EPISODE
64
Season 2, Episode 25: 12 Part Series - The Creative Process - Review & Revision
EPISODE LINKS.
SHOW NOTES.
Natalie McFarland and Ryan continue McFarland Minutes’ filmmaking process series with segment 10 on review and revision, focusing on how clients and production teams can communicate clearly to reach an approved final product quickly and avoid scope creep and extra billable hours. They discuss best practices like saving separate project versions (V1, V2, etc.), consolidating feedback into a single, non-contradictory round from all decision-makers, and giving specific, actionable notes rather than vague dislike. Ryan shares common difficult revisions (removing outdated titles/terms, fixing visible logos, mic cables, or framing issues) versus easier ones (audio level, color warmth, brightness), and explains why changing music is a major revision, complicated further by licensing limits and costs. They conclude with final approval leading to distribution-ready exports and note the next episode covers distribution and analytics.
00:00 Show Intro
00:33 Episode Focus
01:48 Version Control Basics
04:48 Project Management Mindset
08:19 Tough Revision Requests
11:32 Easy Helpful Notes
14:41 Music Change Nightmare
20:07 Specific Feedback Wins
24:48 Final Approval Exports
25:41 Wrap Up Next Episode
ABOUT THIS EPISODE.
Navigating the Review and Revision Process in Film Production
Welcome to McFarland Minutes, hosted by Natalie McFarland, founder and president of McFarland Productions and director at Off Your Rocker Films. In today’s edition of our ongoing series on the filmmaking process, we delve into a key aspect: review and revision. This part, perhaps one of the most intricate stages, is essential for creating a polished final product that truly resonates with your audience and your clients.
Introduction to McFarland Minutes
Natalie McFarland introduced us to the broader objectives of McFarland Minutes, emphasizing the wide array of content from deleted scenes to insightful book reviews, that the series covers. While filmmaking is a central theme, the episodes also tackle invaluable lessons in leadership, mentorship, and business dynamics. As we publish these episodes every Sunday, consider it your soft launch to a productive week.
Understanding the Review and Revision Process
Natalie McFarland, along with Ryan from their team, discussed the often-tedious review and revision process. The key takeaways include understanding the workflow of revisions and managing the expectations of clients and teams alike.
Crafting the First Draft
Natalie emphasizes the aim of ensuring that the client appreciates the initial versions of the project. But oftentimes, revisions are inevitable. Ryan humorously notes that it’s common to see files labeled as V1, V2, V3, and so on. The revision process isn’t necessarily a sign of poor initial work but is instead a quest for capturing the client’s exact vision.
Importance of Communication
A recurrent theme is the significance of smart communication and project management. Natalie points out that minimizing revisions hinges on clear communication and making sure all stakeholders provide their input early on. This prevents the time-consuming back-and-forth process of multiple revisions.
Technicalities in Revision
Ryan shares insight on the technical side: the importance of retaining separate versions (V1, V2, etc.) to avoid redoing work should clients prefer an earlier version. They stress the importance of keeping previous project files intact to accommodate such situations efficiently.
Revision Roadblocks and Good Practices
A fundamental challenge discussed is addressing feedback that involves significant changes like altering core elements of the video, such as music or significant visual cuts. These can impact the workflow substantially and are better addressed early in the project.
Natalie advises being clear and specific in feedback, avoiding vague comments. Being concise helps the editing team execute the client’s vision more accurately and efficiently.
Closing Thoughts on Revisions
Both Natalie and Ryan highlight that a successful video aligns with both client satisfaction and effective viewer engagement. They encourage all parties to remember their shared goal: producing a video that works effectively and benefits all involved.
Looking Forward
As we wrap up this segment on revisions, we anticipate the next discussion on distribution and analytics. Understanding distribution channels and analyzing performance metrics can elevate a production from a polished piece to a successful one.
Thank you for joining McFarland Minutes on this insightful journey through the filmmaking process. Stay tuned for our next discussion, where we explore important strategies for distributing your video content and analyzing its success. See you next time on McFarland Minutes.
IN THIS EPISODE.
Ryan Lee
Creative Content Manager, McFarland Productions
Starting as the Intern in 2023, Ryan is now the Post-Production Editor and has joined the team full time. His creativity and organization play a crucial role in quickly creating unique content all across the board, however with a core focus on video production. Ryan grew up in Gladstone, OR, where he spent time playing sports, on the water, and in the mountains. He attended Oregon State University where he got his Bachelors Degree in Digital Communication Arts. Although Oregon will always be his home, he spent previous years in Tennessee, and now lives in Connecticut. In his free time he enjoys cooking just as much as eating, and if you can do both outside, all is good in the world.
After spending time filming and editing countless events, sports, adventures and more, Ryan’s main action in the company is to organize, edit, and export content. Whether it’s 30 minutes and horizontal or 30 seconds and vertical, moving or still, he’ll take care of it.
ABOUT YOUR HOSTS.
NATALIE MCFARLAND
PRESIDENT, FOUNDER
MCFARLAND PRODUCTIONS
After freelancing her way through college, Natalie established McFarland Productions in 2014, which has continued to grow rapidly over the last few years. Her passion and focus have always remained the same; capturing, understanding, preserving and promoting Ranching, Farming, Western Lifestyle and AgriBusiness. She has always had a love for the western culture and even at a young age it was unmistakably clear she would someday find a career serving the industry.
Natalie grew up on a small ranch, rodeoed, showed horses in a variety of disciplines, showed livestock, and participated in 4H and Oregon High School Equestrian Teams. She has trained herding dogs and started colts, worked with sheep and cattle and has had the experience of racing to finish up a hayfield before a rainstorm hit. She understands the joys, sorrows, wins, losses and hard work of ranchers and farmers. That’s why McFarland Productions can produce authentic marketing campaigns for the businesses, organizations, events, and brands of the western and agriculture industry – it’s who she is.
With a passion for building community surrounding brands, Natalie focuses on building real connections between companies/brands and the people that make up their community. Telling the stories of your customers and making them apart of the brand’s story is her main focus. Creating real, human, meaningful connections and strengthening community within the western and agriculture industry through strategic marketing services.
SCOUT FOSTER
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC STORYTELLING
MCFARLAND PRODUCTIONS
Scout’s faithfulness to the agriculture and western sports industry is rooted in tradition. Growing up in Central Florida, she stood by her family as they supported different sectors of the industry, including raising beef cattle, bucking bulls for local rodeos, and spending weekends with her grandparents who lived on Disney’s Wilderness Preserve.
Moving away from The Mouse, Scout graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Nation’s top agricultural communications college at Texas Tech University in 2022.
Now residing in Crockett, she and her husband, Lane, keep busy raising beef cattle and bucking bulls with her family. Scout also loves gardening, raising chickens, reading, and her two dogs: Rue and Dill.
