preproduction

noun

pre·​pro·​duc·​tion ˌprē-prə-ˈdək-shən 

-prō-

variants or less commonly pre-production

: the process of planning or designing something (such as a product or film) prior to production

test-driving cars in preproduction

visited possible filming sites during preproduction

—often used before another noun

a preproduction prototype

preproduction meetings with the director

Word History

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined above