Whether you’re a startup on the rise, a brand morphing into shape, or a firmly established business, if you have a website, you need a video. I guess you don’t need one, but it’s true that companies with videos on their homepage receive roughly 41% more web traffic than companies without videos. So it’s at least advantageous to have a video as a part of your marketing strategy, and to have a good one at that. The only trouble is finding the right production company to make the video. But all it really takes is a few careful steps on your end before it’s all left in the filmmakers’ hands.
Examine Their Portfolio
It’s best to analyze a production company’s portfolio before giving them the green light on your project. This means going to their website and viewing their past projects, often under a “Work” page. Get a feel for their cinematic style, clients they’ve worked with in the past, technical capabilities, and the quality of their projects. Or, if you want an expedited version of the process, simply view their reel. This way you’ll get a short, flashy taste of the company’s style and probably their best work.
Here’s an example of a reel. (It’s ours). Seeing this, you get a brief idea of what our company can do (drone footage, music videos, animation, commercials, original content, etc.) and you can determine if our style vibes with yours.
Set up a Meeting
Maybe you don’t know what kind of video you need. You don’t need to (at least not right away). If you chat with the production company about your ideas, they can work with you to sculpt nebulous thoughts into a clearly defined concept that they can produce. Or if you already have a concept laid out, your production company can tell you how they can execute it, and for how much.
REMEMBER: It’s okay if you don’t have a single idea of what you want your video to be. If your production company offers creative, then it’s their job to build the idea from scratch. Any information that you can give will only help – like what you want to use the video for, who is going to see it, and any logistical points. But it’s their expertise to take that information and make an incredible video with it.
A Budget is like a Bag of Chips
You don’t want your budget to be a cheap bag of chips. It’s important not only to know your video’s budget, but also what you get in that budget. You want to know what services you are getting for all of that money. That means knowing whether your production company is a full-service production company, (meaning they handle pre-shoot creative work, production, editing, and everything in between), or if they only handle certain aspects of the process. But beware, some budgets are like a cheap bag of chips, mostly air.
Collaboration, Collaboration, Collaboration
Many established production companies have a particular way of operating and are not quick to change that. But if this doesn’t align with your vision, you’ll end up with a video that you went through all this trouble crafting and don’t even like. Find a production company that comes with ideas and expertise, but keeps your main concept central to the process.
Speaking of collaboration, we’ve been collaborating with Magnanimous Rentals for years. They are a Chicago based rental house that offers inexpensive production essentials. They have an inventory to accommodate all levels of productions, and also offer super insightful resources on equipment operation and processes. Check out their blog post “Canon C500 Mark II with an Atlas Orion Anamorphic Lens” to get an idea of what they can offer you.
In conclusion, finding the right production company is as easy as:
Step 1. Check out their stuff
Step 2. Set up a meeting
Step 3. Make sure they offer a full bag of chips
Step 4. Find a good balance of creative control
Step 5. Make money and retire early
By Stephen Kipp | Head Writer