Pre-production: where the real work happens
Most clients think of production as the shoot day. In reality, the shoot day is only possible because of the work that happens before it. Pre-production is where the project gets planned, and it determines how smoothly everything that follows will go.
In a well-run pre-production phase, your production team will:
- Review your brief and ask clarifying questions
- Write or refine the script or shot list
- Scout and confirm locations
- Source and confirm any on-screen talent, if needed
- Plan the shoot schedule and call sheet
- Coordinate logistics: permits, equipment, crew
- Get your approval on the creative direction before shooting starts
Your active involvement during pre-production is important. This is the phase where you can make changes at no cost. Once shooting begins, changing anything costs time and money. Make sure the script, the look, the locations, and the tone are right before the cameras start rolling.
Pre-production typically takes longer than the shoot itself. A one-day shoot might require one to two weeks of pre-production for a proper corporate video. Budget time for this, not just the shoot day.
What happens on shoot day
Shoot day tends to feel more controlled than people expect. A professional crew will arrive with a call sheet that maps out exactly what gets filmed and when. There is usually no improvising on the day for a well-planned production.
What you should prepare as the client:
- Access: Make sure relevant spaces are available and presentable. Clean, uncluttered backgrounds make a significant difference in the final image.
- People: If interviews or on-camera appearances are involved, confirm who is appearing, when, and where. Brief them on what to expect so they are not nervous.
- Decision-making: Have a single point of contact on your side who can make on-the-spot decisions. Multiple approvers on set slow everything down.
- Flexibility: Even with a tight schedule, something will take longer than planned. Budget time for this in your day.
A one-day shoot for a standard corporate video typically covers interviews, b-roll of the office or location, and any product or service demonstration footage. More complex shoots (multiple locations, large cast, scripted sequences) take longer and may require multiple days.
The post-production phase
After the shoot, the footage goes to the editing team. This is where your raw material gets shaped into a finished video. For most corporate videos, post-production involves several distinct steps:
Assembly and structure
The editor assembles the best takes, builds the narrative arc, and establishes the pacing. This first version is often longer than the final cut and is intended to show structure, not polish.
Pacing and refinement
Based on your feedback on the rough cut, the edit is tightened, transitions are refined, and music is added. Most of the creative decisions happen in this stage.
Visual consistency
The colourist balances footage from different lighting conditions, applies a consistent look, and enhances the overall visual quality. This step has a significant impact on how professional the final video feels.
Lower-thirds, titles, sound mix
Any text overlays, animated graphics, or lower-thirds are added. The audio is mixed: dialogue levels, music volume, and any sound effects are balanced for clarity.
Export and formats
The finished video is exported in the agreed formats. Typically this includes a master file and any platform-specific versions you need (square, vertical, compressed for email).
How revisions work
Most corporate video projects include two rounds of revisions in the standard quote: one after the rough cut and one after the fine cut. This is industry standard in Egypt and elsewhere.
A revision round means you watch the current version, compile your consolidated feedback (from all stakeholders on your side), and send it in one go. Your production team then implements those changes and returns the next version. Going back and forth on individual points separately, rather than in consolidated batches, is slower and tends to use up revision rounds inefficiently.
Sharing the video with multiple stakeholders who each send feedback independently. This results in conflicting notes, revision rounds being consumed by internal disagreements, and delays. Consolidate all feedback internally before sending to your production team.
Changes that fall outside the original scope, such as reshoot requirements, significant script changes after filming, or additional platform formats that were not in the original brief, typically require a separate quote. Establish what counts as an in-scope revision versus a scope change before production begins.
Realistic timelines for Egyptian businesses
The most common complaint we hear from businesses that have worked with other production companies is that the project took much longer than expected. Here is a realistic guide for a standard corporate video in Egypt:
- Brief and proposal: 3 to 5 business days from initial contact to receiving a proposal
- Pre-production: 1 to 3 weeks, depending on complexity (scripting, location, talent)
- Shoot day(s): 1 to 3 days on set
- First cut delivery: 5 to 10 business days after shoot
- Revisions and final delivery: 1 to 2 additional weeks, depending on revision speed
Total from kickoff to final delivery: typically 4 to 8 weeks for a standard corporate video. If you have a hard deadline (a product launch, an event, an ad campaign start date), communicate this upfront so the production team can schedule accordingly. Rush production is possible but typically adds cost.
Your role throughout the process
One thing that surprises many clients is how much the client's own responsiveness affects the timeline. The production company controls the creative work, but you control the approvals. Slow sign-off on the script means a delayed shoot. Slow feedback on the rough cut means a delayed final delivery.
The clients who get the best results and the fastest turnarounds are the ones who treat video production like any other project: with a clear owner on their side, a defined approval process, and timely responses at each milestone. If you have multiple internal stakeholders who need to approve the video, align them before production begins, not during it.
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