To make a film or video, there are three steps which are followed.  The more planning done with each step helps make a more successful production.

1.  Pre-Production

This is the initial planning stage of a production and crucial to the success of the video.

A subject for the video is chosen.  For web videos, this would be the purpose to be accomplished.  Then a script is developed that will achieve that purpose.  If the videos is a testimonial, scripting may be rather simple and just include the narration that sets up the interview.  More elaborate productions will need a detailed script as this is the guide for the production.

A budget needs to be created.  This determines the locations, cast and crew that are selected.

Once the details are all worked out, a shooting schedule is created.

2.  Production

This is the phase where shooting the video takes place.

If this is done on a sound stage, all the equipment necessary is already in place.  If a location is used, cameras and support, lighting equipment, props, etc. are packed up and delivered to the location.  And the end of the shoot, everything needs to be loaded up, returned to the studio, and unpacked.  This can add several hours to the shoot.

As the recording media is filled up, the video is transferred to a hard drive so the media can be re-used.  Safeguards must be used to protect the digital copies.  Backups are made at this time to insure nothing happens to the original recordings.

3.  Post-Production

This takes the raw video and assembles it into a finished video.  Editing includes trimming clips down to usable pieces, adding them to the timeline, adding VFX and graphics where necessary, titles, and music.

When the video editing process has finished, the video is rendered to a format usable on the web.  Typically, it is added to a Flash file for streaming to the visitor's computer.  HTML code is generated for the web page containing the video.  And all the necessary files are sent to the client either digitally or on CD/DVD.