Tips for project management in video production

With limitless revisions, multiple stakeholders to please, tight deadlines, and budgets to stay on top of—it’s fair to say, video projects can be a lot. But they don’t need to be.

With the professional tools and tips we’ll cover in this guide, you’ll have everything you need to:

• Finish on time
• Have accurate budget control
• Meet a client's expectations
• Reduce the risk of delays—and unexpected costs
• Keep resources (people/equipment) productive and available when you need them
• Coordinate across disconnected teams, from the main client to each crew member
• Plan for weather delays/equipment failure
• Enjoy an overall smoother project

Ready to start rolling? First things first, you’ll need the right tools for the job.

What’s the best production management software for video projects?

Dropbox Replay is a collaboration tool that lets you provide frame-accurate feedback and mark up video project files. It can integrate with editing tools like Adobe Premiere Pro, Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve, and LumaFusion.

Just imagine you’re in the midst of a project—stressed, right? Well, Replay will untie a lot of knots super easily:

Problem: Delayed or non-productive feedback

So many production delays happen because you don’t have the right answer to a question. Late, unclear, or imprecise feedback leads to a lot of back and forth and can cause miscommunication.

Solution: Comment on and share review notes of exact timestamps, shots, or sequences

Replay lets you give frame-specific feedback or on-screen markups and annotations. Perfect for making sure you get a new shot or cut right. You can add, respond to, or view notes in your browser.

Problem: Slow workflows caused by incompatibility with other tools

Keeping feedback and notes visible—and within easy access—as the project progresses is important, but sometimes there’s a disconnect between important production choices and your other tools.

Solution: Keep feedback centralized and bring teams together using Replay

Replay will merge with your existing tools, letting you upload video directly to your video editor while keeping the feedback intact—for seamless streamlining throughout the production cycle.

Problem: Revisiting old cuts, sequences, and shots leads to bottlenecks

Going back to an earlier idea, or coming up with a new one, is common in video production—but it can be difficult to flip back and forth, so sometimes people just don’t know what’s going on.

Solution: See past versions, communicate project statuses, and push through a blockage

Using Replay, you get instant access to notes on past versions of a video project. You can also easily set deadlines and keep people aware of project status, which fosters better organization.

So, you can create, manage, or respond to feedback and keep production moving using Replay.

Professionals love using Replay to speed up the reviewing and approval process of video projects:

Simply pick a plan that suits you and get your project rolling—compare plans or sign up today.

Freelance video editor? Choosing a Dropbox plan for professionals is a fast track to everything you need, all under one account.

5 tips for better project management in video production

Even with the best tools in your hands, without the right mental tools and attitude, you’ll struggle to bring out your best. Keep these tips in mind for the best chance of success:

• Set expectations and communicate them early—be clear about what you want from people
• Make a project plan to use as a roadmap, see ”How to create a surefire project plan” for help
• Anticipate risk—awareness of problems (and plans to deal with them) keeps projects moving
• Be open to feedback—actively request it during production, and be responsive to any queries
• Test and experiment with tools before your project begins, so everything is set once you start

Use Dropbox for smooth project management in video production

Replay is a gamechanger for video projects, but there are other ways that Dropbox can help smooth out your video production processes and help with project management:

• Dropbox Backup: Easily restore important files if something goes wrong, even large video files have total security.
• Dropbox Sign: An excellent way to add legally-binding signatures to a document during the video production process—ideal for clients, crew NDAs, and budget sign-offs.
• Dropbox Paper: A versatile document-editing tool that offers an effortless way to take notes, sync documents, and do all types of miscellaneous tasks within your Dropbox account.

Having so many timesaving features in one place makes it easy to manage your next video production project like a pro.

Project management is a specialist skill—so project management in video production is a niche within a niche. You’ll need the best tools with the right approach for your idea to pan out—and that’s where Replay comes in.

Dropbox Replay is an essential tool for collaborative project management in video production. Try it for free and discover how it can enhance your next project.