Consumers’ attention spans are getting shorter. You need to grab their attention.

When we say short, we mean like… Instagram story, TikTok short. Consumers are busier than ever. Companies are fighting for their attention any way they can. But you don’t have to scramble to make good content. All it takes is some organization, prep, and teamwork.

Learn the Basics

Make it happen – from pre-production to delivery.

We make videos people like to watch. From pre-production to wrap, they’re high-quality, on budget, and fast-paced… made for now.

We’re going to take you behind the scenes so you see how production experts get it done so that you can, too. We’ll move through the whole video production process, step by step.

Pre-production

Get your ideas rolling.

You have a video concept, but you’re not sure where to start. You’re wondering what happens before “action” and how to wrap it all up.

Before you ever turn on the cameras, you need to do some prep work and get organized. This is what we call pre-production.

Audience Planning

Every audience wants a good story.

Before you do anything else, decide who’s going to be watching your video, who’s your ideal audience. This will guide your script, storyboard, and style. So you know the right things to say and the way to show it.

When you’re digging into finding that target audience, try to think like them. Really pinpoint what they’d actually want to see. You have to make something they like to keep their attention.

Scripting

To tell a good story, you have to do some writing.

Once you have a fully-formed concept, take some time to type out a script that will guide the rest of your video.

When you script, you’ll want to start with an outline. Choose those key components for your audience and put them in order, making it sound as natural as possible. Seriously. This isn’t an essay.

After you get your outline down, flesh it out. If you’re telling a story or explaining something, give it credibility with facts and details or personal stories. Make it flow so that it makes sense and your cast can read it easily.

Storyboarding

Turn your idea matrix and script into a finely structured masterpiece.

Enter: the storyboard.

Storytelling is a craft. When you make a storyboard, you’re meshing ideas together and bringing them to life in a visual, kind of like a comic strip. That visual will guide the shooting process. 

You’ll map out where and how your cast should stand, your backdrop, and your video style in that storyboard. You’ll get the full picture of your video on paper.

Location planning & equipment

It’s time to tell your story.

You’ve got all these ideas, a full script, and now, a full storyboard. So, you really want to dig in and figure out where you need to take this story.

To complete the picture, take your talent to a location that makes sense, that your audience can relate to...or at least likes looking at.

What is the best place to tell this story? Take the time to scout it out. Find a location that feels natural and book it.

Casting & Scheduling

Scout your A-list talent.

When you watch a movie, you want to see someone who fits in that setting. Listen, if Darth Vader showed up in Star Trek, fans everywhere would riot. Pick talent that can understand and tell your story right where they are.

You’ll want them to be loved by the audience and the creators, especially if they star in more multiple videos. Take the time to find the perfect talent if you want to get your message across. 

Production:

Welcome to shooting day.

You know what you want, you have your script, it’s mapped out. Everybody is ready to go. It’s time to bring that storyboard to life in front of the camera. 

Setup Process

Prep, prep, prep. Have we mentioned how important it is?

Keep pushing. It’s almost time to watch your ideas come to life, so get your set ready. Your storyboard should help this process go a little more smoothly. You’ll know what it should look like and where people should be.

Go ahead and get your other equipment set up, like turntables, lighting, extra cameras, and B-roll props. That pre-shoot prep will include whether the video is vertical or horizontal and how wide of a shot you get.

Crew Call

Get everybody on the same page.

On the day of filming, it’s important to do a crew call. Everyone needs to understand what they will be contributing to this project, whether that’s acting talent or videographers. Your day will run more smoothly this way – trust us.

Shooting

It’s go time.

Grab your prepped equipment, shot list, and talent and head to location. 

If you know you need voiceovers, go ahead and record those now. 

Overtime

There’s no such thing as too much footage.

If you’ve shot everything on your storyboard and shot list, but still have extra time – don’t stop filming! 

Think experiential and creative. Are there other shots that would be beneficial for this video? You could end up with game-changing footage.

Post-production

You’re not out of the woods yet, but your idea is about to be on the big screen….or the little screen.

It’s time to lay out the content and see it come together.

Editing

This is when your dream becomes reality.

You’ll want to figure out what works best for the final cut.  Keep your audience in mind and cut out all the boring and non-essential portions of your video. Only keep what makes sense and what gets your point across.

Add the voiceovers you recorded during production.

Motion Graphics & Style

Add interest and brand consistency to your video.

Motion graphics, like animation and title sequences, make your final product more exciting. You could use names, effects, branding, title cards, or even add bumpers to give your story more context. 

You’ll also want to think about styling; it sets the tone for the rest of your video and has to vibe with your branding. Stylistically, you’ll want any video you make to stay true to your brand’s values. 

So when you’re adding those graphics, don’t forget to reference your brand style. 

Coloring and Mood

The color palette you choose directly impacts the reaction that story gets. 

You’re telling a story, like in a picture book. You want your point to come across the right way. 

Are you looking for dark, broody, and intense or light, cheerful, and calming? Maybe somewhere in the middle? Choose your hue, saturation, and brightness to reflect the overall tone of mood.

Here’s an example: 

In Dune, the contrast between cool, warm, and dusty colors enhances the overall ominous, tense, mysterious mood. 

Wrap & Distribution

Get to know your platforms.

Every video platform has different sizing. Will your video be on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, or a TV in someone’s living room? Once you’ve chosen your platforms, you can format your video based on those dimensions. 

That’s a Wrap

A lot goes on before and behind the scenes of any video production to make sure the finished product is professionally done. 

Coloring and Mood Video