The team shot all six episodes in just 36 days by treating the season like one large movie ("block shooting"). This was possible because all scripts were completed before production began, a practice that defies the traditional, more expensive US model of writing episodes throughout the shooting schedule.
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Contrary to the traditional television model where shows become profitable only in later seasons (3-5), 'Heated Rivalry' was an immediate financial driver from its first season. This signals a shift in content economics, where breakout streaming hits can deliver significant returns much faster.
To ensure high quality and great chemistry, Vector's VP of Marketing flies to her CEO's location to record an entire podcast season over two days. This batching process creates a cohesive feel and is more efficient than coordinating weekly remote recordings.
The team begins pitching stories in the morning, has a full script draft by 2 PM, records at 5 PM, finalizes the audio edit by 8 PM, and works on video until midnight for the next day's release. This relentless daily cycle repeats while also producing other weekly episodes.
To convince leadership to adopt low-production content, go beyond performance metrics. Frame the argument around business efficiency: highlight the drastically lower budget and the ability to be more timely by reducing production time from months to days. This combination is more compelling than engagement data alone.
A systematic approach to AI video can reduce production time by over 90%. The process involves: 1) Finalizing the core idea, 2) Creating a detailed storyboard with scenes and dialogue, 3) Generating static reference images for each scene, and 4) Generating video clips and performing a final edit.
Sustainable, high-quality video content isn't about random inspiration. ClickUp implements a rigorous weekly schedule: Monday for analysis, Tuesday for pitching, Wednesday for scripting, Thursday for shooting, and Friday for planning. This operationalizes creativity and ensures consistent output.
Bell Media's president identifies agility as a key competitive advantage. With fewer layers of bureaucracy, the Canadian company can make faster greenlight decisions than its larger global counterparts, where projects can get stuck in a 'slow maybe.'
The pressure to constantly record new episodes stunts content quality and distribution planning. A crucial tactic is to batch-record and bank at least half a season's worth of episodes before the show goes public. This creates a buffer that prevents burnout and allows for more thoughtful execution.
The production intentionally aims for 10-hour days, a departure from the grueling 15-16 hour industry standard. This not only avoids ballooning overtime costs but also creates a more sustainable work environment, particularly benefiting female-dominated departments like hair, makeup, and wardrobe that bear the brunt of long hours.
Roka News maintains a consistent video publishing schedule through content batching. A team spends a full week in one location filming multiple stories. This single trip generates enough raw footage for a videographer to edit and release a steady stream of content over the following 6-7 weeks.
