Want some tips and pointers to spice up your content creation and video production game for your business? Then keep on reading ...
We live in an era where video production and content creation have now become a key component that helps brands and businesses grow and scale in the market today. The power of commercial video and social media, when used in the right manner can work wonders for a brand or business that is looking to get more eyes and ears on their product or service.
Making a commercial video for your brand, business, product or service can be quite a process depending on your expected outcome. To make it easier for you, we’ve made a list of things for you to consider when making your next for your personal brand or business.
1. Know your target audience
Before you even plan on making a video, you need to answer the 5 basic W5 questions about your ideal customers that you plan on reaching - Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How you plan to reach them. Having these figured out will help you plan your next steps from here on out.
2. Finding ideas and gathering inspiration
At first, you might not have a clear idea about what you want to do for your video, so it’s good to do some research. You can start by taking a look at videos that other brands that are similar to yours have done. These will also include your competitors as well.
3. Planning ahead
There are 3 key stages involved in making a video of any kind - Pre Production, Production, and Post Production. From the initial stages of planning a video to shooting it on the day, and editing it to make it all fit together as a final product; following this production process is the main key factor that ensures that your final product will come out as you expected it to be.
4. Produce internally for quick pieces, and outsource externally for higher engaging commercial video content
If you need a quick video done in the shortest amount of time for any of your online platforms - the easiest way to do that is to make the video from the resources that you already have lying around. It’s time to pick up that DSLR camera gathering dust at the bottom of the shelf, or even the smartphone in your pocket can be your new best friend, and it makes a great place to start.
For a well-produced corporate and commercial video, we would advise that you go to a dedicated video production company that specializes in that particular subject to ensure that you get the best results that meet your expectations.
Check out our work with some of the biggest Sri Lankan brands at clear.lk/work
5. Calculate your budgets and cost.
Commercial Video Production in general, has many variables and also has its own fair share of costs involved. These costs and line items add up very quickly, and scales-up in proportion as the requirements of the commercial production increase in a similar fashion. Budgeting ahead will save you quite the headache and will leave you prepared in case there are any unexpected surprises.
6. Storyboarding, Short-listing, and Location Scouting
Mapping out your video visually by drawing a simple storyboard and shot-list will do wonders when it comes to planning the day of your actual video shoot. Be sure to try and visit the locations before the actual shoot day as well. A location scout done in advance will help you identify any possible technical and environmental obstacles that may come your way.
You can learn more about our production process at clear.lk/contact
7. Getting your dream-team together
Commercial-scale video production has several moving parts and it requires a crew to cover various aspects of it to ensure everything runs smoothly and according to plan.
In a typical commercial, you will have a crew consisting primarily of a Director, Producer, DOP / Cinematographer, Gaffer/Lighting Technician, Sound Recording Engineer, Craft, and Services Personnel. Video Editor & Colorist and many others. A dedicated video production agency can help you bring all of these people together under one roof to make your job easier.
8. Contracts, Agreements, Releases, and Permissions
Perhaps one of the most crucial parts of the production process is to make sure that all your bases are covered from an ethical and a legal standpoint. Model releases for on-screen talent and drone flight permits are noticeably two key areas that tend to be overlooked when it comes to Video Production related operations in Sri Lanka. Having your legal documents and requirements managed is a vital step of the operation and it is also a responsibility that must not be taken lightly.
9. Back-ups, Alternatives, and Redundancy measures.
A lot can go wrong when you’re on location at a production shoot. There are so many environmental, electrical, logistical, and equipment-related hazards that can happen at any given point. Cameras can fail, footage can be corrupted, power failures could take place, your talent could be feeling under the weather or the Met. Department forecast for the day could be totally the opposite as planned. Make sure you have accounted and planned for all the possible hindrances that could affect your production.
10. Music Licensing and Distribution
Copyrights, distribution, and royalties are key components to consider when piercing your final video together. The music you use in the video needs to be purchased with the rights to use as well as it needs to be cleared for commercial purposes as well. If you plan to take your video beyond the limits of social media publication and distribute it on television and other forms of mass media, you need to make sure that you have taken those factors into consideration when preparing the budget for your commercial video production.
Feel free to reach out to us, to see how we can help you with your photography in Sri Lanka and videography-related content requirements. Clear Srilanka a well-known Video Production house provides Documentary Production Services like Documentary film Srilanka.