This stage is where an idea goes through a process of exploration. We’ll help you flesh out the rest if you can provide at least the basic concept. To establish a creative direction, we will research and gather references (i.e. links, similar videos, or examples). We will develop and review a Creative Treatment and Moodboard. Once you are happy with the Treatment and Moodboards, we will proceed to the Pre-Production stage.

The pre-production stage comes before full-scale production begins. The first step is to develop a script/copy or screenplay. Assets such as concept art, design briefs, storyboards, and animatics are created during this stage to formally define the direction and the overall vision of a project. Sometimes a guide voiceover is recorded and merged with animatics to get a sense of the timing and flow of the project. It is easy and quick to make most changes during the pre-production stage. It also includes previsualization.

As the name suggests, this is the stage in the pipeline where full-scale production of digital assets (such as 3D objects/models) are created based on the art that was conceptualised during the pre-production stage while ensuring that it adheres to the established art direction. Some of these assets include characters, props, and environments, and these models are created using several different 3D software such as Maya or Blender. Changes can be costly during the production stage, so it is essential to get the pre-production right. The steps in this stage typically include the following:

Layout
Sculpting
Modelling
UV, Texturing & Shading
Rigging
Record Voiceover
Animation
VFX/Simulation
Lighting & Rendering

Post is the final stage in the production pipeline. Compositing involves taking the render images from the previous stage and either tweaking them or combining them with additional pictures or layers to create a more complex, cohesive composition. Motion Graphics may be required, for example, titles, opening montages, captions, and logo reveals. Video editing is the manipulation and arrangement of video shots, and it is used to structure and present all video information into a flow or story.

Colour grading improves the appearance of an image for presentation in different environments on different devices. Sound design is recording, acquiring, manipulating, or generating audio elements to ensure the film or video is memorable. Mixing takes what should already be a precise performance of the creator’s and director’s original idea and brings it as close as possible to the point where everyone can agree that it’s the sound and feel they want. Mastering address the video as a whole to add consistency to its overall feeling, optimising levels through compression and limiting and finalising the track order.

Here we’ll have a number of reviews from the previs aka Draft/pre-rendered Cut to fully rendered versions, taking in as much feedback as possible from all stakeholders. If stated in your initial brief, we will also help you output for DStv, social media, TV, radio and other formats.

Want to create something beautiful together? Let’s get started!