Dylan Harmon
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
20 Things Your Video Needs to Do Before Production
Most of the time, difficulties with video don’t start on set. They start weeks before the event, when the aim is unclear, the scope is changing, or the timeline is based on hope instead of facts. That’s why it’s not enough to just have the correct pre-production steps. They make the difference between a seamless day of production and a project that wastes time, money, and momentum.
We at Two Stories Media think of video production in Tampa Bay from the point of view of the producer first. Before we start filming, we make sure the script, logistics, and deliverables are all set so that the shoot day can be all about performance, visuals, and efficiency. This is the planning base that keeps everything organized if you’re making a commercial, a brand film, a series of testimonials, or campaign materials for paid commercials.
How pre-production stages may make or destroy results
An unclear intent can’t be fixed by a brilliant edit. The video will show that the message is not clear. Strong pre-production steps fix this by making things clear from the start: what the video needs to do, who it is for, where it will reside, and what “success” looks like.
Pre-production is also when the risks go down. When teams write down their plans, they don’t miss shots, confuse talent, get surprised by locations, or modify the script at the last minute. There are reasons for pre-production requirements in both union and professional settings: you prepare the job so that it may be done safely and professionally. SAG-AFTRA’s production materials stress certain things that need to be done before primary photography starts, which shows how real the pre-production phase is.
Begin with a strategy that can be measured
The first stage in pre-production is to come up with a plan. This is where you say what the goal is in simple terms. Are you trying to get more leads, boost your conversion rate, hire more employees, or explain a complicated service? When the goal is clear, it’s easy to make innovative choices.
This is also where they decide how to distribute it. The speed of a YouTube video is different from that of a sponsored social cutdown. The starting beats of a site hero video and a conference playback need to be different. where you choose the distribution up front, we can plan the shoot to get the formats you really need, including vertical alternatives where they make sense.
Make your approach into a creative plan that can be filmed.
After the aim is decided, the next steps in pre-production are to make the idea into something that can be filmed. This is where you plan the story, the script, and the visuals.
Some projects need a whole script. Some people need a clear plan for their interview and a detailed outline. In either case, your team needs to know what to say, what to show, and what to back up with graphics or b-roll.
This is also where shot lists and storyboards come in handy. Planning images ahead of time cuts down on wasted coverage and keeps the day going. Adobe’s advice on making videos includes planning things like screenplays, storyboards, and shot plans as part of extensive preparation, which is how we keep our projects on track.
Make the production strategy so that your day goes smoothly.
The cost of a production day goes up as soon as it starts to slip. During the planning step, you make sure that the schedule is practical by setting realistic times, crew duties, and a sequence that works with the lighting and location.
Your call sheet, crew confirmations, equipment plans, venue specifics, and timing buffers are all part of the pre-production process here. It also includes figuring out what can be recorded at the same time. For instance, if you plan ahead, you can get b-roll setups and stills while the main scene is being lit. You can only have that kind of efficiency if you plan the flow as well as the pictures.
This is where alignment comes into play if your idea has talent. Someone can’t just show up. They need to know what’s going on, what to wear, and what you anticipate from them. The camera perceives talent when they are at ease.
Take care of stakeholders so that decisions don’t slow down production.
Stakeholder alignment is one of the most important stages that people forget to do before production. Too many people say yes too late on too many ventures. The only way to fix things if feedback comes in after the shoot is to redo the work or shoot again.
We avoid it by including approvals in the timeline, such as confirming the concept, approving the script, signing off on the shot list, and reviewing brand compliance. When everyone on the team agrees before production, the project is no longer a debate; it is now an execution.
This is very crucial for industries that are regulated, legal review, or brand teams who have stringent rules. In those circumstances, you win the project in pre-production.
Get content that can be used again without having to film it again.
If you want your money to last, you need to include a repurposing strategy in the pre-production processes. If you arrange the coverage, you may make a hero video, cutdowns for sponsored advertisements, organic social content, website clips, and internal assets all in one day of production.
That planning includes filming in parts, getting good audio for pull quotes, recording different intros and outros, and getting b-roll that visually supports the main points. It also means preparing how you will frame different cropping so that the vertical cuts don’t seem like afterthoughts.
When you execute this right, your post-production goes faster, and your marketing team gets more useful assets from the same shot.
What the “20 pre-production steps” truly mean
The principle is more essential than the number. When planning a high-quality video, you need to think about four things: the message, the visuals, the logistics, and the approvals. These are the groups that the pre-production steps fall into, whether your project is a small crew shot or a big campaign day.
It’s easy to skip steps when your team is working quickly. Later, the cost shows up as missed shots, confusing edits, and content that doesn’t convert. If you take your time at the beginning and plan well, the shoot will go more smoothly and the finished video will feel more planned.
Two Stories Media can help you plan your next Tampa Bay production.
Two Stories Media will help you create, produce, and deliver content that is designed to get real marketing results if you’re ready to film or need help getting the pre-production stages just right before the cameras start rolling.
Our portfolio shows off our work, and you can learn more about our Tampa Bay video production services or get in touch with Two Stories Media to start planning your next project. The rest of the process goes more smoothly, quickly, and profitably when pre-production is done well.