Reaching Clients

REACHING CLIENTS

Reaching Clients by Getting the Perfect Video

Now that you have picked out your video production company, your next step is to prepare for your shoot. During the pre-production process, you have to carefully plan out your goals so that you stay within budget. Pre-planning can make a world of difference in the final video and the entire cost of the show.

 

To get started on your video, use the following steps:

Scriptwriting: Many clients use an employee at the company as a script writer. If you do not have someone who can do this well, you can always have your production company write the script out. To help the process along, write down any information that needs to be included and send the production company any print materials that should also be included.

 

Finding the Right Location: As you get prepared to shoot the film, you have to have the right location. Ideally, you should find a location that makes sense in the context of your script. Sometimes, it is impossible to do this. If you wanted a setting like a tropical islands and glacier settings, it may be too expensive to actually do. Instead, you may have to use a green screen to simulate the same location. Meanwhile, make sure that you have all of the logo items, uniforms, tools and equipment to support the video.

 

Pick the Key Players: Your video will only be a success if you have the right people involved. From the beginning of the production process, make sure you bring everyone into the loop as you find the right decision makers.

 

Depending on your video, you may need to find people to fill these roles:

Legal Consultant: After you have written the script, you may want a legal consultant to review it to make sure that there are not any legal issues with it.

 

Choosing Video Content: Someone needs to be in charge of determining the goals of the video and what will happen in it.

 

Technical Consultant: A technical consultant provides assistance to the scriptwriter, checks the accuracy of the script and helps on the set.

 

Approval Process Representatives: These individuals are responsible for approving the details of the project as it moves forward.

 

Fixing Up the Set: Someone has to be responsible for making sure that the set is clean, ready and in working order.

 

After you have determined the people that you need and the role that they will play, the next step is to get them involved. Their input can be extremely helpful as long as you get it early enough in the process to make changes. The scriptwriter should also be given all of the contact information for other consultants so that they can begin to finalize the script.

 

Planning Out the Shoot

When the script is complete and you have found a location, you are ready to shoot the video. Your next steps are to:

 

Select the People Who Will Be at the Shoot: You only want to include the people who are absolutely necessary. Otherwise, you can end up having too much input from people who are not actually involved or knowledgeable about the process. When too many people are involved, you end up having meetings and input that stall the process. Save money on delays and distractions by limiting the people involved to a select group.

 

Choose the Location: If your location is in a working environment like a restaurant, you need to decide how you will shoot there. You can shoot during normal operating hours, but distractions from customers and cell phones ringing can make it difficult. Shooting overnight would allow you to control the environment, but it is tiring for the body. You are also unable to get help if something goes wrong, so you have to troubleshoot any problems in advance. The last option is to close the location down for the shoot. This allows you to have the most control over the environment, but it is not always possible to close a business down for a few hours or days.

 

Food: A video production company will normally include food and refreshments in their normal fee. You may want to handle this on your own. As a rule, you can expect to provide snacks for people on set if the shoot lasts longer than half a normal work day.

 

Choose the Shoot Length: You need to figure out how long it takes to shoot the film at each location. This will help you with budgeting, and you will know in advance how long the location needs to be available. Make sure to budget at least two hours to set up and break down all of the equipment. If the shooting is more involved, setting up and taking down equipment can take up to a full day.

 

Select the Dates: Once you know who will be there and how long it will take, you can choose the dates that the video will be filmed. You must make sure to coordinate these dates with your personnel, the video production company and the location that you will be using.

 

Alert the Police: If you are filming a robbery or any scene that involves loud noises, you will need to alert local police and security personnel. Otherwise, you could end up with a SWAT team at your doorstep. Likewise, you should alert the proper authorities if you will be in a public area or holding up traffic.

 

It Is Time to Shoot

As you prepare to shoot the video, set up space for you and your team to monitor the shoot as it unfolds. Make sure the background and any props are ready before the scene begins. In addition, listen to the actors to make sure that they are following the script and pronouncing all of the words correctly. If you have a good director, he or she will consult with you throughout the process to make sure that everything is going according to plan.

 

Wrap It Up

Every client is different. While some clients want to know about every tiny detail of the process, others just have a general idea about what they want. No matter what type of video or process you need, 25 Customs Video Agency can help you to achieve your goals. We offer competitive prices and a track record of successful videos for clients throughout the country. Call us today to discuss options for your video production.