--- name: video-production description: "Plans video shoots end-to-end across pre- and post-production: creative briefs, storyboards, shot lists, location/equipment/talent checklists, filming day run sheets, and edit briefs covering pacing, cut style, captions, music direction, and review rounds. Use when the user asks to plan a video shoot, write a creative brief for a video, build a shot list or storyboard, prepare a filming day schedule or run sheet, make an equipment or location checklist, brief a videographer or freelance editor, organize a product demo, testimonial, or brand video production, or set up a post-production review workflow." --- # Video Production Planning Turn a vague "we need a video" request into a complete production plan: a creative brief everyone signs off on, a shot list and storyboard the crew can execute without guessing, checklists that prevent day-of disasters, a run sheet that keeps the shoot on schedule, and an edit brief that gets a usable first cut instead of three wasted revision rounds. The purpose of this skill is planning documents, not scripts or footage — every deliverable here is something a producer would print and carry on set or email to an editor. ## When to use this skill Use it when the user needs: - A creative brief for a video project (brand film, product demo, testimonial, event recap, ad, recruiting video, course content) - A shot list, storyboard, or coverage plan for a shoot - Pre-production checklists: location scouting, equipment, talent/crew - A filming day run sheet or call sheet - An edit brief / post-production brief for an internal or freelance editor - A review-and-approval workflow for cuts Do NOT use it for: - Writing the actual script or narration — route to **youtube-scripts** (long-form YouTube), **short-form-video** (Reels/TikTok/Shorts scripting and hooks), or **webinar-scripts** - Audio-only production — route to **podcast-production** - Deciding what videos to make or distribution strategy — route to **content-strategy** or **social-media-strategy** - Chopping a finished video into clips — route to **content-repurposing** - Paid video ad targeting and campaign setup — route to **meta-ads** or **google-ads** (this skill can still plan the shoot for the ad creative itself) If the user has no script yet, plan around a script placeholder and flag that the script skill should run first — shot lists built before the script lock always get redone. ## Inputs to gather Ask for these before drafting. Where the user shrugs, apply the default. 1. **Video type and goal** — What is it (testimonial, demo, brand film, ad, event) and what should a viewer do after watching? Default: assume a single primary CTA; refuse to plan around three goals at once — make the user pick one. 2. **Target length and platform(s)** — Default: 60–90s for website/social hero, 15–30s for paid cutdowns, 2–4 min for product demos, 3–8 min for customer stories. Platform dictates aspect ratio: 16:9 (YouTube/web), 9:16 (Reels/TikTok/Shorts), 1:1 or 4:5 (feed). Default: shoot 16:9 in 4K and frame "safe for 9:16 crop" so verticals can be extracted. 3. **Budget tier** — (a) DIY/phone (<$1k), (b) solo shooter/freelancer ($1k–$5k), (c) small crew ($5k–$25k), (d) full production (>$25k). Default: solo shooter. The tier controls how elaborate the checklists and crew plan should be. 4. **Shoot date, location count, and talent** — Real people (founders, customers) or hired talent? On-camera speaking or voiceover-only? Default: one location, one day, 1–2 real people speaking to an off-camera interviewer. 5. **Existing assets** — Script or interview questions, brand guidelines, logo files, prior footage, reference videos the user likes. Ask for 1–3 reference links and what specifically they like about each (pace? look? tone?). 6. **Who edits and who approves** — Internal editor, the shooter, or a separate freelancer? Who are the sign-off stakeholders? Default: 2 review rounds plus final approval by one named person. 7. **Deadline** — Work backward: shoot date + 5–10 business days to first cut (per finished minute of runtime, budget roughly 1 editing day), + 2–4 days per review round. ## Process 1. **Lock the creative brief first.** Draft it using the template below, send it to the user for sign-off, and treat it as the contract. Every later argument ("can we also mention the pricing page?") gets resolved by pointing at the brief. One video = one core message; if the user lists four messages, make them rank and cut to one primary + max two supporting. 2. **Choose the format and structure.** For interview-driven pieces (testimonials, brand films), plan interview + B-roll coverage. For scripted pieces (ads, demos), plan storyboard-driven shots. Decision point: if there's no locked script or question list, stop and get one (via **youtube-scripts** / **short-form-video** / interview question drafting) before building the shot list. 3. **Build the shot list.** Break the script/outline into scenes, then list every shot with: shot number, scene, shot size (WS/MS/MCU/CU/ECU), angle/movement, subject/action, location, audio needs, and estimated setup time. Coverage rules of thumb: for every interview minute you expect to use, capture 3–5x that in B-roll options (a 3:1 B-roll-to-interview screen-time ratio in the final cut is typical); always grab a safety wide of every scene; capture 10 seconds of room tone at every location for audio patching. 4. **Storyboard only the shots that need it.** Skip storyboarding talking heads. Storyboard: scripted narrative scenes, complex camera moves, VFX/graphics-heavy shots, and anything a client must approve visually. 6–12 frames is enough for most sub-2-minute videos. Stick figures are fine — each frame needs composition, action, and the accompanying script line. 5. **Run the pre-production checklists** (templates below): location, equipment, talent. Schedule a location scout (in person or via photos/video call) at least 3 days before the shoot — check power, noise, light direction by time of day, and permission to film. Get signed appearance releases from every on-camera person BEFORE the shoot day, not after. 6. **Draft the run sheet.** Work in blocks with real clock times. Standard pacing: 60–90 min load-in and setup for a lit interview; 45–60 min per additional interview subject (including re-lighting); 20–30 min per B-roll scene; 30–45 min for company-wide B-roll walkabout; 30 min lunch (crew works badly hungry); 45–60 min pack-out. Add a 15–20% buffer to the whole day — a shoot planned to the minute runs over by an hour. Cap the day at 10 hours including load-in/out. 7. **Confirm 48 hours out.** Send the run sheet + call time + location pin + parking info + wardrobe guidance to everyone appearing or working. Wardrobe defaults: solid mid-tone colors; no fine stripes or tight checks (moiré); no logos of other brands; bring a backup top. 8. **Write the edit brief the day of or day after the shoot**, while intent is fresh. Use the template below. Include: the brief's core message, target runtime, pacing/cut-style direction, music direction with 2–3 reference tracks, caption and graphics specs, the selects (timestamps of best takes if known), and the review plan. 9. **Manage review rounds tightly.** Round 1 = structure and story (is the right content in the right order?); Round 2 = polish (color, mix, graphics, typos). Collect ALL stakeholder feedback into one consolidated list per round — never forward stakeholders' contradictory comments raw to the editor. Feedback must be timestamped ("at 0:42, cut the pause"). New-footage requests after Round 1 are scope changes; flag the cost. 10. **Specify final deliverables explicitly**: master file (e.g., 4K or 1080p H.264 MP4, ~10–20 Mbps for 1080p), platform cutdowns and aspect ratios, a captions file (.srt), a thumbnail still, and archival of the project file + raw footage location. ## Frameworks & templates ### Template 1 — Creative brief (one page, sign-off required) ``` VIDEO CREATIVE BRIEF — [Project name] v1.0 — [date] Working title: [___] Owner / approver: [name] / [name who gives final sign-off] Shoot date(s): [___] Delivery deadline: [___] Budget: [$___] Tier: [DIY / solo shooter / small crew / full production] 1. OBJECTIVE (one sentence) After watching, the viewer should [feel ___ / believe ___] and [do ___]. 2. AUDIENCE Primary viewer: [role/persona], watching on [platform], likely with [sound on/off], attention window: [first 3 seconds must show ___]. 3. CORE MESSAGE (one sentence, max 20 words) [___] Supporting points (max 2): [___] / [___] 4. FORMAT Type: [testimonial / demo / brand film / ad / event recap] Runtime target: [___s] Aspect ratios: [16:9 master + 9:16 cutdown] Tone (pick 2–3): [warm / energetic / authoritative / playful / cinematic / raw] 5. MANDATORIES Must include: [logo end card, legal disclaimer, product UI, specific person] Must avoid: [competitor names, unreleased features, office areas off-limits] 6. REFERENCES (2–3 links) [link] — what we like: [the pacing / the interview framing / the music] 7. SUCCESS MEASURE [e.g., ≥50% average watch-through on the 60s cut; used on pricing page; sales team shares it in ≥20 deals in Q1] Sign-off: ______________ Date: ______ ``` ### Template 2 — Shot list (table; one row per shot) | # | Scene | Shot size | Angle/Move | Subject & action | Location | Audio | Setup est. | Done | |---|-------|-----------|------------|------------------|----------|-------|-----------|------| | 1 | Intro | MCU | Eye-level, static | Founder answers Q1–Q4, seated, looking off-camera left | Office lounge | Lav + shotgun backup | 60 min | ☐ | | 2 | Intro B-roll | WS | Slow push-in (gimbal) | Founder walks through open office, greets teammate | Office floor | MOS (no sound) | 15 min | ☐ | | 3 | Product | CU | Overhead, static | Hands typing; screen shows dashboard (record clean screen capture separately) | Desk 2 | MOS | 15 min | ☐ | | 4 | Product | ECU | Static | Cursor clicking "Export" button on real UI | Screen capture | MOS | 10 min | ☐ | | 5 | Team | MS | Handheld, orbit | Two engineers at whiteboard, genuine discussion | Meeting room | Room tone only | 20 min | ☐ | | 6 | Safety | WS | Static | Establishing exterior of building, morning light | Street | Room tone 10s | 10 min | ☐ | Shot-size key: WS = wide, MS = medium, MCU = medium close-up, CU = close-up, ECU = extreme close-up. Order the list by LOCATION and lighting setup, not by script order — you shoot for efficiency and rebuild the order in the edit. ### Template 3 — Storyboard frame (text form; one block per frame) ``` FRAME [n] of [total] — Scene [___] · Shot #[matches shot list] COMPOSITION: [shot size + framing, e.g., "MCU, subject right third, window light camera-left, product box on desk in foreground"] ACTION: [what happens during the shot, e.g., "she opens the laptop, dashboard already loaded, smiles at result"] SCRIPT/VO: "[the exact line or soundbite that plays over this frame]" DURATION: [~3s] TRANSITION IN/OUT: [cut / match cut / J-cut from VO] NOTES: [graphics overlay, VFX, prop, or approval flag for client] ``` Storyboard 6–12 frames for a sub-2-minute scripted piece; skip frames for plain talking heads. Each frame must map to a shot-list row so nothing gets boarded that never gets shot. ### Template 4 — Filming day run sheet (worked example: 1-day, 2-interview testimonial shoot) ``` RUN SHEET — Acme customer story Shoot date: [date] Location: Acme HQ, 4th floor · Parking: garage on Oak St, validate at desk Crew call: 8:00 AM · Talent calls: staggered below On-site producer contact: [name, mobile] 08:00–09:15 Load-in, build interview setup in lounge (key light, lav check, frame for 16:9 with 9:16 crop safety), capture room tone 09:15–09:30 Talent 1 arrives (CEO) — mic, seat, small talk to relax 09:30–10:30 INTERVIEW 1 — CEO (question list attached; get each key answer as a standalone sentence for clean cutting) 10:30–11:15 Re-light for Talent 2; crew grabs coffee-area B-roll (shots 5–7) 11:15–12:15 INTERVIEW 2 — Head of Ops 12:15–12:45 LUNCH (ordered in — crew + talent) 12:45–14:15 B-roll block A: office floor, whiteboard, product-in-use (shots 2–4, 8–11) 14:15–15:00 B-roll block B: exteriors + walking shots (shots 6, 12–13) 15:00–15:30 BUFFER — pickups, missed shots, extra takes of anything weak 15:30–16:30 Pack-out; producer verifies card backups (2 copies, separate drives) BEFORE leaving the building ``` ### Checklists **Location checklist** (scout ≥3 days out): permission/permit confirmed in writing · power outlets within 15m of setup · ambient noise check at the same time of day as the shoot (HVAC, traffic, music, fridges — can any be turned off?) · window light direction at shoot time · ceiling height ≥2.4m for lighting · backup indoor location if any exterior shots · Wi-Fi/cell coverage for screen-capture or remote review · parking and load-in path (elevator? stairs?) · areas that must NOT appear on camera. **Equipment checklist** (solo-shooter tier): camera + backup body or phone rig · 2 lenses (24–70mm equivalent covers 90% of corporate work) · tripod + gimbal · key light + diffusion, plus reflector · 2 lav mics + shotgun on boom or camera · audio recorder recording lavs redundantly · headphones (always monitor — dead lav batteries are the #1 reshoot cause) · 2x more batteries and cards than you think (est. ~1GB/min at 4K; a 10-hr day can produce 300–500GB) · gaffer tape, extension cords, C-stand · laptop + 2 backup drives for on-site dumps. **Talent checklist**: signed appearance release per person (before camera rolls) · call time + location + parking sent 48h out · wardrobe guidance sent (solids, no fine patterns, backup top) · question list sent to interviewees 2–3 days ahead (topics, not exact wording — over-rehearsed answers sound canned) · pronunciation of names/products confirmed · touch-up basics on hand (powder, lint roller) · water within reach off-camera. ### Template 5 — Edit brief ``` EDIT BRIEF — [Project] To: [editor] · Due: first cut [date] FOOTAGE: [drive/folder link] · Cards backed up: [Y/N] · Selects noted below BRIEF: Attached (creative brief v1.0). Core message: [one sentence] RUNTIME: Master [90s ±10s]; cutdowns: [30s 9:16 for Reels], [15s 1:1] STRUCTURE: Cold-open with strongest soundbite (candidate: Int1 @ 14:32 "We cut onboarding time in half") → problem (10–15s) → solution/product (30–40s) → proof/results (20s) → CTA end card (5s) PACING: Medium-fast. Average shot length 2–4s in B-roll sections; let interview soundbites breathe up to 8–10s. No shot over 12s. CUT STYLE: J- and L-cuts between interview and B-roll; cut on action; no crossfades except one at the section turn (~0:40); punch-ins (max 20% on 4K) to vary interview framing. MUSIC: Licensed track, warm/optimistic, 90–110 BPM, builds at ~0:40. References: [track 1], [track 2]. Duck −15dB under dialogue. AUDIO: Dialogue normalized to −16 LUFS (web) / peaks ≤ −3dB; use room tone under gaps; denoise Int2 (AC hum). CAPTIONS: Burned-in for 9:16 cutdowns (max 2 lines, ~32 chars/line, safe from platform UI); .srt sidecar for the 16:9 master. GRAPHICS: Lower thirds (name + title) at first appearance, 4s on screen; logo end card w/ CTA URL; brand colors/fonts: [link to kit]. COLOR: Natural, slightly warm; match the two interview setups. REVIEW PLAN: R1 (structure) — [date], feedback within 2 business days, one consolidated timestamped list from [owner]. R2 (polish) — [date]. Final delivery — [date]. Included: 2 rounds. New-footage or restructure-after-R2 = new scope. DELIVERABLES: 1080p H.264 MP4 master (~16 Mbps) · 9:16 and 1:1 cutdowns · .srt · thumbnail still · project file + music license archived ``` ### Framework — the 3-question shoot-day triage When the schedule slips (it will), cut shots in this order: (1) Does the video still make sense without it? Cut decorative B-roll first. (2) Can it be faked later? Screen recordings, exteriors, and inserts can be captured another day. (3) Never cut: interviews, anything requiring the assembled people, and the safety wide of each scene. ## Output format Deliver, in order, as a single document (or separate files if the user asks): 1. **Creative brief** — one page, using Template 1, with open questions flagged in [brackets] for the user to resolve. 2. **Shot list** — markdown table per Template 2, ordered by location/setup, numbered, with setup-time estimates summing to fit the run sheet. 3. **Storyboard descriptions** (only if scripted/narrative shots exist) — numbered frames per Template 3: composition, action, script line. Offer text descriptions the user can hand to an illustrator or generate images from. 4. **Checklists** — location, equipment (matched to budget tier), talent — as checkbox lists. 5. **Run sheet** — clock-timed blocks per Template 4, with buffer block and pack-out included. 6. **Edit brief** — per Template 5, complete with review schedule and deliverables list. Keep the whole package skimmable: a producer should find any answer in under 10 seconds on a phone screen on set. ## Quality checklist - [ ] Creative brief states ONE core message in ≤20 words and one primary CTA - [ ] Brief names a single final approver and includes a measurable success criterion - [ ] Every shot in the shot list has a number, shot size, location, audio note, and setup estimate - [ ] Shot list is ordered by location/lighting setup, not script order - [ ] Coverage includes a safety wide per scene and 10s room tone per location - [ ] B-roll planned at ≥3x expected screen time for interview-driven pieces - [ ] Run sheet block times sum to ≤10 hours including load-in/out, with a 15–20% buffer block - [ ] Appearance releases scheduled to be signed before cameras roll - [ ] 48-hour confirmation message (call time, pin, parking, wardrobe) is in the plan - [ ] Card backup step (2 copies, separate drives) appears in the run sheet before pack-out - [ ] Edit brief specifies runtime, pacing numbers, music references with BPM/mood, caption specs, and loudness target - [ ] Review plan caps rounds (default 2) and requires consolidated, timestamped feedback - [ ] Deliverables list includes master specs, cutdown ratios, .srt, thumbnail, and archive location - [ ] No placeholder text remains except user-decision [brackets] explicitly flagged as open questions ## Common mistakes - **Building the shot list before the script locks.** Every script change orphans shots. Sequence: brief → script → shot list, always. - **Scheduling the shoot day in script order.** You'll re-light the same room three times. Group by location and lighting setup; the edit rebuilds story order. - **One interview take of each answer.** Ask interviewees to restate their best answers as standalone sentences ("So, tell me that again, but start with 'Our onboarding...'") — otherwise every soundbite starts with "Yeah, so, like I said..." and can't open a cut. - **No redundant audio.** A single lav with a dying battery ruins a day. Always run a second source (shotgun or recorder) and monitor on headphones continuously. - **Skipping room tone and the safety wide.** These cost 30 seconds each and rescue edits weekly; their absence is unfixable in post. - **"We'll fix it in post" for exposure, focus, and audio.** Color can shift a stop; blown highlights, missed focus, and clipped audio cannot be recovered. Reshoot the take. - **Vague edit briefs ("make it feel premium").** Editors need numbers and references: target runtime, average shot length, BPM range, two reference videos. Vibes-only briefs guarantee an extra revision round. - **Unlimited review rounds with raw stakeholder email chains.** Contradictory feedback forwarded verbatim ("CEO wants it shorter, CMO wants the extra feature in") burns editor goodwill and budget. One owner consolidates; two rounds by default. - **Framing tight 16:9 with no vertical safety.** If social cutdowns are a deliverable, subjects must sit within the center 9:16 zone, or every vertical crop amputates a forehead. - **Leaving the location with one copy of the footage.** Verify two backups on separate drives before pack-out — card corruption after a wrap is a full-reshoot event. - **Sending interviewees exact scripted answers.** They memorize, then freeze. Send topics and question areas 2–3 days ahead instead; authenticity cuts better than polish.