There are many initial factors to consider, two important ones being:
1) When does the video need to be completed?
2) What type of video are you making?
Large company scenario
Let's imagine that you're presenting at a large annual conference in January, and you think, "We should make a video to show next year!" You share this idea with your colleagues, and everyone agrees. At the end of your spring fiscal, the video is approved for the next year's budget - great! There's still snow on the ground; it is really time to start planning the video?
Well, consider how many people would be involved with the creation and approval process. Does one person have the authority to write the script, or will many people need to read and contribute before it can go to the next stage? Consider that summer holidays are coming, and it may be tough to collaborate when people are on vacation.
Now it's fall, and your script is completed. Still plenty of time ahead? Well, this might depend on the type of video you are creating. Are you using a lot of live action filming? Will individuals from your organization need to be filmed? Or, will you be using animation or special effects? All of these elements take time - even more so if the end product is expected to be longer than five minutes.
Keep in mind that each step of the film may require multiple levels of approval, and holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas can slow things down - not to mention the day-to-day operations of your organization. The last month of the project will be crucial for obtaining final approvals and for completing final edits and sound.
You're back to your January conference, and your film is a bit hit - congratulations! Considering how to budget your time during the film creation process has hopefully made the work less stressful on your organization, and resulted in a product that your whole organization is pleased with and proud of.
Small business scenario
You're looking at your text-heavy website, thinking, "Something feels missing. I need a video to help showcase what I can do for my clients."
If you don't have a set deadline, consider your own time and availability - in your business cycle for a year, what are some slow times that you could easily fit a video creation process easily into your schedule?
Also consider what type of video would best illustrate the type of services or products that you provide - live action? Animation? Or, a combination of both? Would you want to create one video alone, or a series of videos?
Whether you're a part of a large or small business, we are happy to help you create a time budget that will work for your needs!
