How To Brief A Video Production Company

Why?

When explaining the purpose of the video you need to be concise and direct in the messaging to be portrayed in the content.

If you have too many ideas and stories in one brief, they can conflict with each other creating a confusing message not only for the producers but the audiences we’re trying to reach.

This message for your viewers also needs to align with your company values, no point pushing a message that you don’t truly believe in or that doesn’t help your cause.

When?

Taking in to account everyones schedules, busy / quiet periods, sunrise / day time / sunset / night and even the seasons should be takin in to account when organising a time for a shoot.

Is everyone that needs to be in the shoot going to have a sufficient time window to be not only present in the shoot but mentally able to take on the stress of being in front of camera. A shoot can go completely wrong when the CEO, Manager, Employee ect. is too stressed about the work that is going on around them that they can not give the proper attention to what needs to done.

Does the shoot need customers flowing through the shop or office? or do we need a quiet space so we can deliver interviews with the best audio possible? the time of day can obliviously effect the busyness of the business and that in turn will affect the shoot.

The environment plays a big role in the feel of the content as well, is it sunny outside or raining? are the trees bright green or are they life less? depending on the time of year and day can dramatically change the outcome of what is produced.

Where?

Location can often be skipped down in importance and can also be one of the trickiest of things to get right. Sometimes to get great audio you need to sacrifice the visuals and vice versa, rarely do the two align in unison. In person site RECs are the best way to to limit any issues here and last resort is images from a clients phone.

Platform?

Where is this media going to be consumed by your audience? YouTube, Vimeo, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn ect. This decision changes a wide range of characteristics of the end product including duration, style, graphics and production level.

YouTube & Vimeo

This platform is best used when the content is in long format, the YouTube algorithm will push content that has a high audience retention more than content with a short retention. For example: a content piece that is only 1 minute in length only offers an audience to be retained for 1 minute max but a 15 minute piece allows the audience to be retained for 15 max, this content still needs to be of high quailty to maintain over the 15 minutes but atleast it gives the opportunity for long retention.

TikTok, Instagram Reels & YouTube Shorts

These platforms do best with extremely short Portrait 15 second clips with a hook in the beginning, reason to rewatch and a reason to share with a friend.

Delivery date?

How quickly does the content need to be edited? keeping in mind that the quicker the product needs to be produced means the lower standard of quality they can edit to.

This means sound effects, audio mixing, grading etc. all will be diminished in a consequence of the short deadline. So the question that needs to be asked is how much do you really need your content right away? because this content (especially if posted on ‘evergreen’ sites like YouTube) will be on the platform for a very long time which means a lot of viewers looking back at this content gives the impression of your brand.

If the content is time-sensitive and is posted on a short-attention platform, then it can be best delivered in the shortest amount of time.

Are you ready?

If you have successfully created all of these things, feel free to contact our director via email.

wade@archerworks.com.au