BEHIND THE SCENES OF PRE-PRODUCTION
Pre-production – what is it really all about?
Pre-production is the first and one of the most crucial stages in creating a film, commercial, or any audiovisual production.
It’s the moment when an idea is transformed into a concrete action plan.
In practice, pre-production includes all preparations before stepping into the set – from the initial concept and script to organizing people and equipment.
During the pre-production stage, the following elements are developed, among others:
– the script and screenplay,
-storyboards,
-production schedule,
– location scouting,
as well as creative and technical decisions that will facilitate the production process.
Shooting list
A shooting list is the technical version of the script, created specifically for the production phase.
It includes a detailed division into shots and scenes, along with descriptions of what the viewer is ultimately meant to see on screen.
In a typical shooting list, you’ll find:
– the scene and shot number
-a description of the shot – what exactly the camera sees (e.g., a close-up of a face, a cityscape panorama)
-camera movement (e.g., dolly in, panning)
-technical details – such as shot duration, time of day (DAY/NIGHT), and location (INTERIOR/EXTERIOR)
Storyboards
A storyboard is a visual script – a series of illustrations or graphics that show how the film’s shots are intended to look.
It’s a visual planning tool that helps the production team or Client better understand how a given scene will appear on screen.
Location scouting
Location scouting is the process of finding and selecting suitable locations where the film will be shot.
It’s one of the key tasks in pre-production phase, as the setting has a major impact on the atmosphere, visual style, and logistics of the entire production.
In the project for Exclusive Beauty Club, the Client expected us to find a location with character — elegant, lush with greenery, and with a warm atmosphere.
We looked for a place that not only met these criteria but also told a story on its own and helped build the project’s mood.
Production schedule - "Call sheet"
A call sheet – the daily work plan for the shooting day — is a document sent to the entire film crew, containing a detailed schedule and organizational information for that specific day of filming.
Final result
By thoroughly conducted pre-production phase, the entire film production process ran smoothly and without disruptions.
In our opinion, this stage is crucial — the more time we dedicate to it, the better we can anticipate potential challenges and more efficiently implement the planned actions on set.
You can see the result of our work below: