Insight into the Television Production Process: A Step by Step Guide

Producing a television show is very much like the process used to produce a short marketing video or a full-feature film. There are three major phases that must take place including: pre-production, production, and post-production. While you may not actively participate in most of the activities that take place in each television production process, it is important to understand how each phase plays out so that you can engage with your professional team to get the most out of your production project.

This step-by-step guide provides insight into each phase of the television production process from pre-production planning through the entire film shoot and into post-production editing. Want to learn more? Give Beverly Boy Productions a call at 888-462-7808!

Television Pre-Production Process

First and foremost, every television production process begins with pre-production steps to ensure appropriate planning. During this phase of the television production process a Unit Production Manager or UPM may be brought in to monitor and direct the budgeting side of the production. The UPM will work closely with the Assistant Director to plan and coordinate background talent for the production.

Let’s Break it Down

Pre-production is the earliest phase of producing a television show. Things like casting actors, hiring talented crew members, and organization schedules to ensure everyone is on the same page of the television production process take place. Additional steps taking place in the pre-production process include:

• Budgeting
• Background actor hiring
• Costuming designing
• Wardrobe planning
• Shot plans

Television Production Process

This is where everything comes together and the story begins to play out. The shot lists that were produced in pre-production become the basis for coordinating production on the set. Crew members and talent work closely to accurately recreate each scene or shot from the pre-production planning that earlier took place.

Cameras Are Rolling!

Each scene is shot, not necessarily in chronological order, and the footage is captured. The director will call the shots at this stage, requesting retakes or deciding when adequate footage for a particular shot or scene has been captured and it’s appropriate to move on. Additional tasks that take place during the television production process may include:

• Incorporating doubles into scenes to replace principal actors for special shots.
• Stunts or shots requiring special skills are captured.
• B-roll footage is captured.

Television Post-Production Process

In the television post-production process the footage moves to the editing team for the final steps. Sound mixing and the addition of any special effects will be incorporated in at this time. Each television show is then edited and the editor will request reshoots or the filming of additional scenes as needed to fulfill the obligations of the final film.

A lot happens in post-production editing. This stage of the process can take significantly longer than the actual production process itself. If you’re the client, waiting for final visual proofs of your television show, be prepared to wait patiently for several days (or weeks) before seeing the first cut. Just know that magic is happening behind the scenes and the end result will be amazing!

Let’s Collaborate

Want to produce a television show? Give Beverly Boy Productions a call at 888-462-7808 today for more information!