preproduction

American  

[pree-pruh-duhk-shuhn] / ˌpri prəˈdʌk ʃən /

noun

1. Movies. the steps necessary to prepare a film for production, as casting, choosing locations, and designing sets and costumes.

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adjective

1. occurring before production.

preproduction British  

/ ˌpriːprəˈdʌkʃən /

noun

1. preliminary work on or trial production of a play, industrial prototype, etc

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adjective

1. (of a period, model, etc) preliminary; trial

Etymology

Origin of preproduction

First recorded in 1935–40; pre- + production

Example Sentences

Some entertainment companies, including Lionsgate and AMC Networks, have partnered with AI companies, to help create more efficiency in areas such as marketing, preproduction and visual effects work.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 11, 2025

A late-night voice memo between Baldoni and Lively during the preproduction phase of "It Ends With Us" in 2023 gets leaked.

From Salon • Jan. 29, 2025

Fehlbaum intentionally kept Benesch away from preproduction meetups or table reads as a helpful isolation from the rest of the cast.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 24, 2024

If I had the financing for one of the five scripts that I have now I’d start preproduction tomorrow.

From Salon • Jun. 3, 2024

We were having a conversation, during the preproduction time: If you could come up with a challenge that really showcases what a great chef needs to have, what would it be?

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2024