A commercial video timeline has five approval gates: brief, creative direction, pre-production, first edit, and final delivery. The calendar depends less on video length than on decision speed, locations, talent, complexity, and the number of versions.

Stage 1: brief and objectives

Define the audience, message, required action, channels, deadline, decision makers, and success criteria. Share brand rules, previous work, mandatory claims, and legal restrictions. A written brief prevents the concept from solving the wrong problem.

Stage 2: concept and treatment

The treatment explains the idea, narrative, look, references, and intended deliverables. Approve one direction before detailed production. If several concepts remain open, scheduling and budgeting cannot stabilize.

Stage 3: pre-production

Complete the script, storyboard or shot list, casting, locations, permissions, crew, equipment, art direction, wardrobe, call sheet, weather alternatives, and risk plan. Confirm exact spelling and supplied assets before filming.

Stage 4: production

Use the approved schedule to capture primary scenes, sound, details, alternatives, and platform-specific compositions. Record continuity notes and back up the footage. Any creative change should be assessed against time and deliverables before it is accepted on set.

Stage 5: post-production

The first edit establishes structure and performance. Later stages refine color, sound, music, graphics, subtitles, cleanup, and exports. Consolidated feedback should distinguish factual corrections from optional preferences.

Stage 6: delivery and archive

Verify every requested aspect ratio, language, duration, caption file, thumbnail, and compression setting. Use consistent filenames and record the approved master. Agree on project-file and raw-footage retention rather than assuming permanent storage.

How to protect the deadline

Name one owner for each approval gate.
Book locations and talent only after the scope is stable.
Set response deadlines for every review round.
Separate must-have versions from later adaptations.
Keep contingency time before the publication date.

Hekka | حِكى manages this workflow through its commercials and campaigns production service. Share the intended launch date for a realistic production schedule.

Need a production partner? See our video production company in Riyadh page.