The country is in a recession, your budget has been
slashed and you still need to get things done. You need to do a new video
project, but you also need to keep the cost down and manageable.
What do you do?
Your
production company can help trim your budget without sacrificing the overall look of the piece. That being said, if you're looking for a Michael Bay
"Transformers" video but only have a $1000 budget, the production company won't be able to meet those expectations.
Here are some general tips to help keep your budget manageable:
1. Consolidate Your Shoot Days: Instead of interviewing three people on three different days, arrange the schedule to fit them all in one day. Let's say you need to interview a couple of doctors or you're a non-profit and you need to interview people who have supported you in the past. Do you have an event, conference or gala coming up? These can be great opportunities for interviewing people all in one location.
2. Provide Your Talking Points: Prepare a concise outline of what key messages you want your video to project. Who knows your product better than you? This doesn't mean you shouldn't brainstorm with the production company on other creative avenues. Your project outline will help focus the conversations to where you need them to go.
3. Pre-interview Your Subjects: Arranging for your production company to informally chat with your interview subjects beforehand can assess how articulate and passionate they will likely be on screen. Some people are
natural soundbite machines, while others need a little more finesse to get the right soundbite.
4. Minimize Travel Expenses: When shooting out of town, ask your production company to arrange for a
local crew through their approved, pre-screened network of quality crews. Hundreds of dollars can be
saved if you send just a producer to conduct the interview and have him or her direct a local camera crew.
Note: This approach is not recommended if your chosen cameraperson is especially attuned to your subject matter or has significant experience in the same setting.
5. Use Real People Instead of Actors: If you are doing a video to promote your company, it is incredibly rare for actors (except maybe for Meryl Streep) to come across as more believable than your employees. The most passionate people about a product are the ones who create it. But if you can hire Streep, please skip Tip #6.
6. Scrap Your Script: Well, not totally. Outlining your storyline and objectives make sense, but insisting on sticking to it can pigeonhole you in a vortex of mediocrity. It's better to shoot first and then tailor your script to the most compelling soundbites and visuals. It's also more cost-effective.
Overall, hiring a production company is a lot like hiring an interior designer or wedding planner. Find one that is
eager to collaborate with you and include you in the creative process.