing how to execute your vision on paper makes everyone’s life easier as you actual go to film it. If the idea jumps off the page, then it will certainly come to life on screen.
2. Use High-Quality Equipment
Getting your hands on high-quality equipment is a must and this can include anything from the camera and camera accessories (tripod, lens, etc.), to batteries, lights, and certain softwares. Equipment can get expensive but it is possible to find affordable equipment that is high quality. Of course, if you enlist the help of a production company, they may have access to better equipment but you are now paying them for a service anyway. Here is where knowing your budget is incredibly important. Another option is to rent equipment and this is never a bad thing to do.
3. Prioritize All Pre-Production First
Nailing down your pre-production needs first makes for a more smooth video production journey. Along with the script and getting equipment secured, this phase includes things like finding cast and crew, choosing locations, gathering props, and other miscellaneous needs (permits, back-up weather plans, etc.). Taking more time in this phase ensures you won’t run into avoidable hiccups along the way. There are problems bound to arise, but doing what you can to control what you can control is a way to make your life easier.
4. Get Help For The Production Phase
As you enter the production phase, here is where the magic starts to happen. Finding help will pay off in the long run for people on set can assist with equipment, provide set help, manage cast and crew, and tackle those tasks you may be unable to do so you don’t feel stretched so thin. Having fun in this phase is important, but this is also all business. You don’t necessarily need a production company, although it is helpful, but having people onset you at least trust goes a long way in this phase.
5. Know Your Plan For Post-Production
Post-production is where your video production starts to be put together. Editing and using those editing softwares allow you to cut, add, and refine your content into that video you want to see. Having a plan is so important for this phase, for you need to back-up files, keep things organized, and allow yourself the ability to enjoy the post-production process without feeling so stressed that you can’t focus. This phase requires fine-tuned details and if you’re attention is elsewhere, you may miss some important elements.
Conclusion
Starting your video production takes time but knowing the right steps to start can really go a long way. What you will find is that throughout the journey, you will learn certain tricks and tips to guide you along the way. While you may want to do this all alone, consider help and know that it does take time and energy to successfully complete a video production. At the end of the day, you will have a final product you will be proud of and can hang your hat on at least something others will enjoy. Your video production journey starts here so take advantage of this and work to set yourself up for the best success.
