Process

If you want to learn more about the processes involved in video production we would be more than happy to explain, whether you're completely new to video production or just want to find out a bit more about it. We don't expect you to know what all of the terms we use mean, or understand fully the processes involved in taking a film from concept through to completion. It is our job to lead the filmmaking process, but if you are interested, this page should help clear up any queries you may have.

Pre Production

This is a general term we use for the initial planning stage. Pre Production can cover research, consultation, creating style frames, scripting, storyboarding, scheduling, finding locations, recces, casting, booking crew, booking kit and sorting out the logistics of the shoot. Each job differs and you may find that some of these don't apply to your particular film.

Research

Based on the content of your brief, we may need to research your business or the subject matter more thoroughly to gain an in-depth knowledge in order to develop our creative concept further.

Consultation

We may ask you for more details in relation to your brief. We will consult you on all collected research before moving forward to make sure we are on brand, to message and that you are happy with the direction we are proposing to take. We will not move forward until we have your approval.

Style Frames

These are a series of stills, graphically created and are often used to convey a proposed style/look/feel to motion graphics work we may be creating. Only once you are happy and have signed off the proposed style of motion graphics will we proceed to animate.

Scripting

This is where we take the creative concept, as approved by you, and produce a narrative. This script will go through a number of drafts before we arrive at our final script - this is perfectly normal. We will send you each draft for your feedback, implementing all of your comments in the next draft and so on, until you are completely happy to sign off a final draft.

Storyboarding

This is the process of creating a series of still frames containing sketches to represent proposed action. Storyboards are often used when the order of a series of shots and their action is critical to the narrative, and so needs to be determined in greater detail in the pre-production stage. In some instances for example when there is no dialogue we may use storyboarding instead of a script. We may also produce a storyboard for pre-planned sequences such as a drama or action sequences, but it would be unusual to use storyboards for documentary style filming, interviews or talking heads. You will always be able to make amendments to the storyboard and filming will not commence until we have your sign off.

Scheduling

This is where we work out what will be happening, when and where; we may also work out the post production schedule at this stage too. All of these details will be sent to you in the form of a schedule to make sure that there are no conflicts should you wish to attend the shoot or edit. This will be amended as necessary until we have your sign off.

Locations

If we are sourcing locations we will send through a selection of initial photographs for your feedback to establish which locations we will need to recce. Obviously if we are shooting at your office or you already have permission for us to shoot elsewhere then this will not be applicable.

Studio Shoot

It may be that your particular video requires us to film in a studio, be it on a pre-built set or against a blue or green screen backdrop for example. We will take care of all of this. If a set is required we can design and build it, and you will be able to sign off the designs before the set is built so that there are no surprises on the day of the shoot.

Recce

This is the term used for visiting the preferred filming locations. We will recce the locations for creative suitability and technical adequacy. We'd love it if you could join us, but if you can't make it we'd be happy to take a video reference to show you later. Once we have your sign off on locations we will confirm bookings.

Casting

If we are doing a presenter lead video or a piece involving actors or models, we will need to do a casting. Casting is the process of choosing the right talent from a selection of qualified possibilities. We recommend that you attend a casting session, but understand that you may be too busy, in which case we will film it and send it over to you for your feedback. Once we have your approval on the recommended cast/talent we will confirm bookings.

Crew

These are the creative and technical people involved in making your film happen. The crew will be chosen by Malt, taking into account their specific skills and matching those to the needs of your project. We have highly professional in-house and freelance crew that we use on a regular basis.

Kit

This is the technical equipment we will need to make the film, such as camera, lighting and sound plus any specialist kit we may need. Specialist kit may include Steadicam, track and dolly or a jib. We will of course take care of this, it's our job to know what these things are - so you don't need to worry about it.

Production

Production starts on the first day of the shoot. This is the point at which you can sit back and relax safe in the knowledge that we will take care of absolutely everything.

The Shoot

This is the fun part! If we are shooting a film that has been through extensive pre-production, you can sit back in front of the monitor and watch all of your previously signed off elements come together seamlessly. However it is not always possible to take all films through such extensive pre-production, for instance a documentary style shoot could involve filming with unpredictable subjects, in these instances we may require you to be more hands on in terms of decision making whilst we are filming.

Attending the Shoot

We usually prefer clients to attend shoots where possible so you can ensure that you are happy with everything as we film it. All we ask is that if there's something you don't like while we're filming; let us know as soon as possible so that we can change it. You can be as involved in this process as you want to be, we understand that every client has a different way of working; it's your choice and we're happy to accommodate it.

Call Sheet

This is a document that will be sent to you and all crew and talent before the shoot and will include full details of call time and location.

Call Time

This is the time that you should arrive at the shoot and full details will be noted on the call sheet.

HD

This is the abbreviation for High Definition, which is higher resolution than standard definition. HD refers to resolutions of 1280 x 720 pixels or 1920 x 1080 pixels.

SD

This is the abbreviation for Standard Definition. SD refers to resolutions of 4:3 at 720 x 576 pixels or 16:9 at 1024 x 576 pixels, or 16:9 anamorphic which is a 16:9 picture squeezed to a 4:3 resolution of 720 x 576 pixels to be unsqueezed in post-production.

Post Production

This is where it all comes together. Post production can cover editing the rushes, producing a rough cut, adding B-roll, keying, compositing, creating motion graphics, adding music, sound effects, producing a final edit, mixing the audio, grading the footage and finally outputting the final film to your desired format be it a digital encode or a tape based format. Each job differs and you may find that some of these don't apply to your particular film.

Rushes

This is all of the footage we have shot during Production.

Rough Cut

This is the first stage of the edit. We may ask you to view the edit at this stage purely for feedback on the narrative and structure of the edit. Once you have approved this stage of the edit we will take it to the next level. You should never be put off by a rough cut, the point is that it is rough; it is very much work in process and your final film will look nothing like this.

B-Roll

Once we have an approved narrative structure in place we will begin to add in B-roll footage, also referred to a cut aways or cut away shots. This is supplementary or alternative footage that we will intercut with the main action.

Keying

If for example we have shot a subject against a blue or green screen backdrop, we will need to remove (key out) the blue or green elements so that we can composite an alternative image on to the background.

Compositing

This is when we combine visual elements from separate sources into single images, to create the illusion that all of the elements are part of the same scene.

Motion Graphics

This is the term used for any graphically created elements that animate, 2D or 3D. This could be as simple as an animating logo or on-screen text, through to entire animations.

Rendering

This term applies to both the edit and to motion graphics. Before a sequence is rendered it may not be possible to watch it through in real-time until it has been rendered. This is a process, which can take longer than real-time to complete. Rendering is when the computer collects the assigned information and processes it in order to output a seamless sequence that can be viewed in real-time.

Music

This can be commercial or library music, dependant on your budget. We can offer a great range of library music and can also arrange for usage of a commercial track, which is generally the more expensive option.

Sound Effects

Sound effects may be added to enhance the edit. This is not the music, nor is it the dialogue. A sound effect is a sound recorded and used in the edit to make a narrative or creative point.

Final Edit

This is the edit with all B-roll, music and sound effects added. This final edit is for you to approve and sign off before we move to the next stage.

Audio Mix

This is where all of the recorded sounds are levelled, mixed and combined into one or more channels; this is inclusive of dialogue, music and sound effects.

Footage Grade

Once we have a final signed off edit in place, we will go through it shot by shot paying specific attention to colour. Grading allows us to manipulate the colour within each shot to make it uniform or add a certain style to it; maybe we want to enhance all of the green within each shot to make this colour stand out for example. The grading process gives us these options.

Export

Once the film is finished we will create an export of the movie, which is checked and then used to create the final master.

Master

A master is the name we give to a file or a tape that is the final film at its highest possible resolution. This format cannot often be played from conventional players or computers.

Encoding

This is the process of turning the master into a useable and viewable video format. When we create an encode we use a process called encoding, this is the transformation of one video format into another. Using this process we can encode video to formats such as DVD, Mpeg, Quicktime, Windows Media, Flash or any other video format required. This process can also be referred to as compression.