The Steps in Making a Video

The Steps in Making a Video

We’ve made this blog post to explain the video production process. If this is the first time you’ll be commissioning a video or the first time you’ve worked with our Melbourne video production company, by the time you’ve watched this video, you’ll know exactly what to expect for your project.

It’s important to understand that Dream Engine is a full-service video production company. We work with you from the initial idea to getting your video seen.

Making your video involves 3 phases: Pre-production, Production and Post Production.

 

Pre-Production

Pre-production involves all the steps we take before filming your video. We start with Concept Development, or identifying the video type we’ll create for you. We work out the Concept by analysing your goals and the needs of your audience. What is the most critical challenge that your target market is facing? What style of video will they best resonate with? And what will drive them to take action?
Next, we create a script. The format of the script can vary: from an exact word-for-word document for a dramatised video to more of a general description for a documentary. Importantly, we now have a clear plan, like an architect’s blueprint of a house.

If we’re making a documentary, we’ll create a list of interview questions. The interview questions are designed to elicit the answers that will propel the video forward and drive the audience to take action.
We’re now approaching filming time, and to prepare, we created a schedule and shot list.

The schedule sets out the times and locations where filming will take place.

The shotlist is the list of shots that our camera operator MUST get on the day so that we can tell the story most visually.

Production

Good pre-production means that your film now exists in our minds. We can both picture exactly how it will look, and we’ve got a clear plan to bring it to life in the next phase: production.

We always encourage our clients to be on set with us for the filming. That way, you can ensure that our videographer captures your vision as you intended. It’s also quite a fun process to be involved in.

Our role is to ensure a calm, positive, and enjoyable atmosphere on set. Often, we’ll be filming in locations like offices and homes, where other people are getting on with their work and lives. So we make sure that they aren’t inconvenienced and that we don’t intrude unnecessarily.

Sometimes, people can be nervous and self-conscious. So, we take the time to connect with people and build rapport before we start filming. We help them to loosen up, relax, and be themselves on camera, and we give feedback if they need some help or direction.
Apart from that, it’s a matter of following the plan and getting the shots. Simple!

Post-Production

Post-production starts once we have all of the footage for your video shot and head into the edit suite.

Our first step is to put together what’s known as the “Rough Cut.” This is the first edit of your video. To use the metaphor of building a house, the Rough Cut is where we create the structure: the walls, the roof, and the windows. Then, we invite you in to have a look. You get a clear picture of where things are heading without the finishing touches like paint, curtains, and appliances.

This is an essential phase because we can check in with you as the process unfolds. You can confirm that your video is what you expected, and you have an opportunity to provide feedback and suggest changes.

Based on your feedback, we will move forward with the “Fine Cut” of the video. This is where we start to finesse the video with elements like music, graphics, and colour grading. We then show you the video for the second time, and once again, you can provide feedback and changes.
At this stage, we start adding the finishing touches to your video, such as making final changes and mixing the sound.

If there are any final touch-ups you want to make, you can now come into the edit suite and work with the editor until you’re 100% happy.

Your video is now ready to share with the world! We’ll send you a web version to go onto your website and a high-resolution master copy to archive. It’s a really exciting moment to receive your completed video so that you can put it out there and have it working for you.

Hopefully, that’s given you a clear picture of the video production process. Let us know if you have questions and would like to discuss your video production project.