Most productions fail before a single camera turns on. In this episode, Dan Wathen breaks down the full pre-production process — from locking your idea and running pre-interviews to building a two-tab budget that covers production and post, finding a local crew when you're overseas, and planning travel for the unexpected.

Real stories from a Paramount show, a documentary derailed by war in the Middle East, and a canceled flight in London that could have killed the whole project.

If you've ever shown up to a shoot underprepared — this episode is for you.

What's Covered:

🎬 Locking the idea before anything else moves

🎬 The pre-interview — why it's an audition, not a courtesy call

🎬 Building a two-tab budget — production and post

🎬 Music licensing, closed captioning, flat-rate editing

🎬 Small crew strategy — gorilla filmmaking in church media and on a Paramount show

🎬 Finding local crew and gear when you're not at home

🎬 Timeline — always work backwards from delivery

🎬 Travel rules — nonstops, early flights, travel agents, and backup plans

Free Download:

The Producer's Playbook — The planning system church media leaders use to walk into every production prepared. → drwmediaworks.com/playbook

The Producer's Seat — Private advisory for church media leaders stepping into producer-level responsibility. → drwmediaworks.com/the-producers-seat

Listen on:

Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-producers-seat/id1896282413

Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/5MRvRuCG5gQ1aIqSZ0kdFW

Connect:

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@DRWMediaWorks

Website → https://drwmediaworks.com

LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/in/dan-wathen-b94aa211

Instagram → @danthetvman

X → @danwathen

Got a question, a story, or something you’re working through in your media role? Text or leave a voicemail — your situation might become the next episode. Click here to send it in.