Step-by-step Professional Video Preparation Series: How to prepare for a Video Production Process

Video production is a complex process, but with the right team, good management and timely preparation, the results are worth the effort. A well prepared production process will help you to increase your brand awareness and marketing strategies. However, to create impactful outreach, the first steps are the most critical. 

Consider the following steps when you’re thinking about creating a video for your company, whether it’s to increase engagement, inform your audiences, notify your stakeholders, archive information for future use, etc. 

1.  Create your purpose.

The most important and time-saving preparation you can do is to establish what you want to say with your video. Who are your viewers and what message do you want to send? It is normal to not have a clear idea of how your video will look, but it is important to create a content brief around how your video should feel and what it should say. Start by writing down your ideas, bounce them off your team and colleagues, and look for examples of already existing work that inspires your story when words fail, such as photos, articles, and color themes. This is the moment to let your imagination run wild and reflect on what is relevant to your story, which will help in Step 2.

2. What you’ll need before calling around. 

We can’t tell you how many calls we receive from businesses who have not completed Step 1 or the following step. This is a missed opportunity because in the end, time is money. The most successful projects come from businesses who prepare by setting a reasonable  budget, a timeline, a finalized script and/or storyboard (if applicable), a location, and a list of those involved such as casted talent or live experts. (Click the links for further advice on all these topics.) 

Ask yourself: what kind of video would I like to make? Testimonials, commercials, documentaries, animations, art films, live conferences or how-to videos? Which channels will my video be distributed? The more you define the vision, the better you can stay in line with your budget and on target with your marketing strategy to maximize your video’s ROI’s. 

3. What to look for in a video production company. 

We understand there are a myriad of video production companies to choose from; let us help you pick the right one! You want to start by looking at different portfolios in order to get a feel for their production quality, professionalism, clear and upfront information, solid point of contact and results-driven approach. Beyond the showreel, it is also important to feel you will be working with real people who wish to genuinely connect. Having worked on both sides of the industry, we understand how important it is to build trust and problem solve to set the stage for the perfect results.

4. Be prepared for your discovery calls. 

Now that you know your video’s content brief, production details and list of video production companies to approach, it’s time to have a more detailed discussion by creating a list of questions for your first meeting, such as: 

• Is your budget and deadline realistic?
• Can they take over any part of the preparation process, eg. script writing, location scouting?
• Can they think with you and add innovative ideas that compliment your project?
• Will their team work well with your team?
• How will the project be managed?
• Will they provide edits if any revision is necessary?
• Do they understand your vision and distribution goals?
• What do the pre production, production and post production phases look like?

Be prepared to learn much more about high quality video production. It’s not as simple as whipping out your iPhone! Editing, graphics, coloring, sound and drafting are all important stages of production, so it helps to be prepared so that they can answer your questions and you can update your production content brief. Unfortunately, production gets slowed down when those involved are learning in real-time instead. If each stage is well prepared, the process should go quickly and smoothly, and you can leave the leg work up to them.

The only thing left to do is compare answers and choose the company that fits your goals best!

Working with DMV Productions

At first glance, these steps might seem overwhelming. That’s why we’ve got your back.

We want you to be as empowered as possible during your video production experience by understanding things upfront, which will contribute to the overall success of your video. By working with DMV Productions, you will receive expert help planning and producing your video for maximum impact. We have worked together with a long list of clients from a variety of industries, which makes us confident we have the tools to generate impressive results. Please get in touch with us to learn more about our production services. We’d love to get to know you and your project!