Ensuring that all of my productions were finished on schedule and under budget was my primary responsibility as a production manager. Video production can go off the rails for any number of reasons. The production manager is responsible for maintaining order in the face of both internal and external influences. I’ve worked for some of the world’s top production companies, and now I’m here to share seven secrets to making great videos.
When the pre-production part of a video production is well-planned, the final output is more likely to go smoothly. This reduces the likelihood of delays caused by unplanned events. If you do your homework before you start production, you’ll be more prepared to handle hiccups down the road. I’ve included my seven best practices for video production to help you avoid potential pitfalls.
Make Sure You Have All the Information You Need to Begin Production
An exhaustively documented project scope that has been approved by all parties is essential. Interim milestones, a comprehensive schedule, and a sufficient budget to complete the required tasks should all be outlined in the scope of work.
Having everything down on paper at the outset of a project serves as a solid starting point. Change is inevitable, and it is our responsibility to adapt to it, but having this groundwork can help you recognise when the project begins to diverge significantly from what was originally envisioned. The situation in which this is most helpful is when a client begins to “scope creep.” Scope creep occurs when a client insists on adding “just one more little thing” to an already expansive or radically altered project.
Ground Your Hopes in Reality
You can’t have it all (excellent, fast, and cheap), but you can have two of the three.” —A production head I once knew often said that. You CAN NOT have options 1, 2, and 3.
It is your responsibility to ensure that the entire team and the customer are aware of the exact constraints that were placed on the video production. If your goals are sensible and achievable, you can complete a project on schedule and within budget. Accepting a project with impossible standards guarantees that you will fall short of those standards. Don’t set yourself up for failure by having unrealistic goals at the outset of your project.
Define Clear Success Metrics That Can Be Tracked and Reported
How do you evaluate the quality of your finished video? You and the customer will benefit from having a set of transparent and quantifiable measures by which to gauge the project’s progress. Especially for extended projects, halfway points are a great opportunity to check in on progress. Using intermediate targets, you may see if you’re deviating from the project’s initial plan. Client feedback should be incorporated at every stage of the process, not just at the conclusion. This reduces the need for rework, which saves both time and money and ensures that the client is satisfied.
Carefully Choose Your Team Members and Their Roles
Your video production team members should each bring something unique to the table. If you want your production to go off without a hitch, you must put your talents to good use. When you put the wrong person in charge of a project, you immediately lower your chances of success.
It’s also crucial to make sure everyone on the team knows their roles and responsibilities. You should encourage your staff to come to you with any questions or concerns they may have and listen to their answers. Open and honest communication is essential for a successful video shoot.
Accept Your Position as a Leader
If you want to succeed in your role as production manager, you need to play the part. Don’t let others on the team try to usurp your authority; instead, remain receptive to their input while maintaining your focus. As a coach, mentor, and motivator, it is your responsibility to foster an environment where everyone feels like they belong. Simple and fast team-building exercises can do this with little effort. You will also spend a lot of time acting as a client point of contact, therefore accuracy in all of your internal and external communications is essential. Keep your cool under pressure; this is exactly when your team needs you to step up as the steady, level-headed leader that you’ve proven yourself to be in the past.
Control the Hazards of Production
You should have previously made provisions for the most likely hazards, which you recognised at the beginning of your pre-production planning. If you can foresee when danger will strike, you can take measures to protect yourself or rapidly fix the problem. If the risk gets too great, you should be prepared to discontinue manufacturing. You need to be able to see when the video production is headed inexorably toward a point of failure and act accordingly, which may include stopping production.
After the Show is Over, Give It an Honest Appraisal
It is your responsibility to conduct a “post-mortem” analysis after the completion of your video creation. Even if only internal eyes see it, this report is vital to the success of upcoming endeavours. You’ll be able to see clearly what worked and what didn’t. Knowing your fortes and weaknesses allows you to assess where improvements may have been made and develop new standards for future initiatives.
If you follow these seven guidelines, your video will have the highest chance of success. Above all things, keep in mind that you are the leader your team needs to accomplish the project.