We’re more than just a freelance video production service, and central to our offering is continuity, scale-ability, and peace of mind for our clients. Our core team can manage your project from start to finish, and can add in specific elements to any project simply and effectively: auto-cues, drone footage, animation, actors & models, makeup, costume, and locations – whatever it takes to make your films exceptional. At the centre of our ability to do this is the role of the Production Manager.
A Production Manager has to wear a lot of hats. The work begins as soon as the project has been commissioned and runs all the way through filming and post-production until the video is delivered.
So we thought we would ask one of our production managers to give you a run-down of the types of roles they fulfil on most video productions…
“I would say my most important role as production manager is making sure everyone is on the same page, so that the whole process, from the project being commissioned to the final video being delivered, runs as smoothly as possible.”
There are many different scales of production, but for a shoot with all the bells and whistles planning and problem-solving are key to a successful production.
“When a production is commissioned my first job is making sure I have a strong knowledge and understanding of the overall production – this will involve close collaboration with the creative team and the various department heads that will work on the project.”
A Production Manager’s role is to ensure success through:
Planning
“By understanding every aspect of what is required for a production I can begin planning. Equipment will need to be booked, the availability of crew will need to be checked and provision may need to be made for actors, models and locations. I will often be hiring/managing crew and talent and I also need to ensure that all their release forms are signed and received before the shoot.
With cast, crew, location sourcing, studio builds etc. multi-tasking is key. I have to be highly organised and know what is going on in every department at any given stage of the process.”
Scheduling
“An important part of the planning stage is creating a schedule so that everyone involved in a project, and importantly the client, can see what needs to be done when and what stage the project is currently at. Once this has been created, managing the production schedule so that every milestone is met is an important part of my function as Production Manager.”
Budgeting
“Every project will have its own cost restrictions, and part of my role is to make sure that budget is used in the most economical way to get the best final result.
Negotiation skills are a must, as is having good relationships with your team members and suppliers. Having a pool of suppliers that you trust and who trust you, and having a team of creatives who can think outside of the box is invaluable when time and budget restrictions come into play.”
The production stage of any project is all about:
Logistics
“It is my role to ensure everyone is where they need to be and when. Key to this is the call sheet. Everybody needs to know what they are doing, where they are going and at what times. Routes may need planning, equipment may need picking up, and this detailed document lets everyone know exactly what to do.”
Problem-solving
“Even with the best-laid plans inevitably things can go awry; trains are delayed, equipment malfunctions, so you have to be able to problem-solve coolly, creatively and quickly. This will invariably involve discussing the problem with the relevant department heads and having a good understanding of what resources are available both on and off set.”
Diplomacy
“During the entire life of a project I have to deal with many different departments from client and crew through to talent, and during production this is especially heightened. It is essential that I am very flexible in my approach employing tact, diplomacy – and when necessary laying down the law!”
Health and Safety
“Health and Safety is also an important consideration, as is making sure that the crew understands their responsibilities so that everyone carries out their jobs safely and in a safe environment.”
“Once the production has finished a project moves into the edit stage. The edit stage will be tightly scheduled during the pre-production phase, but this will need to be closely managed and maintaining a dialogue between editors and the client is essential. There may also be additional planning for things like voiceover or bespoke music.”
An Objective Overview
“Another very important part of my job is keeping an overview of all the various projects that are happening at any one time. It is important to ensure that there are no clashes and that everyone across the different projects understands how any single project may affect them.”
So there you have it – an insight into the daily workings of one of our Production Managers, who are a very important part of the glue that makes video production possible!