Three stages of Production

The Three Production Phases

The production process is commonly broken down into preproduction, production, and postproduction, which some people roughly characterize as "before, during, and after."    

The Preproduction Phase

There is a saying in TV production:

The most important phase of production is preproduction.

The importance of this is often more fully appreciated after things get pretty well messed up during a production and the production people look back and wish they had paid attention to this from the start.

In preproduction the basic ideas and approaches of the production are developed and set in motion. It is in this phase that the production can be set on a proper course or misdirected (messed up) to such an extent that no amount of time, talent, or editing expertise can save it.    

The Prime Directive

"Trekkies" know that Star Trek (remember Star Trek?) has its prime directive. So does TV production:

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Hit the target audience. 

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In order for the program to be successful, you must keep in mind throughout each production phase the needs, interests, and general background of the target audience (the audience your production is designed to reach).

In order for your program to have value and a lasting effect, it must in some wayaffect the audience emotionally. This assumes both knowledge of the prime directive and the target audience, and it ends up being a key to your professional success.

More on that later.

During preproduction, not only are key talent and production members selected, but all the major elements are planned. Since things such as scene design, lighting, and audio are interrelated, they must be carefully coordinated in a series of production meetings.

Once all the basic elements are in place, rehearsals can start.

A simple on-location segment may involve only a quick check of talent positions so that camera moves, audio, and lighting can be checked.

A complex dramatic production may require many days of rehearsals. These generally start with a table reading or dry rehearsal where the talent along with key production personnel sit around a table and read through the script. Often, script changes take place at this point.

Finally, there's a dress rehearsal. Here, the talent dresses in the appropriate wardrobe, and all production elements are in place. This is the final opportunity for production personnel to solve whatever production problems remain.  

The Production Phase

The production phase is where everything comes together (we can hope) in a kind of final performance.

Productions can be broadcast live or recorded. With the exception of news shows, sports remotes, and some special-event broadcasts, productions are typically recorded for later broadcast or distribution.

Recording the show or program segment provides an opportunity to fix problems by either making changes during the editing phase or stopping the recording and redoing a segment.    

And, Finally, the Postproduction Phase

Tasks, such as striking (taking down) sets, dismantling and packing equipment, handling final financial obligations, and evaluating the effect of the program, are part of the postproduction phase.

Even though postproduction includes all of these after-the-production jobs, most people associate postproduction with editing.

As computer-controlled editing techniques and postproduction ▲visual effects (VFX) have become more sophisticated, editing has gone far beyond the original concept of simply joining segments in a desired order. Editing is now a major focus of production creativity.

Armed with the latest digital effects, the editing phase can add much in the way of razzmatazz to a production. In fact, it's pretty easy to become enthralled with the special effect capabilities of your equipment.