Common Status Labels
| Status | Means |
|---|---|
| In development | Idea and script being shaped |
| In pre-production | Planning, casting, scheduling |
| In production | Filming underway |
| In post | Editing and finishing |
| In review | Awaiting client feedback |
| Delivered | Final files sent |
| Live | Published |
The Broad Meaning
In the film industry, "in production" can also mean a project is actively being made at any stage, as opposed to just being announced. Clarify which meaning is in use.
Keeping Trackers Honest
- Define each label in writing
- Add a date to every status change
- Show who the project is waiting on
- Flag blocked items in red
Define
Agree labels.
Update
At each handoff.
Our earlier production workflow guide covers handoffs. For vocabulary, see film industry vocabulary, and for alternative terms, video production synonyms.
How the Film Industry Uses "In Production"
In film and television, the phrase has a precise meaning in trade news and databases. A project announced as in development is still being written, packaged, or financed. When it moves into pre-production, the team is hiring crew, casting, and scouting. A project described as in production has started principal photography, which means the main shooting period is underway. After filming wraps, the project is in post-production until it is complete and ready for release.
This precision matters because investors, distributors, and talent agents use these labels to judge how real a project is. Many announced films never move beyond development, so a title reaching production signals real commitment of money and people. In brand video, the same words are used more loosely, which is why agencies and clients should agree definitions at the start of a project rather than assuming everyone shares the industry meaning.
What Actually Happens at Each Status
When a brand video is in development, the team is clarifying the objective, audience, and core message, and writing concepts or scripts. In pre-production, the approved script becomes a plan: storyboards, shot lists, casting, location bookings, crew schedules, and equipment lists. This stage often takes longer than people expect, because every decision made here saves time and money on the shoot day.
In production, the crew is filming. For a simple corporate video this may be a single day, while a campaign shoot might span several days across locations. In post, editors assemble footage, add music and graphics, grade colour, and mix sound. Review is a distinct status because it depends on the client rather than the production team, and projects often stall there. Delivered means files have been handed over; live means the video is published and working.
Why "Waiting On" Matters More Than Status
A status label tells you where a project is, but not why it is not moving. Adding a simple field showing who the project is waiting on makes trackers far more useful. A video stuck in review for two weeks looks like a production delay unless the tracker shows it is waiting for client feedback. Equally, a video in post may be waiting for a music licence or a logo file rather than for the editor.
When everyone can see who holds the next action, conversations become more constructive. Project managers can chase the right person, clients understand the impact of slow approvals, and production teams can plan their workload realistically. Many delays disappear simply because the responsible person can see that others are waiting.
Tools for Tracking Video Status
Status tracking can live in a spreadsheet, a project management board, or a dedicated production management tool. Boards with columns for each status work well for teams handling many small videos, because cards can be dragged from one column to the next as work progresses. Spreadsheets suit simpler needs and are easy to share with clients. Specialist production software adds scheduling, budgeting, and asset management for larger operations.
Whichever tool you choose, keep it simple enough that people actually update it. A tracker that is a week out of date is worse than none, because it creates false confidence. Assign one person to own the tracker and review it at a regular weekly meeting where status changes are confirmed.
Communicating Status to Clients
Clients want to know three things: where their video is, when it will be ready, and whether anything is needed from them. A short weekly update covering these points prevents anxious emails and surprise delays. The update can be as simple as a few lines: current status, next milestone and date, and any decisions or assets required from the client.
Honesty about problems builds trust. If a shoot was rained out or an edit is running late, saying so early and offering a revised plan keeps the relationship healthy. Clients usually accept delays when they are explained promptly; what damages trust is discovering problems at the deadline.
Tracking Many Videos at Once
Organisations producing dozens of videos each quarter need status at two levels: each individual video and the overall programme. A programme view shows how many videos sit in each status, which helps spot bottlenecks. If twenty videos are in review and only two in production, the constraint is approvals, not filming capacity.
Colour coding, filters by department or campaign, and simple charts make programme views easy to read. Regular reviews of the whole pipeline help leaders decide whether to add editing capacity, streamline approvals, or adjust deadlines before problems become urgent.
What Comes After Live
Many trackers stop at live, but videos have a life afterwards. Some need updates when products or prices change. Others should be retired when they become outdated, to avoid confusing customers. Adding statuses such as needs update or archived keeps the library accurate and prevents old videos from lingering on websites and channels long after they should have been removed.
Recording where each video is published, along with its performance, turns the tracker into a content inventory. This makes later audits much faster and helps teams reuse successful footage in new projects.
Using Status Stages in Contracts and Payments
Status stages are useful beyond tracking because they make natural payment milestones. Many production agreements link payments to stages: a deposit when development begins, a second payment when production is complete, and a final payment on delivery. Defining each stage clearly in the contract avoids disputes about whether a milestone has been reached. For example, production complete might mean all scheduled filming has taken place, and footage has been backed up and shared with the editor.
Stage definitions also help with changes. If the client changes the script after production has started, the contract can specify that this is a change request with its own cost and timeline. Without clear stages, such changes become arguments about what was originally agreed. Clear, shared definitions protect both client and production company.
Where Videos Commonly Get Stuck
Experience shows that videos rarely get stuck during filming. They stall in development, when stakeholders cannot agree on a message, and in review, when feedback is slow or contradictory. Pre-production can also drag when locations, permissions, or people on camera are hard to confirm. Recognising these patterns helps teams plan buffers in the right places.
A practical fix is to set review deadlines with consequences. If feedback is not received within an agreed number of days, the schedule moves by the same amount. Making this explicit encourages timely responses and makes the cost of delay visible to everyone.
Related Status Terms You May Hear
- Greenlit: approved to proceed, usually with budget
- On hold: paused, often awaiting decisions or funds
- Wrapped: filming finished
- Picture lock: edit frozen, ready for finishing
- In QC: final files being checked
Status Tracking for Small Teams and Freelancers
Freelancers and small studios sometimes feel that formal status tracking is unnecessary. Yet even a solo editor juggling five clients benefits from knowing at a glance which projects are waiting on feedback, which are in edit, and which are due this week. A simple list with status, next action, and date takes minutes to maintain and prevents missed deadlines.
Sharing the relevant line with each client also improves relationships. Clients appreciate seeing that their project is moving and knowing exactly what is needed from them. For freelancers, this kind of clarity is often what turns a one-off client into a repeat customer, because it makes working together feel easy and predictable.
Clear Status Updates
Clients of our video production company in India see a live tracker with these labels. Working with a video production agency in India across time zones makes clear status vital. A video production company should never leave you guessing. Teams who call us the best video production company in Bangalore often mention our weekly updates, and large brands rely on us as a top video production agency in India for transparent reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'video in production' mean?
Usually that filming is underway, though some use it broadly for any active stage.
What comes after production?
Post-production, then review and delivery.
What status labels should a video tracker use?
Development, pre-production, production, post, review, delivered, and live.
How do I keep status clear?
Define labels, date changes, and show who's blocking.
What does 'in post' mean?
Filming is finished and the video is being edited, graded, mixed, and finished.
Why add a 'waiting on' field to trackers?
It shows who holds the next action, which makes delays easier to resolve.
Is 'in production' the same as 'in progress'?
Not exactly; in production usually means filming is underway, while in progress can describe any active stage.
Speak the Same Language
Shared status labels prevent confusion. For a project with clear tracking, start with our video production company.
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