Video Production

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Not all video and film production companies are the same. Some specialize in advertising while other are more comfortable in live events or family oriented projects. The easiest way to figure out which company would be best for you, make sure you have your target market in mind. We can do our jobs much more efficiently if we really know who you're selling to. Say you own a used car lot and you're looking for a commercial, it's much better for you and me if you narrow down your target market from "anyone looking for a used car" to "men 25-45, with a part time job, who may need financing, but haven't hit their midlife crisis yet." That is more of an exaggeration, but it shows both of us that you want a commercial designed around men with/without a young family, who needs a practical car without tapping into his life savings. At the same time, you have created a much better marketing plan to take to these companies, which will save you time narrowing them down, as well as saving you the cost of figuring this out on their time.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. Many customers don't think they can afford video services, or they will try to shoot it themselves. While we applaud you for saving your business money, you are actually possibly shooting yourself in the foot. Video production has shifted a lot in the last ten years. We keep up with the technology more than ever because it's more affordable. Which means that while you can shoot your own video, you are missing out on a lot of the behind the scenes knowledge we can offer. Showing a commercial on TV has different rates depending on time of day or what channels you choose. There aren't universal costs like "affordable" and "unaffordable" just because you want to advertise on TV. What if you want to put your business or family video on Youtube? Why not vimeo or bliptv or some of the other lesser-known streaming sites? Some of those sites offer larger file sizes or cheaper prices. What if you had great footage, but the quality looks bad online. Maybe it was compressed or encoded at a different frame rate than it was shot. Maybe there are lines running through it because you never knew to de-interlace the video during export. We aren't paid to keep up with this information, but it's invaluable knowledge we gain that can only help your business grow if you knew that there is more to video production than pointing and shooting.

Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?

A. - Are your prices hourly, half day, full day, or all of the above?
- Are your half day prices 4 hours or 5 hours? Are your full day prices 8 hours or 10 hours?
- Do you have High Definition Cameras or Digital Cameras?
- When the video is complete, what format would I be receiving it in? (DVD, online, TV, digital file, etc)
- Will my computer need a special program to watch the digital file you're sending me?
- Do I pay per project or per crew member? More crew members generally raise the price of project.
- What is your return policy? Are there re-shooting days included if I'm unhappy?
- What do you charge up front? 25%? 50%?
- How will you distribute this online? on TV?
- Do you charge for storyboarding or prep time? What about rehearsals for live events?
- How many cameras are included with this package? How many microphones? How many graphics?
- Are you able to mic up the speaker or tap into the house system? Mic the groom or the pastor/rabbi?
- How many revisions do I get per project before hourly rates start kicking in?
- Are special effects included or is that extra? (Color correcting, motion correcting, sound adjusting, etc.)
- Do you hire actors or do I? Who charges?

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. - Detailed target market
- Budget: Low and high estimates on what you can afford. Is this a one time video that you are putting on DVD or is this a recurring monthly charge? Plan on saving 10% of your budget for emergencies. Unexpected things do happen to both parties.
- Be prepared to walk away: If companies say they can do something and are constantly negotiating with you on price drops, they are more interested in sales. The companies that have you in their best interest will ask lots of questions about what you are looking for and how they can work within your budget.
- Set aside a lot of time searching for us: A lot of production companies won't list their prices online. You have to contact them for a quote. Be prepared for a long conversation with each company you contact. We need details. We aren't trying to scam you.
- Search companies that are close to your business location first and venue second (live event). Chances are you will be spending more time at your business than the venue and travel time matters to us.
- What is your subject? (Who do you want on camera and for how long? Especially multiple speakers or participants)
- Do you need a green/blue screen? (This is for digitally removing the background like in the movies or local weather.) If you want a short promo video where it looks like you're walking on water or on the moon, we need a green screen. We can't just delete the background later. It will look really bad.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I think the best part about film and video production is watching the audience or customers' reactions. It's a long process, but when I know that they are enjoying the final product or they are so excited about the final product, it makes the whole process go away. When you work in an industry where everything is so deeply criticized and out in the open, it helps you build a thicker skin. Because so much of production is the way a vision is portrayed for others to experience, it's very easy for something to get lost along the way. Knowing that I was able to take the original concept, turn it, modify it, start over, repeat, and then ultimately end with something that people enjoy is worth every second of going through the rest of it.