What is Production?

Jun 13

Confused by the term "production"? Production means different things across film, TV, VFX, animation, and outside the industry. So, here’s a quick breakdown!

Watch a video about it here.

(1) Production as a Department
- The Production team (sometimes “Prod” for short) is the core project management department of a show and usually consists of Production Assistants, Production Coordinators, Production Managers, and Producers.
- Their role is to facilitate effective communication throughout the project, distributing internal and external information, and are responsible for keeping deliverables on time, within scope, and within budget. Prod is a support system for the crew.

Examples:
The production department works really hard in ensuring that all departments are aligned towards a common goal.
If you have any question about the schedule, make sure to reach out to someone in Prod.

(2) Production as a Body of Knowledge / Skill
- In film/tv industry, Production is synonymous to Project Management. Experience in production means exhibiting skills pertaining to the ability to plan, execute, maintain, and deliver goals, products, or deliverables while managing multiple teams and resources through effective communication and within the constraints & scope of a specific show (project).

Examples:
Switching careers from being an artist to being in production required me to practice the communication skills I learned as a lead.

(3) Production as a Project / Show / Result
- Sometimes used interchangeably to mean the project itself or the show itself (live or not).
- A deliverable.

Examples:
Working on a Star Wars production would be a dream!
This venue often gets booked for local theatre productions and music productions.

(4) Production as a Phase
- For example, pre-production, production, post-production are different phases of a film/tv production pipeline.
- OR, some people use it for the WHOLE thing 😂 (see no. 2)

Examples:
Their experience, so far, has been in pre-production, having only coordinated Scripts and Storyboards, but they’re interested in learning more about the departments down the line in hopes to be a Production Coordinator for Comp in post-production.
Scripts and Storyboards are often considered pre-production, while anything that starts involving 3D work like Assets, Layout, Animation, FX, Groom, etc. are considered production. Post-production will often involve Lighting, Compositing, and DI.
The production of this particular sequence required a lot of overtime due to its complexity.

(5) Production as in the On Set Crew (live action)
- In film, the “production crew” doesn’t just include the PAs, Coordinators, etc.; rather, it involves EVERYONE on set.

Examples:
She thanked the whole production crew by giving them 1% equity of the film, which meant that everyone on set received a bonus payout when the film was sold to a major streaming platform. (#iykyk 👑)

(6) Production as a Process
- The act of or the process of making something, or creating something —applies to anything.

Examples:
The production of an animated film can take 2-3 years.
Their trip included a visit to a potential manufacturing partner to personally see the production of their tea products.
Based on the production order for the series, we’ll work on episode E004 first, then E002, E001, with E003 being the last one to deliver.

(7) Production as a Description for a Job/Role
- A way to categorize/describe which department a job position will be in.
- CAVEAT: Not all job titles that have “production” in it is actually for the Production Department.” See here.