This is a blog from 522 Productions
So much goes into what we do as a video production company. Each phase of the process, be it pre-production, production, or post, require that we adhere to certain practices and methodologies. It’s like cooking…I imagine. And like cooking, there is a recipe for making delicious, high-quality videos!
It begins with developing an understanding of who your client is and what they are looking for. In so doing, making sure they know exactly what they can expect from you will foster an open relationship that will be mutually beneficial, and enable you to avoid any unpleasant confrontation. Here are three things your clients should know before you begin production:
- A video production takes time. For a two-camera, interview shoot, you’re probably going to need at least an hour and a half to setup. This should be built into the production schedule and shown to your client so there are no surprises on set. This is of course a rough estimate; it may take longer! It will vary from project to project. Then, once you get to shooting, there might be any number of small adjustments that need to be made on the fly. Again, consider this when devising your production schedule so everyone is on the same page.
- While we’re on the topic of interviews, quantity does NOT equal quality. Let’s say you’re shooting an employee testimonial. The video needs to be two minutes in length. Your client’s first inclination might be to schedule an interview with everyone from every floor of the building to ensure you get as much content as possible. These are not the soundbites you’re looking for! Instead, work with your clients to select a group that will best represent their company, keeping diversity in mind. This also ties in with step 1. A good interview takes time to develop. It’s not easy being under all those lights. For some it takes a little coaching to get them to a point where they are comfortable speaking on camera. But once they hit their stride, they’ll give you everything you need.
- You’re going to want to shoot B-roll. Bring this up in advance with your client. Build this into your production schedule as well. Let them know exactly what this entails and that it is essential to the video. In many cases, your client will need to get approval from their boss before they can sign off on any shooting. Releases may need to be printed if you’re planning to film people. These are things that we, in the production field, consider common place, but your client may not consider at all. It’s our job to make sure they know these things so your production can move forward unimpeded.
Happy shooting!
