How it all Comes Together
Our approach to creating amazing videos is pretty straightforward: Understand the needs of the client, develop a concept that meets those needs and use a proven production strategy to bring the concept to life.
Getting Started
We enjoy spending time with potential clients to learn what their project will encompass and to identify their needs. Providing us with a product description, a timeline for completion and estimated budget will help us create a detailed proposal for your video. Projects can range in price depending on production requirements, knowing your budget beforehand helps us provide the best video production solution.
After our initial discovery meeting, we will send you a budget and/or contract to look over and change if needed. Once the contract is signed and approved by both parties, we will be ready to begin.
To begin the project we require a 50% deposit and a signed agreement. This ensures we are mutually committed to working together. The balance of the project is due on completion of the project. Please note, any changes to the project after the project has been finalized will incur additional costs.
Our preferred method of payment is a business or personal check. We do accept major credit cards however, balances over $500.00 will incur an additional 4% charge to cover processing fees.
We also offer flexible payment plans to qualifying customers.
Pre-Production Stage
It is in the Pre-Production stage that we get everything ready for a successful video shoot. The concept will be developed in detail and parameters will be set for the entire project. Our first step?
We will turn your ideas into words by creating a polished script that will serve as the blueprint for the entire production. Taking the time to get this right is essential since it will determine the course of your production and post-production schedules. Your feedback is important too, so you may be asked to review the script material for re-writes if necessary.
We want things to run as smoothly as possible, and we accomplish this through a detailed production schedule.The schedule will including dates, times and locations for the on-site video shoots.
The Production Stage
The big day! We will typically arrive at the location early to meet with production supervisor and confirm plans for the day. If we are working on location, we will request a 1 hour time period to set up equipment and get ready for the shoot before the talent arrives on set.
When video taping outside of our studio, it is good to know a few things about selecting a location that works well for video. Though most of the time we will come out to scout a location before shooting, here are a few tips to help you find the perfect spot before we arrive.
- Make sure your room is...roomy - Ideally, we look for a big room with plenty of space. We bring a lot of equipment with us on location so we need to be sure there is enough room for all of our gear. Also, in order to keep interviews from looking too flat and one dimensional, it is always a good idea to put space between the subject and the background. Having a larger room allows for this and give us "room to work with."
- Avoid Noisy Areas - You may have found the perfect room but if it is next to a busy hall way, lunch room some other area that generates a lot of noise, we won't be able to use it. Although our microphones are very directional, they still record ambient sound that is present in the area. Your best bet is to find a place that is practically noise free.
- Windows - There are many reasons why windows can be problematic in a scene. For starters, video is a very light sensitive medium. Too much light, and you lose detail. Placing a subject in front of a bright window causes exposure problems that are hard to rectify without the proper equipment. If you do want to use a window as a backdrop, it can be done, however, we would need to know ahead of time to make the proper arrangements.
- Room Ready - What is room ready? It simple means that where ever we shoot, the location must be neat and clean. For example, if we are videotaping an interview in an office, make sure papers are filed, the desk is neat and the background is tidy. Having this done before we arrive will save you both time and money.
Some people are naturals in front of the camera while others find it difficult to be natural in front of the camera. One thing is for certain, if the talent feels uncomfortable, it will present that way on the finished product. Here are a few interview tips that can help your talent shine like a professional.
- Understand the Content Beforehand - You will receive detailed information about the general content of the interview but don't expect to get the exact questions. Knowing ahead of time what you will be asked often leads to trying to memorize an exact answer. This is often perceived by viewers as being disingenuous and unnatural. The goal is to make the interview conversational, as if you are speaking freely to a colleague or friend. Take the time to review in your mind, the general concepts of what we will be asking and think about how you would discuss the topics based on your professional knowledge.
- Be Confident - The main reason you are appearing on camera is because you are the authority on what is being presenting in the video. It's your knowledge that will inform the viewer, so be confident in your interview because you have something important to add to the final product.
- Wardrobe - Plan ahead when choosing what to wear on video. Don't wait until the last minute to make a decision. We do have a few suggestions... Avoid wearing bright red, white or bright green clothing, just in case you are recording on a green screen background. Avoid shirts or blouses with small stripes as they have a tendency to cause moire patterns with certain cameras.
- Take a Deep Breath - Be comfortable and relax. We understand that some people may feel uncomfortable on camera but you might surprise yourself. A good majority of clients feel nervous in front of the camera, you are not the only one. We have seen the most gregarious speakers enter our studio and freeze up when the camera starts to roll. The important thing to remember is that if you appear nervous on camera it will show on the video.
- Pause After Finishing - After you have finished your statement pause for a few seconds and continue looking into the camera or at the interviewee. Giving the editor that extra few seconds at the end of a clip allows them to transition smoothly into the next video segment. Looking away or asking "how was that?" at the end of your segment will result in having to do another take.
The Post-Production Stage
This is the point where the project comes together. Graphics can be added along with images, music, color correction and special effects. Clients, will be able review the project as develops to be sure we are on the right track with your vision.
Projects typically go through three revisions: the rough-cut, revised-cut and final cut. At each stage, the client will review the video and offer feedback about changes or revisions. This process is continued until we reach the final-cut.
It is our goal to deliver your video in a timely manner and for most project ourstandard turnaround time is 4 to 7 weeks depending largely on the scope of the project. However, there are times we can get a video completed sooner depending on our in-house workload.