Production phases & units · Core
Pre-production
Also called: prep
ELI5
The planning and preparation phase before main filming.
Used in conversation
“The plan for the pre-production needs to match the schedule and budget.”
Definition
The planning and preparation phase before principal photography.
Here “Pre-production” means: The planning and preparation phase before principal photography.
Pitch context
You may encounter “Pre-production” in production, set safety, stunts & practical effects conversations or materials.
Why it matters: Explains the physical-production roles, plans and safety systems behind the shoot.
Connected terms
- Principal photographyA broad physical-production sequence.
Sources & evidence · 4
Supporting source families. This entry is an editorial synthesis rather than a quotation from one canonical glossary.
- ScreenSkills — Online Learning Glossary and Job ProfilesSupporting source family · institutional · checked 2026-08-14
- Directors Guild of America — Assistant Director and Unit Production Manager ResourcesSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-14
- Association of Independent Commercial Producers — AICP Guidelines and Best PracticesSupporting source family · institutional · checked 2026-08-14
- SAG-AFTRA — Artificial Intelligence ResourcesSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-14