Pre-Production Checklist
Pre-production is one the most important aspects of production to ensure a project runs efficiently and stays within a proposed budget or deadline. Since projects vary in scope, size and scale, each production will have it’s own unique approach during the pre-production phase. Even though pre-production will look different per project, one thing will remain the same — if all goes well in pre-production, then production should be a breeze. Below are our the most common items on our pre-pro checklist. These don’t don’t always occur in the same order and often times are happening simultaneously.
budget
Let’s be real. You gotta have a budget to have any type of pre-production. Having a budget is vital to know what type of production you can produce and to what scale. Having a budget will help shape production and also guide you on where you will need to allocate funds. It will also help shed light on where you need to be resourceful or cut costs. Maybe you don’t need that extra PA for crafty after all.
Concept and script development
Every project needs a good concept. Period. Without a concept, it would be hard to plan the logistics of the shoot or really plan anything at all. Once a concept is development, the storyboarding and script development process can begin. Having a cohesive and solid script in place will help propel and determine all of the nitty gritty details such as, how many actors/actresses there will be, what kind of camera(s) will be used, what kind of props are needed, you get picture.
hiring talent
Hiring talent may be one of the most crucial parts to pre-production because it will determine a lot such as the production schedule and what kind of props/wardrobe, etc. there will be. The casting process can be quite lengthy and can be approached in many different ways such as putting out an ad to submit auditions or hosting a day long casting call. Some production companies may already have a specific person in mind for their project and have discussed rates and availability with their agent while building out the budget.
hiring crew
This usually happens simultaneously as the other items on the checklist and in some instances, some crew will come on board before others such as the Director of Photography, Production Designer, Wardrobe Designer, etc. These positions need ample planning in order to be ready to go for production which is why they come on board during the pre-production stage.
location scouting
Aside from talent availability, location is usually the second item to affect the production schedule. Location scouting can be as simple as making a Facebook post online, or driving out to West Texas itself to look for the perfect cantina. Getting in touch with your city’s film commission can be very beneficial as they may already have a list of film friendly locations.
production design and wardrobe
Depending on the scale of the project (and what is budgeted), these may or may not be heavily planned departments. Whether you’re creating a comedic commercial for a local coffee shop or creating a testimonial video for non-profit, some thought will need to be put into the overall look and feel of the video which includes set design, editing style, wardrobe etc. If budget is any issue, find a way to be resourceful such as seeing what the shooting location has in terms of set design and props. Touch base with the actors and actresses to see what they have in their personal wardrobe. It really boils down to the type of content you are producing and the scale of it to know how much planning you or your crew will need to do in these areas.
release forms and permits
If you film anyone and plan to distribute it ANYWHERE, make sure you get the proper documents and release forms signed. Same goes for any art or logos/brands that you use. This is essentially to protect you or your production company from any legal trouble down the road. Also, always be prepared to look into pulling permits, especially when filming in a public space. Without the proper permits, the production can come to a halt and be delayed which means rescheduling crew/actors, etc. taking a big dip in the budget. Just stay safe and look into permits before production begins.
shot lists and gear rentals
This kind of stuff seems second nature but you’d be surprised how many productions begin without a detailed shot list. Shot lists are important because they help plan the day and determine the shooting schedule. They are also important because they are a reference to make sure you get all of the shots that you want and you don’t walk into the editing room wishing you had gotten a shot that you didn’t.
shooting schedule and call sheet
A shooting schedule is essentially a project plan of each day's shooting for production. A shooting schedule is a simple breakdown of the scenes, talent, time, cast, company moves, and day breaks. It helps everyone stay on track and on the same page as to how production will do. From the shooting schedule, call sheets can be created and sent to talent and crew.
