Pilot & learning log
A proposed four-week experiment: nine finished stories, a realistic view of the workload, and a decision about what comes next.
Proposed pilot practice. Edit together before use. Worksheet entries stay in this tab; print to preserve completed notes.
Earn the right to grow.
A proposed four-week pilot: nine finished pieces, three per series. Use it to test the format and your ability to work together.
| When | Work | Owner role | Ready when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 Align | Choose direction, cap time and cash, assign owners, recruit adult guests, rehearse the interview. | Producer + editorial lead | Briefs, guest expectations, permission process, and shoot plan are ready. |
| Week 2 Record | Plan recording for all three series, including three short fashion-location visits. Check sound before each conversation. | Host + camera/sound | Enough usable material for three honest stories per series. |
| Week 3 Edit | Cut nine episodes, preserve context, verify checkable claims, complete guest review. | Editor + editorial lead | Each piece passes the publishing checklist. |
| Week 4 Publish & learn | Release at a manageable cadence; review audience response and actual production time. | Publishing lead + team | A written continue, revise, or pause decision, with one clear reason. |
What to measure
Track completion and average watch time alongside video length; saves and shares per view where available; comments describing a useful takeaway; guest comfort feedback; and total hours per finished piece.
Record results at consistent intervals, such as 48 hours and seven days. Nine videos provide early learning, not proof of audience demand. Agree your time and cash limits before filming.
How an agency emerges
Use the strongest pilot work as a portfolio. Proposed first paid offer: one discovery session, one interview shoot, three short edits, captions, and one revision round.
Choose price after measuring pilot labor, direct costs, and capacity. Expand into recurring people-led series when the work is repeatable. Keep paid commissions visibly distinct from independent editorial interviews.
Founding-team decisions to document
Who owns the name, accounts, raw footage, and finished work? Who can commit spending? How are expenses reimbursed, labor recognized, and revenue shared? Who has final editorial responsibility? What happens when someone leaves?
Capture your intended answers in the charter before taking paid work. This package covers creative and operational formation; it does not establish a legal entity, clear the Aurora name, or create a legal agreement.
Episode tracker
| Episode | Story focus | Owner / record date | Review / permission | Publish / lesson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFI 01 | To assign | To assign | Pending | Pending |
| SFI 02 | To assign | To assign | Pending | Pending |
| SFI 03 | To assign | To assign | Pending | Pending |
| SYW 01 | To assign | To assign | Pending | Pending |
| SYW 02 | To assign | To assign | Pending | Pending |
| SYW 03 | To assign | To assign | Pending | Pending |
| WIW 01 | Market / occasion roulette | To assign | Pending | Pending |
| WIW 02 | After-work / one-swap remix | To assign | Pending | Pending |
| WIW 03 | Art night / outfit backstory | To assign | Pending | Pending |
Capacity before pricing
Log actual hours for recruiting, preparation, travel, recording, editing, captions, revisions, and publishing. Add direct expenses separately. Compare the total with your agreed weekly availability and pilot cash cap.
Pricing worksheet: estimated labor hours × agreed internal hourly cost + direct expenses + contingency = estimated delivery cost. Set the quoted price above cost at a margin the team deliberately chooses. This is a planning formula, not a market rate.
Retrospective / 45 minutes
- Watch the strongest and weakest piece from each series.
- Describe what worked using the actual story and edit.
- Review participant feedback and any unresolved concerns.
- Compare effort, direct costs, and audience usefulness signals.
- Decide continue, revise, or pause for each series.
- Assign one change and one owner for the next batch.