So you’ve decided to go with a video production company and have gone through the entire pre-production process (Finally you get what this term means!). What’s the next phase when working with a video production company and what should my business expect?
Usually the nitty gritty planning all occurs in the pre-production stage, so at this point if you are approaching production (the time where we physically film for you) you should have all the details finalized with regard to location, cast and crew, storyboard and script. You’ll also have a sense of the timeline of the production schedule along with a crystal clear budget.
Depending on what type of video service you’re getting, the-behind-the-scenes details occurring on our side may be somewhat different. For example, if we’re filming an online commercial, this usually requires hired talent, set design, and props. If it’s an animated piece, we’ll need voice actors in a sound studio rather than actors on set, and there’s obviously no need for props.
Luckily for the client, necessary logistics are all handled on our end, so you’ll find that on production day you don’t actually have anything to worry about. When we are shooting case studies, client testimonials, and interviews, they generally take the form of a conversation. With this type of filming, most of our subjects have never been on camera before, so it is important that we can have honest, relatable conversations with them without feeling like there are cameras in the room. We have the goal with every client that they feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera. We never want people to feel bad about themselves or be unhappy with the final product so we allow multiple takes and allow them to play back the footage if asked. If we feel could be better, we will communicate that too, so it doesn’t feel like we’re leaving our clients high and dry.
Leading up to production day, our team has geared everything up such as cameras, lights, audio, props. Our cinematography gurus have walked through the location in advance to assess the lighting and shadow. Anyone appearing in the video will have their script or talking points ahead of time so that they can expect what to say.
On filming day, our crew arrives at the designated time to set up all necessary equipment. Some shoots, depending on space and structure, will have only one camera while others may have three or four. On set we can really find our groove, changing angles on the fly for a better shot or altering lines of the script to try something out.
Some videos take a day to shoot; others take more. Filming days can vary in length too. Only once we know we have captured everything we need, do we call it a wrap. Usually all of our videos rely on additional B-roll (behind the scenes video), which is quite often where a taste of the brand’s core business is captured.
For us, production days are special. In some cases we’re meeting our clients in person for the first time, and we always get inspired when it’s time to create some magic behind the lens. We love giving our clients an inside look at our process and how much we enjoy being able to tell each brand’s unique story.
