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Our last post covered ten pre-production steps essential for your next Orlando video production. Wrapping up this discussion is part two, with ten more tips that will make the day of shooting a breeze. Keep scrolling to learn more!
- Compose a Call to Action
Video productions published without clear calls to action often miss the mark. Unless your film project is designed purely for brand recognition or internal use, it should entice viewers and inspire them to action. Subtlety can be powerful, but so can the mention of seasonal sales, cutting-edge equipment, or special events. Including a call to action will help you gain completion rates and see a return on your video production investment.
- Ask for Feedback
Depending on how many in-house employees you have working on your next video project, it may be time to extend an invitation for others to join the discussion. Consider putting together a small conference room full of employees and pitching your production as is. Employees can offer particularly valuable insight, but you can also ask a few customers or clients for input. If you are open to feedback, you might be surprised at how a few external ideas might greatly improve your production.
- Call for a Consultation
Once you have the basics of your production in mind or on paper, contact an experienced Orlando video production company. No matter where your busines is in the pre-production process, a production team can help you develop ideas that will translate well on screen. Trust their experience and expertise, as they will know what does and does not work.
Many production companies offer free consultations, which will give you a chance to discuss ideas and a proposed budget in detail. If you are far along in the pre-production process, prepare a brief to take to the consultation. This will help fill in your production team on all pertinent information, which will enable them to offer targeted solutions and suggestions more quickly.
- Scout Locations
Booking a location for a video shoot may be more complicated than you think. There are many factors to consider, including:
- Hallway or roadside traffic
- Natural or artificial lighting
- Wind and shadows in outdoor shoots
- The location’s physical size or useable space
- Off-site permit requirements
If you want to shoot off-site, visit the location in advance, and try to secure the area for the day of filming to avoid having surprise visitors appear on screen. For shooting indoors, study noise management issues and additional lighting requirements. Props are important, as they can help establish a natural, comfortable tone. Otherwise, use a plain backdrop to keep the focus on your speaker, or utilize a green screen to add in a location or special effects in post-production.
- Hire Actors
Is your production designed to tell a story, or will a handful of individuals act out different scenarios? Do you intend to have one spokesman who speaks directly to the camera, or will you need a crowd for a group shot? Whether you decide to use internal employees or external hires as actors, they need to be eloquent and experienced. As you prepare to hire actors, think about their personality, tone, pacing, and diction. Finally, make sure you have the right paperwork on hand for payment purposes, insurances, liability, and more.
- Prepare a Shot List
“Make a list and check it twice”: the shot list is an essential part of the shoot, so take the time to make sure everything you need is included. Advanced planning will help your crew avoid costly reshoots, which are what push many productions over budget. The shot list is a simplified, text-only version of the storyboard. It includes many details, including the order, allotted time, and a brief description of each intended shot. The shot list can also include corresponding storyboard numbers for references, as well as the type of camera lens that will be used.
- Overestimate Time
As you begin to prepare a shot list and map out the production day, feel free to overestimate time. The first shoot of the day may include more set-up time than you anticipated, and any location or major scene changes can wreak havoc on your schedule as well. In addition, make sure your camera crew and production team have breaks and meals built into the schedule.
- Generate a Production Schedule
The production schedule is the culmination of your intense pre-production preparation. It includes information from the storyboard and shot lists, but also includes the list of actors, special effects, props, music, and more. This project plan also includes a breakdown of your budget and how it will be spent in pre-production, filming, post-production, and various marketing endeavors.
- Rehearse Actors
Simply hiring quality actors is not enough: they deserve proper preparation. Give your actors a chance to review the script and become familiar with any industry terminology. Keep the language simple and authentic, and avoid re-writing the script so much that it becomes stilted or stale. Allow your actors flexibility and freedom with phrasing and delivery, but do not be afraid to give your input. The entire Orlando video production team will be working together toward a singular goal and vision, which should be carefully managed throughout the filming process.
- Stay Flexible
This final tip is not so much a “step” in the pre-production process as it is a guiding principle. The goal of pre-production is to prepare for the day or days of shooting, but you should remain flexible and adaptable every step of the way. A positive environment will be more happy, focused, and productive than a rigid, stressed-out one.
If you need help navigating the many stages of pre-production planning or are ready to begin filming, contact our Orlando video production company,NG Production Films. We have experience with corporate and other video productions of all shapes and sizes, and are ready to handle anything from brainstorming and storyboarding to post-production and marketing. For a free, no-obligation consultation, call us at 877-203-2895 or fill out our simple contact form for a prompt reply.
