Creating a Story - Stages of a Production

There are usually three stages to a production (or can be known as "Production Process"), from the initial idea to it being on sale and beyond. The stages apply to all production companies whether they are large conglomerate companies or small scale, each stage has been used to some degree even if independent companies or groups have been asked to conduct a particular stage. The stages they got through, in chronological order, are as follows:

I will be using Avatar as an example. If you've forgotten the trailer is below.

1. Pre-Production (Planning, Scripting and Storyboarding ect..)
• In Brief: This is where the idea of the story is created, everything that's done before the camera starts to film. Usually once an affirmed idea is established a storyboard can be made. Which is useful if individual groups work on each part, as it quickens the editing process. After this the linguistics are verified; the location, cast, props, special effect, visual effects and most importantly the script (for cast AND crew).
• Time Range: It could last from a second to, in James Cameron's instant, 12 years - from 1995 to 2006 (maybe).
2. Production (The Shooting/Recording)
• In Brief: Where the capturing of the scenes is gathered (footage recorded), everything discussed in the pre-production stage. The shots can be repeated as many times as the director would see fit as it may be hard or impossible to reshoot during post-production. However, lighting requirements, composition and framing is figured out.
• Time Range: Even though a shoot schedule may be written, it may not always be followed. Bearing this in mind, shooting could last between a day to a year. From the link I am able to infer that Avatar's production lasted a year.
3. Post-Production (Everything between the production and final master copy)
• In Brief: This is where the editing occurs, all the footage gained is added in order to create the film/video. A rough cut is put together to determine the best takes, the trimming the clips, graphics, images, music, colour correlation and special effects are all added to the footage. When everything has been approved by the director and/or producer the film is "locked" where no additional changes are made.
• Time Range: The editing depends on how much footage has been gathered, it also depends on how much of a perfectionist the director and/or producer is.

Other stages may include:

• Financing: This happens before pre-production, and involves budget forecasting, finding investors, etc.
• Screenplay: This can be considered a separate stage before pre-production.
• Marketing: During Post-Production, so that you are able to advertise the film/video to the audience.
• Distribution: After post-production, delivering the content to the audience (e.g. film prints, CD/DVD, etc).
• Marketing & Beyond: When the film/video provides additional advertisement through merchandise. Avatar brings downloads, lunchboxes, toys and advertisement for James Cameron's name.

Our Hopes:

• We hope that our pre-production stage will last for  at the most of a month, as we do understand that it is hard to create an idea. Especially me who likes to have creative and original ideas. There is also finding the location, props and costume.
• We hope that our production stage will last for 2 months as I think that there could be a lot or reshooting. This may actually occur during the post-production stage; that we might need more. Hopefully, our planning would be good enough that this wouldn't need to happen - testing us.
• Hopefully, we would be able to edit along the way so that the production and post-production are happening at the same time. Therefore, an additional month may be needed for editing as we wish for it to be a cheaper version of a Hollywood production.

Information from:
http://www.inspiredfilmandvideo.co.uk/content/stages-of-production
http://www.mediacollege.com/glossary/p/production-process.html
http://thevideoeffect.tv/2013/06/26/video-pre-production-and-post-production/