The Importance of the Development Stage in Video Production
Filming a movie or short film, even something as quick as a commercial, starts long before scheduling the acting talent or recruiting a film crew. Any up-and-coming film producer knows that every film goes through five stages before hitting the screen, and the first, and often most important, stage is development. Overlook development and give it less time and attention than it deserves, and the final film might be a disconnected mess. Put in the time during the development stage, and a film might get the backing and support it needs to become a polished, post-production masterpiece.
What is the Development Stage?
Before any film can hit production, it needs a well-fleshed concept and story. No one can just walk up with a camera and film a video that resonates with the audience without a lot of pre-planning. The development stage is when all of that happens. During development, filmmakers dive deeper than a desire to film. They get into the meat of the concept. Not just what the film will be, but why they want to tell that story and to whom. Development answers the all important questions of:
- Why make this video?
- Who is the audience and what connects them to the story?
- What is the video supposed to inspire watchers to do?
That last piece is particularly important for a video production not intended as entertainment.
Also See: Do's and Don'ts of Writing a Show
Getting a Video to Production
The development phase is all about getting everything ready to enter the next phase of video production, which is pre-production. Finalizing a script usually happens during development, along with discussions about financing and acting talent. Once the concept is set, it is time to pitch the finished product and get approval to move forward. A feature film or television production might also look at location options for filming.
Avoiding Production Missteps with Good Development Practices
During development, filmmakers nail down everything not directly related to the physical act of filming. A final budget, timeline, storyboard, cast and crew and any other needed details should be argued out before scheduling anything in pre-production. The most seamless filming comes after the most in-depth planning, and development is when much of that should happen.
Once all of the details about the production have been nailed down, the film is ready to enter pre-production. The time when all of the practicalities of filming are set, like schedules, equipment orders, catering menus, etc. The easy way to remember the difference between development and pre-production is that development happens before the financing, and pre-production happens once there is money in the bank.
Also See: 5 Must-Have Crew Members for a Winning TV Production
Sources:
http://www.brighthub.com/multimedia/video/articles/123288.aspx
http://www.lavideofilmmaker.com/filmmaking/movie-making.html
http://12starsmedia.com/blog/why-every-good-video-needs-development
