live action workflow
The focus of this section is on the workflow of a live-action video that requires production. Another type of live-action that only uses stock footage from online libraries requires a significantly shorter time than live-action videos that require production. The image below shows the approximate timeline to create a live-action video.
Pre-production
Before deciding on this style of video, you will have to do all the research around the content you're trying to promote, the targeted audience and the competition. Once that is complete and this type of video seems to be the best option, it’s time to enter the pre-production phase.
Let's say you want to make a video to promote Heart of Experian, you'll go through the following process.
Find your subjects — Secure the subjects who are active participants of this organization to represent the company. Talk to the leaders within Heart of Experian and ask them to name a couple of people who play important roles. Reach out to them for a quick chat to see if they'd be a good choice for the video. Look for people who are comfortable with public speaking and have stories that relate to your idea.
Design question lists and B-roll shots — Come up with questions for different subjects. Some of the questions can be the same, but try to tailor the questions to their individual stories. Based on the information you gathered during the quick chat, think about what kind of B-roll shots to capture in support of their interviews. Once the question list is ready, send it to the subjects prior to production day.
Location scouting and crew assembly — Your topic usually dictates the filming location. If you’re doing a video on our brand, the office might be the best place to conduct an interview. If you’re doing a video on the environment, an outdoor area will be better. Think about not only the location for the interview, but also the location to capture B-roll. Work with the videographers and ask their opinion on locations.
Create a shot list and call sheet — A shot list is a document that maps out everything that will happen during production. It usually shows the timeline, the scene number, the cast name, and the information on A-roll and B-roll. It serves as a checklist, providing the project with a sense of direction and preparedness for the film crew. A call sheet is a document sent out to the cast and crew a day prior to filming that outlines where and when they need to be. It also contains contacts and other relevant information.
We’ve developed a call sheet template for your convenience. Work with the film crew to finalize this information.
Production
Production usually takes only a few days. If you plan to interview three to four people and capture some B-roll for the video, you should only need one production day if you've planned accordingly. Always try to schedule all the subjects on the same day. Setting up and breaking down the equipment multiple times isn’t efficient.
For A-roll interviews, schedule each subject for at least 45 minutes. For B-roll, schedule 30 minutes.
Post-Production
Post-production is the longest of the three phases. It contains all of the tasks associated with editing including cutting raw footage, assembling that footage, adding music, doing sound design, designing and animating graphics and color correction. Please see the post-production workflow below.
Prepare Footage
Depending on the codec of the footage, you may need to transcode and create proxy files. These two steps prepare for a smooth editing process later on. If this is a multi-camera production, you’ll need to create multi-cam sequences before diving into the footage.
Picture editing
After the editor reads the shot list and goes through all the captured footage, the first step is to select the footage (A-roll and B-roll). Find the best delivery in the interviews and select the usable B-roll footage. Then, the editor cuts the video based on the shot list and on their knowledge of how best to tell the story.
Sound and music design
After picture editing, the editor will treat the sound by cleaning the production sound of the interviews and smoothing the audio transitions between subjects. Then, the editor will look for the best music tracks online and mix them well to advance the story emotionally. The editor will use sound effects to add another layer of authenticity. The final step is sound mixing where the editor balances all the audio tracks and makes sure nothing is too loud or too soft.
Graphic animation and visual effects
Most of the time, videos need graphic animation to make it sparkle. These graphics include lower thirds, title sequences or animated sections that illustrate key talking points during the interview. If you shot against a green screen, visual effects need to be applied too.
Color correction and color grading
Color correction is very important in post-production especially if you shot in raw profile. The editor goes through the entire video cut by cut, sometimes frame by frame to adjust the color for both mood and consistency. This step creates a consistent look that’s natural and realistic. A specific mood can also be created by stylizing the color scheme and making it more cinematic.
Review and distribution
A video usually goes through three to five rounds of revisions. All stakeholders need to watch the video and provide their feedback. Thus, the revision stage itself may take one to two weeks. When the video is approved, the editor will upload it to a site for downloading or distribution via a link.