23 Point Video Production Checklist For Creating Great Videos

Imagine you’ve got a great idea for an explainer video. You’re excited to start this project, but then reality sets in. You quickly realize that creating a good video is more complicated than you thought. There’s writing a script, storyboarding, and figuring out how to bring your vision to life. If you’re wondering how to make an explainer video, it’s important to start by understanding the key elements that will make it engaging and informative. But before you do any of that, making a video production checklist is a good idea to organize your thoughts and map out your objectives.

This guide simplifies the video creation process for explainer video production services, providing a checklist for planning, executing, and delivering professional results. 

The 5 Stages of Video Production

Video production is simply creating visual content from start to finish. This consists of several stages that can take a suggested idea up to a fully realized video ready for marketing, education, entertainment, or other purposes. The process of production is very important to ensure that it achieves the purpose it is meant for and leaves an impact on the target audience, be it: 

• Short promotional video
• Full-length documentary
• Feature film

Knowing the various stages of video production is crucial to producing a quality video that effectively communicates the message to the target audience.

Idea Development: The Foundation of Your Video Production Checklist

Video production is a complex process with multiple stages that can take your video project from conception to completion. The first stage, idea development, involves brainstorming a video concept and fleshing it out to produce a video that meets your goals. 

Making a video requires more than just a good idea. You also must develop that idea to create a polished, professional video product. 

To do that, you have to:

• Decide what you want to accomplish with the video.
• Identify your target audience.
• Decide what you hope your audience’s reaction will be when they watch the video.
• Define the terms of success with your video.
• Decide how to make your video known and your potential distribution plan. 

All these video traits you identified above will help guide your video production the rest of the way. If you do all these things well, you have a good chance of success with the video you are about to make.

Pre-Production/Scripting: The Video Production Checklist to Prepare for Filming

The next phase of the video production checklist is pre-production. This is where you will put all the groundwork for your video, including writing the scripts and making storyboards. 

Here, you will also:

• Do casting
• Get a crew if needed.
• Find the proper equipment to make the video.
• Determine the locations you will shoot the video at (called location scouting). 

Production: Executing Your Video Production Checklist

Here’s where all your hard work pays off. The production phase of the video production checklist is where you make the actual video itself. If you did all your pre-production steps in a well-thought-out manner, this stage should flow along relatively quickly. 

With a good eye, attention to detail, and thoughtful planning from the previous step, you can create a unique video with little stress in the production phase.

Post Production: The Video Production Checklist to Polish Your Video

While shooting the video, you probably shot scenes you were happy with and some you were not. Some just ended up looking better on the big screen than they did on the production monitor. Thankfully, you can edit out what you don’t like during this step.

You can also add special effects, music, subtitles, and whatever else you need to make your video how you want it. This step can bring out many emotions you hoped to evoke in the first phase and iron out many wrinkles. In the post-production phase, you will see your project come to life.  

Marketing/Distribution: The Final Phase of Your Video Production Checklist

So now you have your finished video. Following the first four steps, you must be pleased with the finished product. Now, it’s time to execute your purpose for making a video. This will include showing it to people for pleasure, using it as a marketing tool for your business, or posting it on social media to make a point or express an opinion. You should be able to do that now that your video production task is complete.

Related Reading

• What is an Explainer Video
• What is the Purpose of a Storyboard
• Animation vs Live Action
• Explainer Video Script
• Explainer Video Types
• Explainer Video Cost
• How Long Should an Explainer Video Be
• Types of Motion Graphics
• Video Production Checklist

Why is Planning Crucial to the Video Production Process

The planning stage of video production is a lot like creating a roadmap for your project. You define all the essential details before you start, so there aren’t any surprises along the way. This helps you avoid roadblocks derailing your timeline and budget and enables you to produce a successful video. 

No matter how big or small your project, it’s essential to go through these stages in order when making any kind of video content to ensure:  

Timely Product Delivery

Defining all aspects of the project, including the production timeline, will help you produce and complete the video on time. Having these stages completed and outlined as you go through your production can eliminate issues that tend to arise and cause delays or a need for excess work or budget created by elements that weren’t planned or accounted for.  

High Task and Responsibility Coordination

Having tasks outlined and knowing who is responsible for completing them helps ensure that everyone has a manageable workload and that completing their tasks fits into the video’s production timeline.  

Reduced Need for Editing and Revisions

With a set plan and strategy, you’ll reduce the need to spend a lot of time in post-production making edits or adding additional pieces to ensure the video is on tone and message.  

Accurate Pricing Estimations

Planning out and budgeting the different phases of the production process and the time and costs involved will help you stay on budget and accurately estimate the portion of the budget it will take.  

Boost Your Brand with Seamless Project Management and Strategy

Moonb is a video marketing agency offering unlimited video editing subscriptions. We offer seamless project management integration via Trello, Slack, and MS Teams, weekly strategy calls, and a contract-free, full-service production approach. 

Moonb is a superior alternative to traditional video agencies, freelancers, and in-house production teams. Our flexible, subscription-based model, combined with our expertise in creating compelling video content, positions us as the ideal partner for companies looking to elevate their marketing and educational initiatives through the power of video. 

Start a 3-day free trial with our product demo video service to take your content to the next level.

23 Point Video Production Checklist For Creating Great Videos

1. Development: Build a Strong Foundation for Your Video Project

This stage is where the groundwork for your video project is laid. It’s about developing, researching, and turning ideas into plausible concepts. 

Idea Generation

This is the brainstorming stage. The idea should aim at what the project wants to achieve and appeal to the target audience. It involves lots of creativity and finding different angles that may make the video unique.

Research  

After selecting an idea, it must be researched for feasibility and relevance. This involves studying the target audience, market trends, and any technical or logistical parameters that might affect the eventual production. The research refines the idea and keeps it rooted.

Concept Creation

With the idea and research in hand, a clear concept for the video needs to be developed. One must underline the video's main message, themes, and visual style. The concept guides the whole production process, helping with decisions about:

• Scriptwriting
• Storyboarding
• Further pre-production tasks

2. Pre-Production: Plan Your Work, Work Your Plan

Pre-production involves all planning and preparation for actual filming. These are a few essential activities that set up the groundwork for a seamless production exercise. 

Scriptwriting  

The script is viewed as the spine of every video. It creates a structure that outlines events:

• Dialogue
• Action
• Flow through a video

This ensures that a well-written script leads to a coherent and riveting story.

Storyboarding

This is the process of creating a graphical representation of the script. Every scene is storyboarded in thumbnail sketch form to give a clear idea of what it would finally look like on screen. This helps the director, cinematographer, and crew members visualize the final product and thus plan their shots properly.

Production Planning

This is a well-thought-out plan for the production process, from budgeting to timelines and even crew roles. Effective planning keeps production on track and within budget. 

Casting 

If the video contains actors or presenters, then it involves casting. The right kind of talent needs to be brought in to bring the script to life. The casting decision has a huge effect on the tone and effectiveness of the video. 

Location Scouting

The impact on the video occurs because of the place where it is shot. Location scouting is finding an ideal location that meets the scene's requirements, whether a studio, outdoors, or a venue. 

Scheduling

A detailed schedule is developed to ensure all production phases are completed on time. This involves coordinating the availability of locations and talent and crew scheduling. It also includes planning strategies for delays or problems as they arise.

Equipment Preparation

All needed equipment—from cameras to lighting and audio gadgets—is prepared and tested to ensure good order. The right equipment, ready to roll out, is the base of any successful production day. 

3. Production: Lights, Camera, Action! 

This is where the actual filming happens. It is often an intensive phase that requires coordination and collaboration among the whole crew. 

Filming  

Filming captures the footage according to what is indicated by the script and storyboard. This involves setting up scenes, guiding actors, and properly framing and lighting every shot. 

Directing

The director oversees the filming process:

• Guiding the talent and crew
• Helping the vision for the video come into being

A director’s job is crucial in shaping everything, from setting up tone, pace, and quality to directing the action. 

Lighting

Proper lighting is essential in developing the video's intended mood and ensuring it looks professional. The process calls for lighting to enhance the highlighting of key elements and achieve depth and dimension in shots. 

Audio Recording  

High-quality audio is just as important as good visuals. Audio is recorded during production using microphones and other recording equipment to capture clear and crisp sound. 

Cinematography

The cinematographer is responsible for the camera work, including choosing the lenses, composing frames, and moving to execute dynamic images. The camerawork primarily expresses the story and feelings of the video. 

B-Roll Footage

B-roll refers to secondary footage used to complement the main shots. This may involve cutaway shots, background scenes, or additional angles that further enrich the story. 

4. Post-Production: The Magic Happens Here

Once filming is complete, the project moves into post-production. This is the stage at which the footage is edited, and the final product is finished. 

Editing

The editor cuts the scenes from the film’s rushes together and arranges them sequentially. This is where the story comes together. Pacing, transitions, and effects are expertly interlaced to create a cohesive feel to the narrative. 

Color Correction

Color correction provides video with a consistent feel and look. This would involve setting color balance, contrast, and brightness levels to optimize the visual quality of the piece and enhance consistency throughout the scenes. 

Sound Design

The sound design incorporates all aspects of audio, such as adding, editing, and mixing different audio components, like dialogue, sound effects, and background music, into a rich audio experience that further complements the video aspect.

Visual Effects

If special effects are needed in the video, they are added in the post-production stage. Visual effects may include simple enhancements or even complex animations depending on the work's requirements. 

Music Scoring

Music is integral to setting the mood and enhancing the feel of a video. The important thing in music scoring is choosing or creating the music that has to be used with the motion of the video. 

Final Review

Before the video is finalized, it undergoes a thorough review to ensure everything is in place. Among these checks include any errors, the final adjustments, and whether the video answers the brief or achieves the objectives set out in the project. 

5. Distribution: Get Your Video Seen! 

The last mile of video production is distribution, where the video is distributed to the target audience. 

Platform Selection

Choose the appropriate distribution channel that will help the target audience view content, either through:

• Social media
• Video hosting
• A personal website 

File Formatting

The video exported shall be in the format required by the chosen platform. This ensures perfect playback and quality on all devices. 

Uploading

After formatting, the video is uploaded to the chosen platform(s). This may be accompanied by metadata settings in search of optimization for video searching or discovering, including:

• Title
• Description
• Tags 

Optimization

Video optimization involves making it easy for your target audience to find your videos. It also consists of optimizing the following:

• Title
• Description
• Tags
• Thumbnails

Marketing Strategies

Video marketing strategies include social media promotion, email campaigns, and partnering. These strategies increase traffic to a video and encourage user engagement, resulting in maximum views.

Related Reading

• Tech Explainer Videos
• Benefits of Explainer Videos
• Explainer Video Examples
• Explainer Video Characters
• B2B Explainer Videos
• Motion Graphics Explainer Videos
• Healthcare Explainer Videos
• Video Production Checklist
• Saas Explainer Videos
• Startup Explainer Video

5 Extra Tips for Your Video Production

Creating a polished and professional video requires careful planning, collaboration, and flexibility. These tips will help you streamline your video production process and ensure a successful outcome.

1. Create a Detailed Checklist

Preparation is the foundation of a smooth shoot. Start by listing all the equipment you’ll need, such as cameras, microphones, lights, tripods, and backup storage devices. Double-check that everything is packed, charged, and in working condition. Don’t forget to bring spare batteries and memory cards for emergencies. 

Beyond gear, list the people involved and their roles so everyone knows their responsibilities. A thorough checklist minimizes last-minute stress and keeps your production on track.

2. Collaborate and Be Open to Input

Great ideas can come from anyone on set, so stay open to suggestions. For example, an actor might propose a more natural way to deliver a line, or a crew member may suggest an innovative shot composition. 

Encouraging collaboration fosters creativity and ensures a more potent final product. Build feedback loops into your process, from pre-production planning to editing, to allow team members to share their insights. Valuing input from your team will enhance your video and improve the overall experience for everyone involved.

3. Schedule Shooting Days in Advance

Scheduling is critical for coordinating people, locations, and equipment. Notify actors and crew members well in advance to ensure their availability. Similarly, secure your filming locations early to avoid conflicts or restrictions. 

Include contingency days in your timeline to accommodate unexpected delays, like weather issues or technical problems. Planning can prevent unnecessary stress and keep your production on schedule.

4. Rehearse for Smooth Filming

Rehearsals are a valuable step in the production process, helping to smooth out potential issues before filming begins. Run through scenes with the cast to practice blocking, dialogue, and timing. This not only boosts the confidence of everyone involved but also reduces mistakes during the shoot. 

Use rehearsals to test equipment, audio, and lighting setups to catch technical issues early. With proper practice, filming will be more efficient and focused.

5. Plan Time for Reshoots

No matter how well you prepare, unforeseen issues can arise. Build extra time into your schedule to account for reshoots, whether due to weather disruptions, equipment failures, or unexpected mistakes. 

A good rule of thumb is to overestimate the time required for travel, shooting, and editing by at least 20%. This buffer allows you to handle problems without compromising the quality of your video. Review footage promptly after each shoot to identify reshoot needs while you can still access your locations and cast.

Start a 3-day Free Trial to Take Your Content to the Next Level with Our Product Demo Video Service

Explainer videos break down complicated topics into digestible visual chunks. They can take many forms, including:

• Animation
• Live-action
• Screencasts

Explainer videos can also vary in length, typically under five minutes.  Despite their name, explainer videos do more than just explain. 

They can:

• Introduce a business and its goals
• Outline a company’s products or services
• Illustrate how to use a product 

Related Reading

• Motion Graphics Companies
• Promotional Video Production Companies
• 30 Second Explainer Videos
• Top Explainer Video Companies
• Product Video Companies
• Stop Motion Animation Examples
• App Explainer Video
• 3d Video Production Companies
• Best Explainer Video Software
• 2d Explainer Video
• 3d Explainer Videos

‍