The Process of Corporate Video Production

 For many companies, making a corporate video will seem like an alien concept. Although they may be convinced of the benefits it can deliver to their business, they may be unsure about how to proceed. The steps involved can seem confusing for the beginner, so at Eight Engines we’ve compiled a guide to how corporate video production works.

Here we’ll take a look at the stages involved and how you move from the initial enquiry to a completed corporate video that ticks all the boxes.

INITIAL ENQUIRY

From our point of view, the corporate video production process will usually begin with an enquiry from the client. This can be via email or phone, but during this initial contact, we will seek to find out more about your company and what you have in mind.

Nothing is set in stone at this stage, and if a company decides that it doesn’t wish to proceed then that’s fine. If, after an initial discussion, the client wishes to proceed with their video we’ll find out more about their proposed project. This will include asking questions about the purpose of the video, its intended audience, what the client is looking to communicate and what their hoped-for end result will be.

We will also discuss the likely budget for the video as this will inform subsequent decision making. When creating effective corporate videos there is always a balance to be struck between time, budget and quality. If you can spend more, then it could result in your video being produced more quickly. If your budget is limited, then it can take longer to produce something effective. However, just because your budget is smaller doesn’t mean that we can’t produce something that delivers real results.

We will then develop a quote for the project based on what you have told us and our understanding of the costs involved. The number of variables involved in corporate video production means that every quote we produce will be bespoke, so it’s crucial that we fully understand your aims. For instance, a luxury brand will likely require greater investment in crew and equipment than a brand which is new, edgy and looking to unsettle an existing market. Whatever your budget we look to maximise what can be produced.

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

After the budget has been agreed upon and the initial ideas have been discussed, a concept development meeting will be scheduled. This will be a dialogue between us and the client, as we discuss ideas and formulate and more coherent concept. We will explore what’s possible and suggest new ideas and approaches that might be beneficial. We will want to know more about the audience that the client is trying to target and will then identify the best way of reaching them.

Understanding the audience and their expectations are critical to the overall success of the project. The audience will only engage with the completed video if it delivers something that they require and value. This might be for entertainment or education, but the finished product needs to be highly tailored to its specific audience. This is something that will be explored fully during the concept development process.

Sometimes, initial ideas may not be achievable on the budget that has been suggested, or it might be that your budget affords you more than you perhaps realized. Concept development can be a creative and exciting part of the journey, as you develop your ideas and encounter new ones. Throughout the process, the desired results of your project are kept in mind. We will look to guide the client towards a concept that will help them achieve their goal.

SCHEDULING AND PLANNING

Once the concept has been developed and agreed upon, our video production team will then have a better understanding of what will be required to ensure that it’s delivered. We will then be able to draw up a set of deadlines for the video production. This will be done in conversation with the client and will involve different stages.

The deadlines will take into consideration the client’s feedback on the initial edited draft of the video, and any time then required to incorporate that feedback into the completed version. Once a timeline has been established and agreed upon, then tools such as scheduling software will be used to make sure that the video is produced to meet those deadlines.

It’s important that any scheduling and deadlines are realistic to ensure that no corners are cut and deadlines are not missed. Our video production team will give the client a good understanding of how long the entire process will take.

Scheduling and planning need to be realistic, and at Eight Engines we’re always upfront about how long the process will take. We aim to deliver an effective video that meets all of your requirements as efficiently as possible without cutting corners or compromising on the overall quality.

SITE INSPECTION

The location where your video is to be captured will make a huge difference to its overall look. Once a site has been selected, we will visit the location to take a look at it. This might be the company’s office or other premises, or it could be somewhere else entirely.

Much will depend on the nature of the company, the concept and what it’s hoped to achieve. If, for instance, you sell bicycles, there’s little use in producing a video that shows your office. Would-be customers will expect to see your bikes in action.

We will also want to understand more about the site, how it works and what might be possible. We need to be alert to any potential problems at the site such as access, glare from windows or traffic noise. We will also want to consider a range of practical issues such as the best way to keep wires out of shot, and whether or not they will require cable trays.

Another issue to bear in mind will be the amount of footfall through the site and the kind of access that other people may require during filming. If we’re conducting an interview we’ll want to find the best place on your premises or external location in order to complete it with minimum risk of disruption.

It’s possible that a location visit reveals that something that had previously been discussed during the concept development isn’t possible at the chosen location. This might mean that a particular aspect of the concept is tweaked or dropped, or that a more suitable location is chosen.

PREPARING FOR THE VIDEO

Before shooting happens, we will thoroughly prepare. We may also issue some guidance to the client so they know what to expect. We will make sure they have everything they need to record the video and on the day of the shoot we will set up for filming before the client arrives. Set-up will include pre-lighting the scene, checking the sound, and identifying any potential problems such as noise from technology, passers-by or traffic that wasn’t present during the site inspection.

Our video production team will ensure that the set-up follows all of the proper health and safety protocols on site. They will also pay attention to the needs of other site users which is particularly important when the filming is taking place at the client’s workplace.

SHOOTING THE VIDEO

Once the location has been thoroughly assessed, the final planning has been taken care of and everything is set up, it’s time to shoot the video. What the shoot involves and how long it takes will depend a great deal on the overall concept. If what’s being filmed is fairly simple, such as a series of interviews, then this can be a relatively straightforward process. Client interviews can be conducted in as little as half an hour. Location and action shots can take longer, depending on their complexity.

Once enough footage has been captured it’s then taken back to our video production office. A junior editor will be responsible for transferring the footage from the camera cards to video drives, with backups being made to ensure its security. Every care is taken with the footage to ensure that not only is it all safely transferred but that it’s stored for future use should the client wish to use it again. Often, footage that has been captured for one video can be used again for future projects.

VIDEO FIRST EDIT

The footage will be taken and edited in line with the agreed concept. Once this is complete it will then be sent to the client for them to assess. The client is encouraged to be as frank and forthcoming as possible with feedback. If there are any changes or improvements that the clients think could be made this is the time to say what they are.

Our video production team will then reexamine the footage in line with the client’s feedback. An edit of the footage will then be produced that takes account of the feedback. This will produce a more polished video that is closer to the finished product. This will be sent to the client for any further changes or recommendations. By this stage, the client will have a good indication of what the final product will look like and hopefully it should meet or exceed their expectations.

VIDEO SECOND EDIT

By the time the video reaches the second edit stage only very minor changes will usually need to be made. Once the client has seen the second edit and they’re happy to proceed, then the video will be rendered in master quality for their final approval. Once the video has been approved it will then be forwarded to the client for them to use how they wish across their marketing channels.

CHOOSE EIGHT ENGINES FOR YOUR CORPORATE VIDEO

Video is a powerful communication tool. If you want to reach and inspire your audience, then an expertly crafted corporate video has an immediacy and clarity that gets right to the point. Eight Engines are experienced at creating corporate videos that deliver results for our clients. Our corporate video services are industry-leading and we bring professional production values to every project.

To find out more about the corporate video production process and how Eight Engines can help you create a video that delivers results contact us today.