A lot of work goes into a professional video production. If you aren’t prepared or don’t have the necessary skills, camera crew or experience, it will be a gruelling, frustrating endeavour. Probably finishing with a less than pleasing result.
To give you an idea of what it takes, let us walk you through the production process of a video we put together for the Australian Synchrotron.
An initial consultation is required to uncover the main objectives of the video, the central message and the audience being targeted. The experience to ask the right questions during this phase is extremely important. Any information missed or questions left unanswered could cost time and money down the track. Making sure we were on the same page as our clients at the Australian Synchrotron, we then began developing the video.
The first phase of development was concept development. We decided that a first person, documentary style would be the best format for the Synchrotron’s needs. Being engaging, informative, and a format people were familiar with, it was the best choice for how they would distribute the video.
The scriptwriting was a crucial part of the development. They needed a diverse range of visitors, from politicians to school children, to be able to understand the complex Synchrotron technology. Being able to communicate this information in simple, clear terms was vital for the success of the video.
After the script was finalised, we put together a shot-list and an in-depth schedule. This was to make sure that all important shots and angles were considered and covered within the timeframe we had. Keeping in mind budget and time available, it’s important for this stage of production to be as thorough as possible. It also allowed our clients to get a clear picture of what will be in the final video. It’s best to keep clients completely up to date with where the production is and where it’s heading. This way, there are no surprises for the clients or the production team.
Once we entered production, things ran smoothly, thanks to the work we’d done planning the shoot.
In post-production, we put together three cuts of the video. Our rough cut was the scaffolding of the video, and gave the Synchrotron team a good idea of where the video was going, and how the script had translated to video. With their feedback taken on-board, the fine cut was much more finessed, with some spitballing sessions leading to some really positive results for the video.
The final cut was the culmination of all three stages of our video production process. We created motion graphics, applied a color grade, and finessed the sound mix. Music was inserted, titles were created for the presenters, and the video was delivered to them on time and within budget. This was the biggest benefit for the Australian Synchrotron team: due to our in-depth planning and close collaboration, and constant, informative updates on how and where the video was going, they were able to get the right video, in the right time, for the right price.
Are you interested in developing a professional video production for your company? What are the complex or challenging ideas in your organisation? What would it mean for your business if your were able to communicate them in a way that really engaged with your audience? Click here to get in touch with our friendly team.
Ryan Spanger is one of Melbourne’s most respected and sought-after video production professionals. Ryan founded Dream Engine in 2002, and specialises in helping medium to large corporates, government departments, and the non-profit sector to connect with their audience more effectively by using video.
