THE FIVE STAGE OF PRODUCTION

Stage One: Research and Development

In order to research and develop ideas, it is wise to firstly consider who your target audience will be and what elements to add in order to sell it. For example, if the product were to be sold to twelve year old girls, you would aim on adding a famous Disney character or a specific product which is sold mostly in that age group.

It is good to take account of the basic concept behind the video idea, therefore it is wise to consider what you are trying to convey and promote with the product together with exploring the ideological values behind the concept.

When doing research and development, it is good to consider HOW to achieve the ideas in terms of location, number of cast needed, special effects, staging, set design, lighting, costumes, make-up, crew, time-schedule and especially budget.

When starting the planning, it is necessary to pick key roles between the group: director, producer, care co-ordinator, editor, props, make up, designer, lighting designer, storyboard artist. Obviously in a group of three it is difficult to set out so many roles, therefore in order to make it work each member of the group needs a central role

Stage Two: Pre- Production

The point of pre-production is planning in advance a list of names of all major roles such as: producer, director, camera coordinator, chief editor, lighting designer, studio floor manager, props coordinator, make up coordinator etc.

When doing pre-production, there is need of a timeline, therefore a detailed timeline that illustrates how lyrics, the performance and the song are coordinated.

In order to understand the shots needed to be done, there is need of a storyboard in order to illustrate the technical directions: shot number, shot type, camera movement, sound track lyrics, lighting, actions, location, special effects, editing transitions and timings, etc.

Another thing to take into account is taking care of planning floor plans and lighting: birdseye skethces, preferably printed, including rough measurements of all locations, showing all light sources such as : windows, video light etc.). You have to plan the positioning of the camera and area in which the scene will take place.

It is good to consider in advance all the equipment and props needed in order to avoid any money problems or even a matter of long-term wait. There should be a full typed checklist of all technical equipment needed on the day of the shoot.

It is good to also put props in the list including costing incase of any expensive items.

Part of pre-production is also to plan a cast list of pictures, name and role.

In order to have everything in order and everywhere at the right time at the right time, it is necessary to have a title page with a contacts page and a call sheet for each member of cast and crew.

Stage Three: The Shoot

Call sheet for cast and crew few days before before the day of the shoot.

This day is where everyone takes part in their major roles and also does some directing and camera coordinating. Actors have to be in the right place at the right time, equipment has to be ready, props have to be put in order of shooting moments, etc.

Stage Four: Production

This is where the sequences are shot and the stage where the lead editor drives the work.

Stage Five: Distribution and Exhibition

If a dependant group is trying to distribute their video, they can do this by using established outlets such as terrestrial and subscription television such as: sky, BBC1, etc. Another way of distributing and exhibiting with a high budget would be to send a URL link to all smartphones such as: blackberry's and iphones which have access to internet and MMS. This is the same when looking at CDs and DVDs which with a high budget, can easily be handed out in megastores as a free sample of the song etc.

With small budget and independant groups, a way of distributing themselves would be to upload their music on internet and social space, marketing sites such as: facebook, myspace, youtube, etc.