We work closely with our clients every step of the way to ensure that the outcome of the production is a powerful sales, training or promotional tool.

The client must be an informed partner in the video production process and by working closely with the client we ensure that deadlines and budgets are met. Since many clients aren't familiar with the production process, we have summarized the key steps below:

Pre-Production

• Define the purpose:
  The video process begins with choosing the purpose of the video.
• Identify the target audience:
  For the video to be right on target we must know your audience. Young or old? Management or staff? Clients or employees? Once we have identified the target audience we can choose a style, music and pacing to motivate that group.
• Develop the storyboard:
  We will create a storyboard for the video. Think of your video as a story. All good stories contain certain elements. When creating your story keep in mind the 5 W's; Who, What, When, Where, and Why. This will help you fill in the main body of your story.
  Now is the time for any revisions to be made. A storyboard should remain flexible and it is simply a good starting point for the ideas and messages the video will communicate.
• Create the script:
  It is difficult to shoot without a script but it can be done. Shooting without a script can add time onto the production and editing process.
  We can either write the script or provide consultation to help you write it.
• Additional Pre-Production:
  We will hold production meetings with the client to determine a shooting and editing schedule and, if actors are involved, a casting and audition session can be arranged.
  During the pre-production we will book the crew, design and build sets (if necessary), plan graphics, find locations, rent props.

Production

• Shoot day:
  AT Productions camera crew arrives at "call time" and within half an hour should be up and running, filming our first scene. Setting up each scene takes time even though we work very fast.

  Scenes are shot out of sequence which can be confusing for the uninitiated but it saves time and we rely on a representative from the client to keep us informed of the schedule and arrange cooperation of personnel. The representative will guarantee the technical accuracy of what we are filming since it is expensive to return for a re-shoot.

  You may also select people to speak on camera and this can be sometimes an unnerving experience. We are experienced in helping the person relax and if the subject is expected to look and speak directly to camera, rather than being interviewed, we would advise in using autocue (teleprompter).

Post-Production

• Reviewing and logging footage:
  The producer or video editor reviews the rushes (footage) and the selected footage is captured to our digital video editing suite.
• Off-line edit:
  This is a rough cut of how your final program will look.

  If anything is not correct or if anything needs to be changed now is the time to do it. Making changes after the on-line edit (when the audio is mixed and the graphics / animations created) could be very expensive.

  Some clients opt to skip this stage and for a simple video that is OK.
• On-line edit:
  This is the stage when everything (from footage to graphics and animations) is edited together. The client is invited and sometimes requested to take part in the online edit.
  We also supply talented TV graphics artists and animators to make your video sparkle.
• Mastering and delivery::
  The final video approved by the client is mastered to digital tape and stored in our tape library for future use.
  We will create a DVD with menus, subtitles (if required), image galleries and will encode the video to be used on the web.
  AT Productions has in house facilities to provide you with as many DVD, CD or VHS copies you require, including labels, cases and necessary artwork.

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