Bringing your video concept to life can be a tough step and then there’s the task of engaging someone to realise your vision. Your video concept is important to your brand and your hard earned budget. It’s at this point it that also you could go horribly wrong or end up with an incomplete video.
So, here’s how to engage a Video Production company and kickstart your production.
First up, when looking for a video production company – look at their works. Are the look of those works inline with what you are looking to make.
Is this company making similar video to what you are looking into.
Often a production company will have a distinct style or lean towards a particular production type.
You might find that they’re making a lot of animated TV commercials but you want to make an About us Video that’s filmed. Or they film outdoor action or adventure video but you’re looking for an Explainer. There really is a difference and ability to make it.
Try to find a partner that is a good fit for what you want to make. All production companies have a Showreel or a Demo Reel. Watch them and take these in but try not to be too dazzled by it. And play private investigator for a minute. Check out how recent the works are on the reel. Try to find out if the team that worked on what you’re seeing still works there. Or if or what from the reel that you are seeing was made at that production company. Or was some of it from a previous job role or was it produced in collaboration with another agency. Most of the time the Demo Reel is all sweet and valid but just a couple of things to think about.
Risk
Make sure they have the correct insurances. Public liabilities, business insurance – coverage in the event that they can’t deliver your job. Imagine you bought half a million dollars of TV advertising space and the production company doesn’t get your ad there in time. Are you protected?
Make sure they have proper systems, use professional equipment, and have backup solutions. Do they just have a slick website and amazing gift of the gab but really it’s just a bloke on an iMac in a garden shed. Take some time to find out who they are. Are there Google reviews or testimonials? Do you know someone who has worked with them? If you can – find out what that experience was like.
Make sure that they are a friendly collaborator. If you are outsourcing the entire production and have a healthy budget – this might not matter too much.
But if you have played an active part in planning your video and also plan on being a part of the process – make sure that they work that way. This is actually a thing. So there are companies that will take the brief and then the magic doors will close on you and after an amount of time – your finished production comes back out complete. While it’s in there, you have no say nor any idea of how it’s coming together.
There are companies that just will not accept your script – they’ll want to do it. They have a set process and that’s just that.
So – if you want to be a part of it and are seeking genuine collaboration – which I personally firmly believe in – make sure the company you are choosing can offer that.
Get a quote.
If it’s your first time engaging in this type of activity – it’s worth getting a second quote or at a minimum – check with someone that knows; is this roughly what it should cost.
Be sure you understand what is included and what it is you are committing to. The last thing you want is to receive only part of what you think you are getting. Or does it include any rounds of changes. You don’t want to be hit with Out-of-scope invoices that you didn’t budget for.
Know where is your Video going
Do you know where it’s going after it’s made? If it’s a website video – your web developer is adding to the website – right? The production company isn’t going to host your video for you.
Are you adding it to YouTube? Do you have the correct licenses? Is the music ok to use on there? Do you have any copyright material in your video.
Are you making a TV ad? Is it compliant? Has FreeTV Australia seen it? You can’t DropBox your ad to the station, it’s broadcast – who’s sending your ad to station and instructing them when to play it.
All things that you’ll need to consider. Where is your video going? The production company may or may not offer these services. Or they may not be accredited to work with some of these parties mentioned.
Make sure you understand and specify where your intended use is. Specifying this is going to affect how it’s made, how the video is output and how the video gets to where it’s supposed to go.