"We need the film in 3 weeks!" is one of the most heard phrases — and one of the least realistic. Here are the real schedules by format, with safety margins observed over 200+ productions.
Contents
Overview: what takes time
A corporate film breaks down into 4 main phases:
- Pre-production (brief validation, scouting, casting, planning): 1-3 weeks
- Shooting (D-day): ½ day to 5 days
- Post-production (editing, colour, mixing): 2-4 weeks
- Revisions and delivery (2-3 review rounds): 1-2 weeks
Average total: 5 to 10 weeks depending on format. Classic mistake: everyone focuses on the shoot (the visible moment), but pre-production and validation take the longest.
Realistic timelines by format
| Format | Pre-prod | Shoot | Post-prod | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short social film (15-30s) | 1 week | ½ day | 1 week | 2-3 weeks |
| Corporate portrait (1-3 min) | 1-2 weeks | ½ day | 2 weeks | 3-4 weeks |
| Institutional film (2-4 min) | 2-3 weeks | 1-2 days | 2-3 weeks | 5-6 weeks |
| Brand film (60-90s) | 3-4 weeks | 2-4 days | 3-4 weeks | 7-8 weeks |
| Series of 3-5 portraits | 2-3 weeks | 2-3 days | 3 weeks | 6-8 weeks |
| Documentary (8-15 min) | 4-6 weeks | 3-5 days | 4-6 weeks | 10-14 weeks |
| Multi-format global campaign | 4-5 weeks | 3-5 days | 3-4 weeks | 10-12 weeks |
These durations include a normal validation cycle (3-5 days per round). If your validation committee takes 2 weeks per round, add 2-3 weeks to the total.
What accelerates a project
Three factors can really compress a schedule without degrading quality.
1. Solid brief from the start
A precise brief (see our template) saves 5-10 days in pre-production. The studio doesn't have to guess — it executes.
2. Single validator
1 person validating in 24h ≫ 5 people validating in 5 days each. Centralising validation is the #1 lever to save 2 weeks.
3. Calibrated format, not creative
A standard portrait follows a proven method, deliverable in 3 weeks. A unique creative format (premium campaign) requires 8 weeks minimum. Calibrate expectations to format.
What lengthens (often invisible at brief)
- Weather-dependent outdoor shoot. Plan B mandatory = potential re-shoot days.
- Actor casting. 1-2 extra weeks minimum.
- Voice-over actor or agency. 1 extra week for recording.
- Multilingual subtitling. 3-5 days per language.
- Extended motion design. 3D animations = 2-3 weeks separately.
- Validation by 5+ person committee. Count 3-4 days per round, so 2 extra weeks for 3 rounds.
- International shoot. Permits + travel = 3-4 extra weeks.
Best practice: identify these slowers at brief and adjust schedule accordingly. Hiding everything to "hold the deadline" guarantees the opposite.
When urgency is real
Sometimes you must deliver in 2 weeks. Doable, but under strict conditions:
- Simple format (short portrait, event capture)
- Single venue, easily accessible
- Single validator, available H24
- No actor casting, no heavy motion design
- Budget +30-50% to mobilise the crew as priority
Under these 5 conditions, a short film can be delivered in 10-14 days. Under no others, beware promises that only commit those who hear them.
