How to Create an Online Film, Photo & Video Production Timeline [Free Template]

Here’s what you need to know about the film, photo and video production timeline. We’ll show you how to make a timeline and a provide a video production timeline sample.

Try out StudioBinder's free online production timeline template right here.

Why use a project timeline?

Why use a timeline?

A video production timeline is vital for any video project manager or UPM:

Timeline software helps to improve the visibility of intricate projects and keeps team members on schedule.

Here are some important reasons why a timeline tool is beneficial:

Identifies necessary tasks

One thing that can complicate a project is a lack of clarity.

Rather than diving into a project with no direction, the online timeline creator enables users to thoroughly contemplate each task on a film, photo and video production timeline.

This process allows team members to better define the overall scope and objective of the project.

Identifies task completion deadlines

There’s nothing worse than having confusion about when tasks are due.

The entire production process can go off the rails if objectives are not prioritized appropriately.

An online timeline creator combats this confusion by utilizing dependencies.

Dependencies are the relationships of the preceding tasks (Predecessors) to the succeeding tasks (Successors).

There are four types of dependency relationships within an interactive timeline:

• Finish to Start - The predecessor must finish before the successor can begin.
• Start to Start - Predecessor must begin before the successor can begin.
• Finish to Finish - Predecessor must finish before successor can finish.
• Start to Finish - Predecessor must begin before successor can finish.

With an online timeline maker, it’s possible for tasks to have multiple preceding and succeeding tasks.

The most common of these dependencies is finish to start.

Adding these dependencies to a film/photo/video production timeline improves the prioritization of workflow.

Uncovers the critical path

Timeline software also allows a user to identify the critical path.

The critical path is the longest sequence of activities that must be finished in order for a project to meet its due date.

Through the critical path, a project manager can identify the most important tasks of a timeline.

This is vital because if just one task in the critical path is incomplete, it can delay the entire project.

Once you have determined the critical path using the interactive timeline, you can properly assess the time frames of each task.

• Early Start - The earliest time a task can begin.
• Duration - The estimated time to undertake a task.
• Early Finish - The earliest time a task can finish.
• Late Start - The latest time a task can begin without affecting the project deadline.
• Float - The time a task can be delayed without affecting the project deadline.
• Late Finish - The latest time a task can finish without affecting the project deadline.

Identifying the critical path with the film, photo and video production timeline is essential in meeting project milestones and due dates.

Keeps teams informed of progress

As you can imagine, time is of the essence in projects.

Unnecessary meetings regarding status updates can stall workflow significantly.

The visual nature of the online timeline creator allows team members to see the progress of tasks in real-time.

In StudioBinder’s online timeline maker, the interactive timeline allows team members to accurately communicate their progress in a concise and effective manner.

Simplifies complex tasks

Let’s face it, projects can become chaotic.

With hundreds of tasks to manage and keep track of, it’s easy for a team to lose focus. Rather than presenting a hard-to-read list, the film, photo and video production timeline, (or production calendar), uses its visual advantages in simplifying information. It is the visual makeup of this timeline tool that allows you to digest information easier.

Benefits of a production timeline

Benefits of a timeline

Many people are familiar with creating a film, photo and video production timeline in Microsoft Excel.

There are also many free timeline maker tools and film timeline templates out there you can use.

You may be wondering: Okay, so where can I download a good film timeline template? We have you covered!

Use StudioBinder's free online production timeline template right here.

But the timeline tool in Excel is limiting for a variety of reasons. It can be difficult to collaborate, for example.

That’s why knowing how to make a timeline online is so vital to the production process. Online timeline software permits users to edit tasks simultaneously.

As soon as a user completes a task, adds a comment or attaches a file, the online timeline creator immediately updates in real time.

This process is far more effective in communicating with team members the progress of events and tasks.

Here are some of the major benefits of online timeline software vs. a free film timeline template:

Who uses a production timeline?

Who uses one?

Online video production timeline software is effective for helping to visualize tasks. Because of its structure and functionality, it is ideal for a number of professionals including:

• Project Managers
• Unit Production Managers
• Production Coordinators
• Operation Managers
• Marketing Managers
• CEO’s and CTO’s

Although traditionally the film, photo and video production timeline was the tool of project managers, the convenience afforded by online timeline software has allowed almost anyone to create one.

How to make a production timeline

How to make one

Alright, the moment you’ve been waiting for: How to make a timeline.

Using StudioBinder’s online timeline maker as an example, here are the steps in creating a film, photo and video production timeline.

Download StudioBinder's free online production timeline template right here.

Create a new project

To begin creating an interactive timeline, log into the timeline software and look for the create new project button.

In StudioBinder, this is located in the upper right corner as “+ New Project.”

This section acts as your online timeline creator.

Once there, you will be able to fill out the project name and project type.

In this case, the selections include scripted narrative, unscripted video, and photography.

When you’ve made your selections, click create, and the timeline software will generate a production timeline.

Add groups

Now that your timeline tool has created an interactive timeline, the next step is to add groups to the project.

These groups will be the stages of production involved in the process. In a video production timeline, for example, these might include Pre-Production, Production, and Post-Production

StudioBinder organizes groups on the far left side of the timeline.

Using the planning tools of the interactive timeline, team members then have the ability to add new groups and rows.

Rows are the sub-elements that each phase of production controls (Locations, Casting, etc.), and where events and tasks will be placed into.

Add events

After you’ve created groups and rows it’s time to add events to the film, photo and video production timeline.

In StudioBinder, events correspond to their appropriate row elements.

In the example above, the Costuming row contains events for Initial Costume Designs and the Preliminary Fitting.

To create an event, click to the right of the row and drag the cursor across the interactive timeline.

The timeline software will then display a new event block.

Once the new event block appears, you will then have the ability to name the event, and continue with creating tasks and due dates.

Add tasks

Now that you’ve created the event, it’s important to determine what the tasks for the particular event will be.

In the StudioBinder example below, the event is “Reading the Script,” and the tasks specify what that will entail.

In this case, the tasks of reading and script coverage need to be completed.

Users can click on the check marks to update the rest of the team what tasks have been completed and which are still outstanding.

This is another important benefit of an online film, photo and video production timeline.

Add due dates

It is also important to make sure that every event has been designated a due date.

In StudioBinder, this is located directly above the tasks section.

Once a date is chosen, it will then display on event’s block.

Timeline software such as StudioBInder allows the entire team to easily identify the start and end dates for an event.

Assign team members tasks

Of course you can’t just create events without assigning them to specific team members. Another perk of the film/photo/video production timeline is that you can assign multiple team members to certain tasks.

In StudioBinder, member avatars will appear next to the date range section.

Here, tasks can be easily assigned or re-assigned depending upon member availability.

Customize colors

What’s great about online video production timeline software is how customizable it is.

In the StudioBinder example below, people and events can be represented by different colors within the timeline tool.

An online timeline creator such as this enables team members to easily determine who is responsible for each task.

To access this color option, simply open an event and click the paintbrush icon to swap out the color.

Alternatively, you can adjust the default color of an entire row by finding the desired row on the far left of the screen (Locations, Costuming, etc.) and click edit row.

This will then allow you to change the color of the row, and subsequently the color of the events in the video production timeline.

Attach files, comments, notes

It used to be that in a production timeline template created in Excel, the ability to upload additional files is nonexistent.

The StudioBinder’s online video production timeline, teammates can upload files to each event card and collaborate via the comments.

The information then collapses when the window closes and is clearly presented when re-opened. When discussing an online interactive timeline, this is definitely an essential feature for any team.

up next

Make a Better Shooting Schedule

Using an online film/photo/video production timeline is an extremely helpful tool for project managers. Besides controlling complex information, an online timeline creator enhances team coherency and helps to wrap a production on time. Benjamin Franklin, who had a busy schedule to say the least, once remarked, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

Utilizing a film, photo and video production timeline will greatly improve a project’s chances for success. Still curious? Learn more about great pre-production tools such as a shooting schedule.

Up Next: Make a Better Shooting Schedule →