Planning A Corporate Video Production
Event Video Production
"If you neglect to PLAN, your prefer to FAIL" - Sadly, this well-worn quotation is the epitaph for most videos project that fell pitifully short of the expectations raised before work commenced.
The absence of proper organising a corporate video production is rather like leaving over a 100 mile journey to an unknown destination, in a vehicle having a near-empty petrol tank, no Sat-Nav or map, 2 bald tyres and no roadside cover. You're literally ASKING to perform into problems!
... Yes I am aware you may require help on your mobile phone, however, you get my point, right?
So, let's consider the subsequent preparation essentials:
OBJECTIVES:: Purpose and Message
The initial question should be "What exactly do we want this video to accomplish?" What exactly is its purpose, exactly what is the message we want to communicate?...
and even more importantly... Who's our audience?
A company video needs to be an effective business tool that communicates clearly along with your market, raises brand awareness, or helps you to increase sales revenue.
You need a superior objective. Or even, then this impact of one's video production is likely to be blunted. So, "Maybe now it's time we'd a fresh video" just isn't an objective. Yes, the old video could well be dated and even embarrassing, but simply replacing old for brand new most likely to dazzle your web visitors or inspire your employees.
There are many tales of woe about videos that have left the viewer wondering what message has conveyed, as a result of an ill-conceived and poorly structured storyline.
By developing a listing of the main points you wish to get across. Then develop some detail per with the details. Obtain some input from employees and stakeholders. Your video producer should be capable to add valuable input, so long as you select a qualified professional.
YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE :: Whom do you think you're addressing?
Be sure you consider all the cultures you will be addressing within your video. Will be your message geared towards a specific generation? Will be your audience global, or local? Will you be needing subtitles, or perhaps different language versions? And more importantly, is there a problem your audience to leave your video?
All of the above considerations will help you select the communication type of your production, and also the personalities which will appear in the video, like a presenter and other supporting cast.
Production Style:: TV-commercial? News report? Documentary?
There are various approaches to tell a tale. That is certainly precisely what your video production is - a story.
It ought to be sufficiently well structured to accept the viewer by having a sequence of data, in exactly the same way a book is presented, or perhaps a feature film is produced. It must use a beginning or opening sequence which gets the viewer's attention and leads them deeper in the story (middle), with an ending sequence or conclusion. If the video requires some sort of response from the audience, like an item promotion, then you should have a clear 'call-to-action' sequence by the end.
So, structure is very important. What about the actual kind of your production? Unless your video is simply the recording of an event such as a conference, the location where the structure and elegance is usually dependant on the event itself, you might think about the various options for presenting, or packaging your message. What production style would best match your organization, your products you're your audience?
Consumer audiences have grown to be newer. People seldom answer the type of blatant, in-your-face sales hype observed in TV commercials of 15+ in years past, however, you dress it up.
Nowadays, a more subtle approach is frequently called for. As mentioned earlier on, people want to now be "edutained". They want to find out and educated about something, in the entertaining way.
Now I'm not suggesting that people dig out the stripy blazers and straw boaters and perform song & dance act, or use a fake opera singer to annoy people into comparing various products. Although amazingly, some of these styles do actually get results!
Creative video producers today can offer a variety of and impressive production styles. So, whilst a standard Three to four minute programme could possibly be created by an expert TV presenter and have shots of your respective products, include staff interviews and customer testimonials, the playback quality could actually be stated in a news-report or documentary style, links across as impartial, and never a thinly disguised everlasting sales pitch. Ideal if you want to announce an excellent new product range, or highlight the benefits of your service, with the eyes of the customers. Remember, people want to BUY. They seldom love to be SOLD to.
Your video producer should possess the necessary knowledge and skills to advise you in regards to the style, flow and pace of your production, within the planning, or "pre-production" stage. However, you realize your small business, product and customers a lot better than anyone, and it's YOUR video, and that means you must have the last say.
Content:: What should be included?
Most productions will require additional happy to keep your video intriquing, notable and informative. An elementary "talking head" most likely to keep your viewer's attention for very long. So, if your programme includes "cut-away" shots of static images including photos and diagrams, and also other related footage, you will stand a far greater probability of holding your audience till the end of the video and secure that all-important direct response.
Your video producer will appreciate receiving high-resolution digital pictures of your company logos, products the ones to include on the post-production stage. If you're able to have these ready in advance, it can help to make sure that your production isn't delayed down the road along the way.
You may also already have recorded audio, video as well as legacy film that you might want to incorporate, especially if your programme contains historic content. Make sure that you discuss this requirement together with your video producer with the pre-production planning meeting, to ensure your media could be successfully converted.
Shooting Locations:: Your organization premises or even in a studio?
Whilst most corporate videos are shot with the company's premises, solutions when external locations certainly are a necessary part of a production. Let's consider the four most typical locations:
1. Your own personal business premises is definitely the most obvious range of location. You've everything to hand - your offices, showrooms, or factory are typical accessible in most cases give you the most ideal backdrop and environment where you can execute almost all of the filming. You also have easy access to your products plus your people - when you find some willing participants - but more details on that later.
Be sure you look for a suitably quiet room for shooting interviews or presentations. There is nothing more distracting than wanting to film in a noisy office, or even a room adjoining the factory!
Also, don't forget your video producer might require access to nearby electrical sockets for powering cameras, lights along with other equipment. A website survey are usually necessary ahead of filming.
2. Your customers' premises are frequently a good choice for testimonials - particularly if they have your products displayed, or equipment offered by your company in situ. Do discuss this together with your clients with plenty of forethought, so they are prepared, determine what they will say and also have appropriate facilities arranged.
3. Public facilities often require permission from your Local Authority. Your video producer will know who to approach and really should manage to reach a mutually agreeable arrangement with the Authority, without incurring special license fees. There is often exceptions to this rule, including in some aspects of united kingdom, where tight treatments for filming is operated.
4. A studio - fully equipped with lighting and sound recording, various backdrops, and a chroma key setup may be recommended by your producer. This is actually the perfect situation for shooting corporate pieces to camera, interviews and presentations. A presenter may be filmed in front of an environmentally friendly screen, allowing alternative background imagery being added. Most video production companies either their very own studios, and have entry to studio facilities when the need arises.
Talent:: Your workers or possibly a professional presenter?
Filming your employees carrying out their normal daily duties, operating some equipment or assisting a client is a thing. But the subject of who to appoint like a presenter or spokesperson always induces a wry smile from me. We have witnessed numerous times when a keen employee, who seems to be quite utilized to doing the odd presentation, fluffs his lines to the twenty-seventh time, amid fits of laughter or deep frustration.
You will find there's vast among presenting your small business and product to a number of seminar delegates, and addressing an invisible audience with a camera pointing to you. It's surprising how most, otherwise supremely confident people, produce a stutter, or memory-loss, when underneath the pressure for being filmed.
So, until you have a very confident and experienced employee that's employed to presenting to camera, its best to hand it over to an experienced presenter - except, the speaking parts are short & sweet, or in cases when the content must come from the CEO.
Appointing professional talent, maybe it's a presenter, actor or voice-over artist is the most suitable discussed together with your video producer, who really should have access to a good choice of freelance professionals.
PERMISSIONS:: Aren't getting trapped!
If you're gonna commission a specialist video production, you desperately want to actually obtain written permission from all of concerned, to use the captured footage (but still images) of people and places, and also any ip such as logo's that the company won't own.
This essential aspect is frequently overlooked by people who're unfamiliar with professional video production and fix means of safeguarding against potential issues in the future. Nowadays, people have more civil rights compared to they utilized to and also the last thing you will need is really a disgruntled former-employee threatening law suit until you remove his part within the video.
Such incidents can incur unwanted delays, as well as additional costs, if you should re-shoot a scene, or maybe hrs of re-editing are needed.
Your video producer should be able to give you correctly worded "Release" forms for locations the ones appearing in your video.
Developing a Script:: Can it be really necessary?
You will have gathered right now, that producing an expert quality video just isn't achieved merely by pointing a video camera and pressing the button. You can get any keen amateur to do that.
Maybe you have seen TV commercials where they've spent thousands and thousands of pounds over a visually spectacular production, but the message is lost inside the ether due to a weak script. This basically ensures that a great deal of money continues to be flushed along the pan because somebody didn't bother to script the programme - and instead got caught up through the euphoria of creating exciting visuals.
Alternatively, you should have seen low-budget adverts on television which has a powerful message fluently communicated, nevertheless the visuals can be extremely basic. Mission accomplished!
When there's such a thing as "the perfect script", it's one where your target market is watching and listening from the outset, as you have engaged their attention. Then the smooth flow from the message carries them along, still watching and listening, to certainly the final.
Certain productions might also have to have a storyboard. Storyboarding can be a separate process that puts the proposed visuals in to the script. It ought to be a thing that both sides can understand and can include small details including that you might need captions and graphics, into a full pictorial listing of shots and footage required. It could be simple, or quite complex, based on the type and duration of your production.
Make no mistake. The script may be the greatest portion of any corporate video. You can begin by drafting an elementary outline of your respective ideas after which take a seat along with your video producer and creatively brainstorm just what the script should be. Your video producer should then be able to keep coming back having a fully documented script that really makes your programme be right for you - as well as your audience.
PRE-SHOOT MEETING::
When you have approved the script, you're ready proceed to the next stage. One last discussion involving all parties should take place just before shooting. You should walk throughout the proposed filming locations to be sure that everything is available, including adequate 13-amp power that will likely be essential for lighting along with other equipment. Make arrangements for access, parking and safety, and also ensuring that all persons involved are well accustomed to location are going to needed.
Timescales:: On time, on schedule and also on budget!
It is advisable to have realistic timescales if you need a truly professional result. Allow sufficient time for planning and making arrangements effortlessly parties concerned. Remember to allow for holidays along with the availability of people away from your small business.
Check into whether you can find any planned road works or construction be employed in the vicinity of one's proposed filming locations could obstruct your deadline.
It's worth mentioning that individuals who are new to professional video production often underestimate just how long essential for the post-production stage. More about the editing process later, but for now, do bear in mind that a lot of work has to be completed, could a "rough-cut" is in a position for your inspection.
The conclusion - The inconvenience and potential extra expense of re-shoots and other editing can be avoided in the event you allow the required time for all the aspects of your production to get finished proper awareness of detail. There's really no require to suffer the consequences in the proverbial "rush job".
Budgeting:: Cost versus value
By identifying the necessity to produce a professional video, you've got already reached the starting point. One of the first questions that a lot of clients ask is "How much can it cost?" To the corporate video producer, this is the difficult question to answer until some proper consultation has brought place.
Video can be a creative medium, and so you will see ways and way of creating a successful programme. Each video production company could have their unique ideas of the way they can do this, which often will lead to some other proposal and cost.
The overall cost to generate a video may differ considerably between one video producer and another.
But so can the quality of the result!
Like with just about any purchasing decision, you're going to get everything you pay for.
A truly professional video production however, really should not be considered an expense, speculate a smart investment. Therefore, rather than simply getting an expense (particularly before the full consultation has taken place) it's preferable to consider what a planned well and professionally executed production could be WORTH for your business.
If the final result generates more opportunities for your company regarding new clients and purchasers, then a roi should far outweigh the amount of money paid to your video producer, in substitution for a career done well.
"If you neglect to PLAN, your prefer to FAIL" - Sadly, this well-worn quotation is the epitaph for most videos project that fell pitifully short of the expectations raised before work commenced.
The absence of proper organising a corporate video production is rather like leaving over a 100 mile journey to an unknown destination, in a vehicle having a near-empty petrol tank, no Sat-Nav or map, 2 bald tyres and no roadside cover. You're literally ASKING to perform into problems!
... Yes I am aware you may require help on your mobile phone, however, you get my point, right?
So, let's consider the subsequent preparation essentials:
OBJECTIVES:: Purpose and Message
The initial question should be "What exactly do we want this video to accomplish?" What exactly is its purpose, exactly what is the message we want to communicate?...
and even more importantly... Who's our audience?
A company video needs to be an effective business tool that communicates clearly along with your market, raises brand awareness, or helps you to increase sales revenue.
You need a superior objective. Or even, then this impact of one's video production is likely to be blunted. So, "Maybe now it's time we'd a fresh video" just isn't an objective. Yes, the old video could well be dated and even embarrassing, but simply replacing old for brand new most likely to dazzle your web visitors or inspire your employees.
There are many tales of woe about videos that have left the viewer wondering what message has conveyed, as a result of an ill-conceived and poorly structured storyline.
By developing a listing of the main points you wish to get across. Then develop some detail per with the details. Obtain some input from employees and stakeholders. Your video producer should be capable to add valuable input, so long as you select a qualified professional.
YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE :: Whom do you think you're addressing?
Be sure you consider all the cultures you will be addressing within your video. Will be your message geared towards a specific generation? Will be your audience global, or local? Will you be needing subtitles, or perhaps different language versions? And more importantly, is there a problem your audience to leave your video?
All of the above considerations will help you select the communication type of your production, and also the personalities which will appear in the video, like a presenter and other supporting cast.
Production Style:: TV-commercial? News report? Documentary?
There are various approaches to tell a tale. That is certainly precisely what your video production is - a story.
It ought to be sufficiently well structured to accept the viewer by having a sequence of data, in exactly the same way a book is presented, or perhaps a feature film is produced. It must use a beginning or opening sequence which gets the viewer's attention and leads them deeper in the story (middle), with an ending sequence or conclusion. If the video requires some sort of response from the audience, like an item promotion, then you should have a clear 'call-to-action' sequence by the end.
So, structure is very important. What about the actual kind of your production? Unless your video is simply the recording of an event such as a conference, the location where the structure and elegance is usually dependant on the event itself, you might think about the various options for presenting, or packaging your message. What production style would best match your organization, your products you're your audience?
Consumer audiences have grown to be newer. People seldom answer the type of blatant, in-your-face sales hype observed in TV commercials of 15+ in years past, however, you dress it up.
Nowadays, a more subtle approach is frequently called for. As mentioned earlier on, people want to now be "edutained". They want to find out and educated about something, in the entertaining way.
Now I'm not suggesting that people dig out the stripy blazers and straw boaters and perform song & dance act, or use a fake opera singer to annoy people into comparing various products. Although amazingly, some of these styles do actually get results!
Creative video producers today can offer a variety of and impressive production styles. So, whilst a standard Three to four minute programme could possibly be created by an expert TV presenter and have shots of your respective products, include staff interviews and customer testimonials, the playback quality could actually be stated in a news-report or documentary style, links across as impartial, and never a thinly disguised everlasting sales pitch. Ideal if you want to announce an excellent new product range, or highlight the benefits of your service, with the eyes of the customers. Remember, people want to BUY. They seldom love to be SOLD to.
Your video producer should possess the necessary knowledge and skills to advise you in regards to the style, flow and pace of your production, within the planning, or "pre-production" stage. However, you realize your small business, product and customers a lot better than anyone, and it's YOUR video, and that means you must have the last say.
Content:: What should be included?
Most productions will require additional happy to keep your video intriquing, notable and informative. An elementary "talking head" most likely to keep your viewer's attention for very long. So, if your programme includes "cut-away" shots of static images including photos and diagrams, and also other related footage, you will stand a far greater probability of holding your audience till the end of the video and secure that all-important direct response.
Your video producer will appreciate receiving high-resolution digital pictures of your company logos, products the ones to include on the post-production stage. If you're able to have these ready in advance, it can help to make sure that your production isn't delayed down the road along the way.
You may also already have recorded audio, video as well as legacy film that you might want to incorporate, especially if your programme contains historic content. Make sure that you discuss this requirement together with your video producer with the pre-production planning meeting, to ensure your media could be successfully converted.
Shooting Locations:: Your organization premises or even in a studio?
Whilst most corporate videos are shot with the company's premises, solutions when external locations certainly are a necessary part of a production. Let's consider the four most typical locations:
1. Your own personal business premises is definitely the most obvious range of location. You've everything to hand - your offices, showrooms, or factory are typical accessible in most cases give you the most ideal backdrop and environment where you can execute almost all of the filming. You also have easy access to your products plus your people - when you find some willing participants - but more details on that later.
Be sure you look for a suitably quiet room for shooting interviews or presentations. There is nothing more distracting than wanting to film in a noisy office, or even a room adjoining the factory!
Also, don't forget your video producer might require access to nearby electrical sockets for powering cameras, lights along with other equipment. A website survey are usually necessary ahead of filming.
2. Your customers' premises are frequently a good choice for testimonials - particularly if they have your products displayed, or equipment offered by your company in situ. Do discuss this together with your clients with plenty of forethought, so they are prepared, determine what they will say and also have appropriate facilities arranged.
3. Public facilities often require permission from your Local Authority. Your video producer will know who to approach and really should manage to reach a mutually agreeable arrangement with the Authority, without incurring special license fees. There is often exceptions to this rule, including in some aspects of united kingdom, where tight treatments for filming is operated.
4. A studio - fully equipped with lighting and sound recording, various backdrops, and a chroma key setup may be recommended by your producer. This is actually the perfect situation for shooting corporate pieces to camera, interviews and presentations. A presenter may be filmed in front of an environmentally friendly screen, allowing alternative background imagery being added. Most video production companies either their very own studios, and have entry to studio facilities when the need arises.
Talent:: Your workers or possibly a professional presenter?
Filming your employees carrying out their normal daily duties, operating some equipment or assisting a client is a thing. But the subject of who to appoint like a presenter or spokesperson always induces a wry smile from me. We have witnessed numerous times when a keen employee, who seems to be quite utilized to doing the odd presentation, fluffs his lines to the twenty-seventh time, amid fits of laughter or deep frustration.
You will find there's vast among presenting your small business and product to a number of seminar delegates, and addressing an invisible audience with a camera pointing to you. It's surprising how most, otherwise supremely confident people, produce a stutter, or memory-loss, when underneath the pressure for being filmed.
So, until you have a very confident and experienced employee that's employed to presenting to camera, its best to hand it over to an experienced presenter - except, the speaking parts are short & sweet, or in cases when the content must come from the CEO.
Appointing professional talent, maybe it's a presenter, actor or voice-over artist is the most suitable discussed together with your video producer, who really should have access to a good choice of freelance professionals.
PERMISSIONS:: Aren't getting trapped!
If you're gonna commission a specialist video production, you desperately want to actually obtain written permission from all of concerned, to use the captured footage (but still images) of people and places, and also any ip such as logo's that the company won't own.
This essential aspect is frequently overlooked by people who're unfamiliar with professional video production and fix means of safeguarding against potential issues in the future. Nowadays, people have more civil rights compared to they utilized to and also the last thing you will need is really a disgruntled former-employee threatening law suit until you remove his part within the video.
Such incidents can incur unwanted delays, as well as additional costs, if you should re-shoot a scene, or maybe hrs of re-editing are needed.
Your video producer should be able to give you correctly worded "Release" forms for locations the ones appearing in your video.
Developing a Script:: Can it be really necessary?
You will have gathered right now, that producing an expert quality video just isn't achieved merely by pointing a video camera and pressing the button. You can get any keen amateur to do that.
Maybe you have seen TV commercials where they've spent thousands and thousands of pounds over a visually spectacular production, but the message is lost inside the ether due to a weak script. This basically ensures that a great deal of money continues to be flushed along the pan because somebody didn't bother to script the programme - and instead got caught up through the euphoria of creating exciting visuals.
Alternatively, you should have seen low-budget adverts on television which has a powerful message fluently communicated, nevertheless the visuals can be extremely basic. Mission accomplished!
When there's such a thing as "the perfect script", it's one where your target market is watching and listening from the outset, as you have engaged their attention. Then the smooth flow from the message carries them along, still watching and listening, to certainly the final.
Certain productions might also have to have a storyboard. Storyboarding can be a separate process that puts the proposed visuals in to the script. It ought to be a thing that both sides can understand and can include small details including that you might need captions and graphics, into a full pictorial listing of shots and footage required. It could be simple, or quite complex, based on the type and duration of your production.
Make no mistake. The script may be the greatest portion of any corporate video. You can begin by drafting an elementary outline of your respective ideas after which take a seat along with your video producer and creatively brainstorm just what the script should be. Your video producer should then be able to keep coming back having a fully documented script that really makes your programme be right for you - as well as your audience.
PRE-SHOOT MEETING::
When you have approved the script, you're ready proceed to the next stage. One last discussion involving all parties should take place just before shooting. You should walk throughout the proposed filming locations to be sure that everything is available, including adequate 13-amp power that will likely be essential for lighting along with other equipment. Make arrangements for access, parking and safety, and also ensuring that all persons involved are well accustomed to location are going to needed.
Timescales:: On time, on schedule and also on budget!
It is advisable to have realistic timescales if you need a truly professional result. Allow sufficient time for planning and making arrangements effortlessly parties concerned. Remember to allow for holidays along with the availability of people away from your small business.
Check into whether you can find any planned road works or construction be employed in the vicinity of one's proposed filming locations could obstruct your deadline.
It's worth mentioning that individuals who are new to professional video production often underestimate just how long essential for the post-production stage. More about the editing process later, but for now, do bear in mind that a lot of work has to be completed, could a "rough-cut" is in a position for your inspection.
The conclusion - The inconvenience and potential extra expense of re-shoots and other editing can be avoided in the event you allow the required time for all the aspects of your production to get finished proper awareness of detail. There's really no require to suffer the consequences in the proverbial "rush job".
Budgeting:: Cost versus value
By identifying the necessity to produce a professional video, you've got already reached the starting point. One of the first questions that a lot of clients ask is "How much can it cost?" To the corporate video producer, this is the difficult question to answer until some proper consultation has brought place.
Video can be a creative medium, and so you will see ways and way of creating a successful programme. Each video production company could have their unique ideas of the way they can do this, which often will lead to some other proposal and cost.
The overall cost to generate a video may differ considerably between one video producer and another.
But so can the quality of the result!
Like with just about any purchasing decision, you're going to get everything you pay for.
A truly professional video production however, really should not be considered an expense, speculate a smart investment. Therefore, rather than simply getting an expense (particularly before the full consultation has taken place) it's preferable to consider what a planned well and professionally executed production could be WORTH for your business.
If the final result generates more opportunities for your company regarding new clients and purchasers, then a roi should far outweigh the amount of money paid to your video producer, in substitution for a career done well.