Steven Katz in his book "Film Directing Shot by Shot," which I would recommend, notes these stages in the production cycle.
-Memory and Research (images, etc)
-Connections (how the parts might combine, use recipie cards)
-Sound and Music (bring these ideas into the conceptualization of the piece, they elicit images)
-Visual Sketch book
-Script Breakdown
-Pictoral Design
-Continuity Design
-Location Scouting
-Illustrated script (the look of each scene)
-Overview meetings (get the whole crew together)
-Shot plan, first draft, second draft,
-previewing scenes on video
-Editing
-Sound Design
-Sound Editing
-Mastering