What is Workflow?

Work•flow /ˈwərkflō/

“The sequence of industrial, administrative, or other processes through which a piece of work passes from initiation to completion.” – lexico.com

What is a quality workflow?  How do we develop it?  Below are elements of the production cycle that most creative people move through as they create something.  First, we must identify the stages of project production. What is each stage and what are the quality checks for each stage.  Read on and find out!

Stages of Creation Development

Inspiration

How do we find ideas to develop?

• We should use films as inspiration. See what works and what doesn’t. These tools would include YouTube, Letterboxd, and anywhere else you can view and discuss films.
• The process should be gathering information, understanding the information, and executing the information.
• We should measure quality by setting up goals for yourself. Maybe have an underlying interest and trying to use it as inspiration.
• I think “you” are the one that measures quality. It allows us to reflect on what worked and what didn’t with the inspiration.

Intention

How do we clarify our specific goal(s) for a project?

• Trello, Timers, and SMART goal sheets. These will allow students to record their goals and make them specific enough to measure.
• The process for clarifying these goals would include speaking with others and yourself. What do you want to accomplish? What does your group want to accomplish?
• With goals, to measure quality we need to create a SMART goal. They are specific and measurable!
• Like I said earlier, you measure these goals. You are the one to determine if you completed your smart goal.

Pre-production

How can we brainwrite, brainstorm, storyboard, and plan our ideas at this phase?

• Trello, dotstorming, discussion over zoom, or a document.
• For pre-production to work, you need to discuss with your group mates. Create ideas, goals, and tasks for everyone in the group. Also, do research! It is really important to research your role to make sure you understand what you are doing.
• To measure quality, you need to do a reflection at the end of pre-production. Did you complete what you wanted to? More? Less? What can I do better next time?
• You and your teammates. You spoke with them about your tasks so they can determine if you have met your standards for pre-production.

Production

How do we communicate with each other and execute our plan for this phase? This is where we actually make the project.

• Cameras, audio devices, storyboards, music, and basically anything listed prior to production.
• You as a team need to follow your director’s lead and the storyboard. This will allow you to complete the tasks provided efficiently and with quality.
• You measure quality by reflection on your effort and work. Did you do what you wanted to?
• You and your teammates measure this quality.

Post-production

How do we communicate with each other and execute our final stages of the project for this phase? This is where we publish the project.

• Premiere Pro (editing software) and anything listed prior.
• Go through the shortlist, storyboard, and screenplay. Edit according to that and the director’s input.
• You measure quality by watching what you created. If it what you wanted, I think that is quality!
• You, your teammates, classmates, and the advisory committee.

Presentation/Performance

How do we share our project with our learning community, advisory members, and the world?

• Powerpoint/google slides and notes
• Create the presentation during post-production. Practice it a few times, make sure you are well organized and ready to present.
• You measure quality by reflecting on the process.
• You and the advisory committee.

Feedback

How do we conduct a feedback session at the end of the project development cycle?

• Google documents, dotstorming (sticky notes)
• After presenting reflect on the process. Look at the feedback and write a blog post. See what you can do better or continue doing!
• You measure quality by absorbing the information and implementing it to other aspects of the film.
• You and Mr. Le Duc. You create and reflect on the process blog post and Mr. Le Duc will read through it to make sure you implemented creativity to the process.