A QUICK GUIDE TO PRODUCTION PLANNING
Define
the audience.
Determine as specifically as possible to whom your message is to be directed.
Clarify
the objectives.
Ask
the question, "What do I want this program to accomplish?"
Ask it over and over again until you can't come up with any more answers.
Determine
your message.
What is the basic message of your program? When the audience finishes
watching the program, what do you want them to remember. Our
experience has been that the programs with very narrow objectives,
and a very specific message are always the most effective.
Determine
the production budget.
Once the audience, objectives, and message are determined, we can
develop various production approaches to accomplish your objectives
and tell your story. The cost is established, in part, by the
approach we take in production. The amount of videography, editing,
the amount and complexity of graphics and animation and a number of
other elements all affect the cost of the project. If you are working
with a specific budget figure, please let us know. That will help us
design an approach that will maximize the impact of your dollars.
Decide
when you need the completed program.
Decide
when you need the completed program, then work backwards from that
point to set deadlines for the various planning and production steps.
Complete
the production agreement.
Our
standard production agreement describes what you can expect from us,
and what the costs will be. It also outlines the responsibilities of
each party during the production process. We know that in business no
one likes surprises. The production agreement is designed to
eliminate any surprises.
Research
and scriptwriting.
Once
the above steps are completed, a writer will begin the research and
scriptwriting process. Our objective is to learn as much as possible
about your business, your goals, and your sensitivities. This will
help us write a script that not only contains the necessary facts and
figures, but also captures the essence of your business. This is also
the place where the audio and visual elements of the program take
shape. In many ways, this is the most crucial part of the process
because everything that happens from this point forward will be based
upon the script. Our goal is to create audio and visual elements that
accurately reflect the script. If it is wrong here, it will be wrong
in the final product, and no one wants that.
Graphics
design and storyboards.
If
your program contains graphics or animation, they will be designed
at this point in the process. Whether logo animation or technical
illustration, our art department will design the graphics and
animation based on the description in the script, plus any other
supporting information provided (such as pmts, blueprints, proofs. .
. ). A storyboard detailing steps of the final animation is then
provided for review.
Approval.
The
final step in the planning phase is approval. Both you and the
Rainbow producer must approve the script and the graphic storyboards
before moving into the production phase. If changes are to be made,
they should be done at this point. Changes that follow script
approval can impact the production drastically, and in many cases
result in increased costs.