- November 24, 2018
- Merideth Melville
Maybe you’ve got a company video that’s outdated or maybe you don’t have one at all. One thing is certain – you have a message to get out to your employees or customers and producing a video is the best way to accomplish it.
In this post, we’ll review 5 jumpstart tips in the hiring of a production company and what to look for when undertaking this task.
1. REVIEW THE COMPANY’S WEBSITE & LOOK AT THEIR WORK (reel, portfolio)
Any reputable company will have a website highlighting their work and services. View the company’s videos to get a feel for the quality of their work (click here to see Boss Media’s reel).
If watching interviews, do the people on camera look natural? Is the scene well lit? Is the audio clear? If there’s music underneath the narration or interview, is it mixed well enough to hear the message being delivered? Or is the background music competing with the narration?
If you find yourself distracted by any of the above, think twice before hiring that company to produce your next video.
2. CALL FOR REFERENCES
Most sites contain client reviews and it’s here you can get a better feel for what the production company brings to the table. Reliability? Creativity? Good pricing? Willingness to go above and beyond?
Perusing these references can also provide thought for your video needs – what qualities are you looking for in a production company? Is their clientele representative of companies you know or admire? Will you be in good company with this production company?
3. MAKE DIRECT CONTACT
Which brings us to Tip #3 – meet the person in charge. This can be done in person or over the phone. Go beyond an email outlining what you need. Any good producer will call you once they receive your email asking for an estimate.
There are many questions to be answered before an accurate budget is ready to send to a (potential) client. Doing this via email slows down the process and isn’t the best way to find the production company to suit your needs or deliver the product you want.
4. EXPERIENCE MATTERS!
There are lots of production companies out there. The cheapest ones aren’t always the best. In fact, I’d go so far as to say buyer beware (“you get what you pay for”) if hiring a company based solely on the fact that they had the lowest number on their estimate.
Maybe they can do your video using one or two people, but will the final quality pale in comparison to the experienced production company that recommends three or four people for the same job?
Despite what you may have heard, rarely can a poorly shot video be “saved” in the edit suite. You might have saved money on the shoot only to find you’re paying more to get the video fixed during editorial.
Just like in construction, if the foundation isn’t poured correctly, no amount of window dressing will hide the cracks.
5. GO WITH YOUR GUT
A good production company is a partner, an asset to your company. Think of the relationship as one that extends beyond this (first) video.
If the budget works and the phone calls have been pleasant and educational (for both parties) – go with your gut. Which production company do you see yourself working with now and possibly in the future? Who do you want to spend time with? Have they listened to you while bringing their experience and expertise to the table?
Do they care as much about the video, the message, and your goals as you do? They must!
Merideth Melville
Merideth Melville got her start writing and producing entertainment documentaries for the original Travel Channel. That work took her to Singapore, Malaysia, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, Bermuda and Borneo. From there, she jettisoned to NASA, where she ran the Motion Pictures Division (responsible for all the pre and post onboard films) during the Shuttle years. She then worked with Houston-based Zen Film for many years before starting Boss Media.