How Much Do Video Production Services Cost?

Asking how much a video costs, is akin to asking an architect how much a house costs. Although the architect designs the house, works with the trades who build the house, partners with the engineer who ensures the integrity of the house, and collaborates with the client who pays for the house – an architect cannot answer this question quickly with a simple number.

That’s because the architect needs to understand what kind of a house you want to build. Is it a simple structure (think Yurt) or more elaborate (think castle) or perhaps something in between (bungalow, ranch, she-shed, four stories with an elevator or log cabin)?

Then there are the materials being used to produce your dream video. Do you need interviews conducted with many people at various locations on different days? Do you need to shoot b-roll during business hours in large facilities? Do you want to use actors and not “real” people? Is there art direction required? Props? Rental cars?

And what about post production – the editing of your video? Do charts and graphs need to be designed? Do existing charts and graphs need to be re-worked? Do you want a celebrity to narrate the piece? Would you like animation? How elaborate is the motion graphics “design” of the video? Will “needle drop” (licensed) music work? Or do you want the video to have a sound design with original music? Was the piece shot to a tight, approved script? Or is it more “organic” - forming the narration (the message) of the piece from various interviews and sound bites?

The old “one thousand dollars per minute” way of replying to this old age question, “How much does a video cost?” isn’t reliable.

Why? Because a three-minute video requiring more shoot days, more crew, more production gear and non-linear editorial (no tight, approved script) will cost more than a three-minute video that can be accomplished in less days, less crew, no special gear and quicker “paint-by-numbers” (i.e.: tight, approved script) editing time.

The producer can deliver a “brief” that outlines the basic vision of the video that accompanies the estimate. This helps support the numbers (and is a starting place to review the creative discussed).

It doesn’t mean the estimate will not exceed a client’s budget. In the early stages of creative and budgetary negotiation, the estimate is a living document that changes as the “creative” is discussed and revised (mostly to fit a budget that is acceptable to both parties).

When the budget changes, so usually does the brief. During the pre-production stages of your project, maintaining an open dialogue with th e producer about budget, end goals, availability of personnel and locations vital to the messaging of the video and internal support of the project is vital to its success.

A good producer is a good listener (and a good enforcer). That’s what Houston's top video production company, Boss Media’s “Boss” is: “Tough, tender and tenacious, Merideth uses her talents for the good of the client with a constant eye towards detail and measured results.”

When building a house, the client may want an elevator but after finding out how much it will really cost to push that button to the third floor, decide that stairs will work just fine.

You may want to shoot locations in three different cities, but when the producer adds in travel costs for the crew, decide to choose just two to tell your story.

And just as any capable producer does (solves problems & stays within budget), a good architect will design such an amazing staircase, you won’t regret not having that elevator!