Audiovisual pre-production: what it is and what it should include

Audiovisual pre-production: what it is and what it should include

Quick answer: pre-production is the phase before shooting a video. It defines the concept, script, storyboard, location, crew, schedule, permits, resources, and responsibilities. Good pre-production reduces costly mistakes during the shoot and the edit.

What gets decided in pre-production

Before turning on the camera, the team should know:

• Goal of the video.
• Audience.
• Distribution channel.
• Expected duration.
• Main message.
• CTA.
• Script or rundown.
• Location.
• People who appear.
• Technical crew.
• Permits.
• Final deliverables.

Without these decisions, the shoot tends to produce disorganized material, and the edit ends up trying to solve problems that should have been decided earlier.

Why it matters so much

In video, many mistakes can't be fixed well afterward. Bad audio, missing permits, insufficient shots, poor lighting, or the absence of a key take can force a reshoot. Pre-production protects time, budget, and quality.

It also helps post-production, because the editor receives a clear path: what story to tell, what shots exist, what versions to export, and what priority each message has.

Basic checklist

• Brief approved.
• Script or rundown.
• Storyboard if applicable.
• Shot list.
• Shoot plan.
• Location and image release permits.
• Equipment and batteries.
• Audio checked.
• Props, product, or wardrobe.
• Material backup.
• Approval owner.

How to manage it

Register the project in Studio with tasks by phase: brief, script, prep, shoot, edit, review, and publishing. In Media, store scripts, references, logos, raw footage, music, licenses, permits, and versions.

Signs of poor pre-production

• No one knows what the central message is.
• Footage is shot "just in case" with no shot list.
• It's not clear who approves.
• Brand assets are missing.
• The final format is decided after shooting.
• The editor receives no context.

Metrics

Measure delays avoided, rounds of changes, reshot takes, unusable material, and time to approval. Strong pre-production isn't visible on screen as a separate section; it shows because everything flows better.