Production Brief Template
[Church Name] — Visit Production Brief
A pre-visit document that translates the church’s audit into a production starting point for the host, the on-site producer, and the post-visit editor. Cross-referenced against the YouTube Formula playbook (visit format, pre-visit beats, watch-back ritual, short-form clip slate).
Each section is tagged with its primary reader.
1. Church Snapshot
Read by: Host | Producer | Editor
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Church name | |
| Location | |
| Pastor / lead contact | |
| Audit completion date | |
| Composite Church Chaos Index score | /100 (Severity tier) |
| Service style | (formality + warmth scores from audit) |
| Ministries the pastor is most likely proud of | (from audit; otherwise “TO CONFIRM IN PASTOR SIT-DOWN”) |
| Projected visit window |
Confidence read on this church as a visit subject
One paragraph: based on the audit, what’s the show value this church offers? Is it a “high-drama low score” episode, a “moderate friction with one specific lesson” episode, a “structurally healthy with one fixable gap” episode? The framing here shapes everything downstream.
2. Audit Findings at a Glance
Read by: Host | Producer | Editor
The four chaos dimensions
| Dimension | Score | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Announcement Avalanche | /25 | |
| ”Where Do I Go?” Test | /25 | |
| Sunday Savior Trap | /25 | |
| First Impression | /25 | |
| Composite | /100 |
Pillar ranking for the episode
Pillar reveals are an escalating sequence that builds toward the composite at min 17:30 — they don’t compete with it. Two ordering options. Choose based on this church’s actual scoring profile (YouTube Formula §9):
- Option A — Escalating disaster. Order tiers from least severe to most severe. The most-severe tier lands right before the composite. Best for churches with a clear scoring spread.
- Option B — Worst tier at the midpoint. Order: moderate → worst tier (dramatic midpoint at min 14–15) → moderate → final. Two emotional peaks. Best for churches with one clearly worst pillar and three close-to-each-other pillars.
- Edge case — positive midpoint. A surprisingly strong pillar (e.g., a Moderate Chaos church with one Low Chaos blue tier) can land as the midpoint twist: “they’re doing this incredibly well — so why is the composite still concerning?”
Adapted to this church:
| Reveal order | Pillar | Tier | Why this slot |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st reveal (~7:30) | Low/Mod/High/Crit | ||
| 2nd reveal (~12:30) | Low/Mod/High/Crit | ||
| 3rd reveal (~14:30) | Low/Mod/High/Crit | ||
| 4th reveal (~17:00) | Low/Mod/High/Crit | ||
| Composite (~17:30) | All four | /100 + Tier | Diagnostic climax — pillar numbers, sum, and tier all land here |
Qualitative flags (from audit)
- Pastoral guilt language: Yes / No — [if yes, brief description]
- Information dump patterns: Yes / No — [if yes, brief description]
- Voice/tone formality: /5
- Voice/tone warmth: /5
- Other notable patterns: [from audit]
3. Episode Structure Map
Read by: Host | Editor
The per-church build of the standard 25-minute episode. Each beat is mapped to specific findings from this church’s audit.
Cold open (0:00–0:20)
- Tier flash: [composite tier color from the audit — red Critical / orange High / gold Moderate / blue Low. Number stays hidden; color carries the dramatic weight.]
- Reaction subjects: [team faces from the composite reveal — captured authentically at min 17:30]
- Buoy preview: [quick cut to what the eventual fix looks like]
- Specific finding to feature: [from audit’s “What We Found”]
The Welcome (1:10–3:30)
- Strengths to surface verbally: [from highest-scoring pillar]
- Ministry the pastor likely cares most about: [from audit emphasis patterns]
- Through-line for cross-departmental thesis: “You mentioned [ministry] is important to you. We’re going to come back to that — because it’s connected to almost everything we found.”
The four diagnostic beats
For each beat, fill in:
- Audit findings to walk through (bulleted list from the audit)
- Visual/B-roll opportunities (signage shots, lobby walk, screen recordings, service footage)
- Pre-visit beat evidence to deploy here (which of the 9 investigative beats produced evidence relevant to this pillar)
- Connection to ministry impact (“When [this is broken], the [ministry] you care about can’t [outcome]“)
| Beat | Time | Pillar | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beat 1 | 3:50–7:30 | ||
| Beat 2 | 8:00–10:30 | (Watch-back ritual lands at 10:30–12:00 inside this beat) | |
| Beat 3 | 13:00–14:30 | (Hard mid-roll CTA at 12:00–12:30 sits between Beat 2 watch-back and Beat 3) | |
| Beat 4 | 15:15–17:00 |
Composite Score Reveal (17:30–18:00)
Three beats of new information animate in sequence:
- Each pillar’s precise number animates in (e.g., 14/25, 16/25, 8/25, 4/25) — first time numbers appear
- The sum animates — composite on the 0–100 scale
- The composite tier color and category land as the verdict
- Composite: /100
- Severity tier: [Low / Moderate / High / Critical]
- The verdict line: [one sentence naming what this score means for this church specifically]
The Buoy (18:00–22:30)
- Buoy format: Choose one based on what serves the church best:
- A: 2–3 specific Block-level fixes walked through with B-roll
- B: Single-fix demo (one transformation that would unlock the most)
- C: Makeover preview
- D: Pastor commitment moment
- The single highest-leverage fix for this church: [based on which broken touchpoint, if fixed, would unlock the most ministry impact]
Hard Mid-Roll CTA (12:00–12:30 — immediately after watch-back)
Audit URL on screen 8+ seconds. Frame as viewer benefit. Reference the ministry the pastor cares most about: “You don’t need me to fly out to find out what’s getting in the way of your [ministry] — take the audit yourself.”
This is the structural midpoint of the show, ~70% of viewers still watching, just past the watch-back ritual. Don’t place after the composite reveal (defensive headspace) or after the buoy (most viewers gone). See YouTube Formula §16.
Pastor’s Closing Reaction + Universal Point (23:30–24:35)
- Pastor commitment: [what they’re naming as the first thing to change]
- Universal one-liner — draft 2–3 options: 1. 2. 3.
4. Reaction Subjects (Who’s in the Room)
Read by: Host | Producer
The audit requestor (often the lead pastor) has already seen the score privately by visit day. To preserve genuine first-time reactions during reveal moments, get as many team members in the room as possible for both the score reveal and the watch-back ritual. Aim for 4–6 people: lead pastor, executive pastor, comms director, worship pastor, kids director, volunteer coordinator, board chair where possible.
Confirmed attendees
- [Names + roles, confirmed in pre-visit intake]
Pre-visit coordination requirements
- Audit requestor agrees to keep results private from the team until visit day
- Frame as “for your team’s experience and for the show’s authenticity”
- If they want to brief the team beforehand, push back gently and explain the dramatic stakes
The pastor as reflective anchor
The audit requestor won’t be seeing the score for the first time — they’ll be watching their team learn what they already know. That’s an asset, not a problem (YouTube Formula §9). Their reaction is reflective, not reactive: shoulders dropping, exhale, hands unfolding. A-cam tight on this person captures the release.
The host can prompt the requestor directly: “You’ve seen this. What did you think when you first saw it two weeks ago?” Their honest answer becomes a real moment shifted in time.
Group dynamic risks
If senior leadership projects “we’re handling this well” energy, staff may follow suit. Host should address specific people by role — “Worship pastor, what did you see in that clip?” — rather than letting senior leadership dominate.
5. Watch-Back Ritual Playlist
Read by: Host | Producer
The church team watches their own footage on a tablet while the host watches them watch. Show’s signature moment.
Equipment: iPad/tablet pre-loaded with clips below before arrival. Backup clips on producer’s laptop.
Three angles running simultaneously (YouTube Formula §14):
- B-cam wide on the team’s faces
- A-cam on host + group context
- Pocket 4 overhead or POV on the tablet
Clips to pre-load (from audit’s timestamped citations)
For each clip, the producer pulls the exact moment from the church’s submitted service recordings using the backend timestamps.
| # | Clip description | Source file | Timestamp | What it demonstrates | Predicted reaction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [strength clip — open with this] | mm:ss | |||
| 2 | [most diagnostic clip — lowest-pillar evidence] | mm:ss | |||
| 3 | [supporting diagnostic — different pillar] | mm:ss | |||
| 4 | [backup] | ||||
| 5 | [backup] |
Sequencing
- Open with a strength. Set a collaborative tone before any hard moments.
- The most diagnostic clip. Let the silence after it land.
- One more diagnostic clip if time allows.
Tone notes for the host
- The team gathers together, not separately. Frame it as “let’s see this together.”
- Don’t narrate during the clips. Let the footage speak.
- After each clip, the first words should come from the team. If they don’t speak, sit with the silence — it’s gold.
- Address specific team members by role to break suppression: “Worship pastor, what did you see in that clip?” rather than letting senior leadership dominate.
6. Investigative Pre-Visit Beats — Priority Plan
Read by: Producer
The 9 beats from YouTube Formula §15 don’t all need equal effort for every church. Rank by likely yield based on this church’s audit profile.
| # | Beat | Priority | Producer notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First impression test | H / M / L | |
| 2 | Google Business Profile check | H / M / L | |
| 3 | New visitor email sequence | H / M / L | |
| 4 | ”Planning to visit” outreach | H / M / L | |
| 5 | Phone call test | H / M / L | |
| 6 | Kids ministry test | H / M / L | |
| 7 | Giving flow | H / M / L | |
| 8 | Small groups signup | H / M / L | |
| 9 | Volunteer ask | H / M / L |
Top 3 to run hardest for this church
- [Beat X] — because [audit-grounded reason]
- [Beat Y] — because [audit-grounded reason]
- [Beat Z] — because [audit-grounded reason]
Where investigative evidence will appear in the episode
- Cold open tease: [which finding, if any, is dramatic enough]
- Threaded into pillar walks: [which beats sit in which pillars]
- Dedicated segment if warranted: [only if volume of findings justifies 2–3 minutes]
- Short-form standalone clips: [which findings work as standalone moments]
7. Short-Form Clip Slate
Read by: Host | Producer | Editor
Production target: 4–5 finished clips per visit (YouTube Formula §21). The first two are workhorses; the next 2–3 are situational.
Workhorses (always include)
Clip 1: Tier reveal cold open
- Hook angle: the [pillar] tier color flash + team reaction
- Specific finding to feature:
- Soft audit mention text-only at sec 10–15; hard CTA at end
Clip 2: Visual problem pattern interrupt
- Hook angle: [most visually concrete finding from the audit]
- B-roll requirement:
- Why this lands universally:
Situational picks — STRONG / MAYBE / PASS
| Format | Status | Why for this church |
|---|---|---|
| Watch-back reaction | ||
| ”I walked into this church…” opener | ||
| Before-and-after split | ||
| Walking diagnostic POV | ||
| Single tactical change | ||
| ”I almost missed this” reveal | ||
| Universal “most churches get this wrong” |
Final 4–5 clip slate
- [Clip type] — [specific hook]
- [Clip type] — [specific hook]
- [Clip type] — [specific hook]
- [Clip type] — [specific hook]
- [Optional 5th]
8. Capture Priorities for Visit Day
Read by: Producer
Standard priority list (YouTube Formula §14 + §19) — fill in the church-specific items under each.
Crew on-site: Host (Brady) + Producer (lead videographer, A-cam + gimbal + edit) + Third operator (Pocket 4 + drone). Three angles run simultaneously.
- Reaction footage — host AND church team reactions to tier reveals; watch-back reactions are the most important shots of the day. B-cam wide on the team during reveals; A-cam tight on the audit requestor (reflective anchor); Pocket 4 roving for individual close-ups.
-
Visual problems specific to this church: [pull from audit’s “What We Found”]
- Walking and POV content — gimbal shots through main spaces; first-time-visitor POV. Pocket 4 catches reverse angles producer can’t reach.
- Setup/establishing — drone exterior (third operator), host arrival
-
Tactical detail shots — close-ups of specific small problems flagged in audit:
9. Production Gaps and Risk Flags
Read by: Host | Producer
Gaps — what the audit doesn’t tell us
The audit covers four chaos dimensions plus voice/tone analysis. Standard blind spots: physical space layout, staff dynamics, volunteer onboarding flow, visual brand consistency across touchpoints.
For this specific church, the audit’s biggest blind spots are:
Capture plan to fill these gaps:
Risk flags — editorial caution
- Sensitive findings: [framing requires extra care]
- Generous framing required: [areas where audit is sharp; on-camera version softens without losing accuracy]
- Buoy emphasis: [if score is severe, buoy works extra hard]
- Pastoral context: [transitions, difficult seasons, etc. — TO CONFIRM IN INTAKE]
10. Editor’s Quick Reference
Read by: Editor (post-visit)
Episode spine
- Cold open angle: [from §3]
- Watch-back placement: minute 10:30–12:00
- Composite reveal: minute 17:30
- Buoy format: [from §3]
- Universal one-liner (selected): [from §3]
Tier reveal mechanics
| Pillar | Tier | Reveal placement | Production treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st reveal | Low/Mod/High/Crit | min 7:30 | Standard build, sting, team reaction |
| 2nd reveal | Low/Mod/High/Crit | min 12:30 | (After hard mid-roll CTA at 12:00) |
| 3rd reveal — dramatic midpoint | Low/Mod/High/Crit | min 14:30 | Slowest reveal; longest reaction; intentional silence |
| 4th reveal | Low/Mod/High/Crit | min 17:00 | Standard build into composite |
| Composite | /100 + Tier | min 17:30 | Full “make a meal” — pillar numbers animate, sum, tier verdict |
Short-form clips to pull (from §6)
Footage tagging convention
[REACT-HOST] [REACT-TEAM] [REACT-REQUESTOR] [PROBLEM-VISUAL] [WATCHBACK] [POV-WALK] [ESTAB] [QUOTE-PASTOR] [BEFORE] [STRENGTH]
11. Post-Visit Follow-Up Hooks
Read by: Host | Producer
- Follow-up visit candidate? Yes / No (based on dramatic potential)
- Best window for return visit: 90–120 days post-makeover delivery
- Specific follow-up beats to capture intent for during this visit:
- “What changed first?” — pastor’s reflection on the most important shift
- Live service follow-up — capture announcements after the new system is in place
- Investigative beat re-runs — re-test the visitor sequence, giving flow, etc.
Brief built from: Church Chaos Index audit + YouTube Formula playbook (§5 cold open, §9 reveals, §14 production, §19 short-form).