What Is Pre-Production?
Pre-production covers all the preparation and groundwork that happens before the production stage. What needs to be done at this stage can vary considerably from project to project. For example, set design and construction play a major role when filming a TV series, while for a documentary shoot, this step matters far less.
Stages of Pre-Production
Pre-production is made up of a number of stages, including scriptwriting, storyboarding, and location scouting. Pre-production is followed, in order, by video production and post-production.
Script & Planning
Defining the story, storyboard, and shooting flow.
Location Selection & Recce
Visiting the location and checking its technical suitability.
Budgeting & Vendor Agreements
Finalizing contracts for equipment, crew, and services.
What to Watch Out for in Pre-Production
As in most fields, planning is critical in video production too. Given the size of the crews involved and the scale of the budgets, even the smallest planning mistake can end up causing a delay that costs hundreds of thousands of Turkish lira. That's why every stage needs to be planned very carefully by professionals in the field.
Budgeting
Budgeting is one of the most critical line items for completing a production. Before starting a project, you need to draft a preliminary budget and make sure every detail is accounted for. For example, overlooking something like "location rental" can eat straight through the "unforeseen expenses" line in your budget.
Contingency Plans
In video production, you always need a Plan B ready to go. You need to be prepared for a crew member falling ill, an equipment malfunction, or bad weather, and you should have a backup plan — even a third one — for every scenario.
Vendor Service Agreements
For the project as a whole, you should always sign a service agreement with every vendor. On some projects, there can be as much as a year's gap between the planning stage and execution. That's why, even at the planning stage, it's worth putting a preliminary agreement — or a full contract that spells out commitments — in place with all your vendors.
Recce (Location Scouting)
Pre-production has one more sub-step that goes beyond simply choosing a location: the recce. Once a location is chosen, the director, cinematographer, and production team physically visit the shooting location to check the direction of natural light, the electrical infrastructure, the acoustics, and the size of the physical space in person. Skipping this check means a surprise on shoot day — an insufficient power outlet, unexpected noise, a cramped space — can throw off the entire day. We covered why a recce is so critical and how it's done in detail in this article.
How Long Does Pre-Production Take?
The timeline depends on the scale of the project, but as a general reference, pre-production for mid-sized projects like corporate promotional films or commercials typically takes 1 to 3 weeks. This covers scriptwriting, location/cast selection, the recce, crew planning, and finalizing vendor agreements. For larger-scale commercials or multi-location productions, this can extend to 4-6 weeks. For short, single-location interviews or corporate content, 2-3 days of pre-production is usually enough.
Pre-Production Agencies
In our market, you can count on one hand the number of agencies that offer pre-production only as a standalone service. Pre-production and production are usually offered by the same agency.
At Vusto Production, our Istanbul-based team doesn't treat pre-production as a separate service — we handle it as an inseparable part of the video production process. On every project, we plan the script, location scouting (recce), budgeting, and vendor agreements end-to-end with the same team, so there are no surprises on shoot day. To discuss the pre-production process for your project, get in touch with us.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the stages of pre-production?
Scriptwriting, storyboarding, location selection and recce (location scouting), budgeting, and vendor agreements.
How long does pre-production take?
It typically takes 1-3 weeks for mid-sized projects; large, multi-location projects can extend to 4-6 weeks, while short, single-location content may only need 2-3 days.
Why is the recce (location scouting) part of pre-production?
It ensures a location's light, sound, and electrical infrastructure are checked in person before filming; skipping this check can mean a surprise on shoot day that throws off the entire schedule.
