Video Production Resources

What is video production?

Video production is the art and service of videotaping, distributing and editing a finished video product. Video production includes a variety of methods such as corporate, commercial video production, event videos and television production.

What are the different types of video production?

Event video production – includes sporting, weddings, school, stages and similar video productions.
Corporate video production – covers a wide range of sales, videotape conferences, corporate communication and training and education materials. Usually with corporate video production, users can view a live video stream from their computer with the use of an internet connection. The recording can be viewed after the event on a variety of playback mediums such as optical disc, magnetic tape, the original camera tape, memory based recording device or an edited version from a website video.

What are the advantages of using video production?

Using a video is a powerful way to sell products or services because they convey the messages, illustrate the atmosphere and ambience of a venue and explain the concepts unlike any other mediums that are available. By combining graphics, music, pictures, narration and interviews, the viewer can be involved in the message and, in other cases, it can offer them views about products and services that would be almost impossible to perform by other advertising mediums.

The moving images in video can capture a viewer’s attention. It’s always amazing how the use of a video can enliven a website or create interest on an exhibition stand. It has the ability to convey the message and use large amounts of information in the shortest space of time. Therefore, video production can be very useful to use within a business, especially if the client needs to communicate with busy customers.

How much does video production cost?

Newer digital production equipment, plus greater production speeds has allowed video production to lower in price. Video production can be a cost-effective marketing and communication tool for organisations and businesses of all sizes. Some organisations may worry when they obtain a quote for video production, mainly because they are unsure whether they are getting good value for money. Most video production companies can charge by the hour or offer their customers a weekly or daily rate for their production services.

How are businesses using video production?

Businesses use videos in a variety of ways, for example, they may use a training DVD for their members of staff or it may be a 90 second tour of their business location in streaming format from their website. The increased options and the simple ease of distributing a video have widened a variety of possibilities. Other uses of video production include the launching of products or services, demonstrations of products, training videos, shareholder announcements, company announcements, user guides, customer testimonials, company profiles and DVD mail shots.

How are organisations using video production?

Organisations also utilise videos. Health trusts, charities, training and educational establishments and a variety of other establishments use video to raise funds, educate service users, raise awareness and produce DVD prospectuses.

How can the use of video be delivered to a target audience?

The biggest shift in video production is actually how productive it is to distribute to large audiences. There are a variety of options, most of which have their disadvantages and advantages. Depending on who the target audience may be, it can be advantageous to consider a variety of distribution routes, such as:

DVD – this can be used to produce lengthy sequences in high quality videos. If it is decided to promote the DVD at a conference on a large screen or on an exhibition stand, a DVD can be the most effective method of advertising. They can also be looped, so that they replay until the DVD is stopped. They can also be a good choice if the client wants to post them to their target audience.
Video CD – for use with short video sequences. The advantage with this option is that customers do not need the use of a DVD player to be able to view it. This can be an option of choice if an organisation chooses to distribute their video to a wide variety of business clients.
CD Rom – very similar to a video CD but a CD ROM allows a client the advantage of combining text files, interactive elements, quizzes, tests and text files with the video. They are advantageous to use in projects that hold an educational purpose.
Internet streaming – around 80% of businesses use a broadband internet connection, which makes it a useful resource for a business to promote their product or service via video streaming. The advantages to video streaming are very powerful because they don’t require time to download and they can be viewed immediately. The viewer can even jump to any part of the video and watch from there.
Email – clients who use a video streaming server with a video production company can send the link to their customers via email. By sending from a streaming server, the email will pass all spam blockers.
TV Broadcast – can be very effective when used in large campaigns, but there can be a disadvantage to this method, mainly because it usually needs to be planned in advance.

What is the process of the video production like?

There are three phases of video production:

Pre-production – the production company will meet with their client and discuss their aims and objectives. Proposals will be drawn up and they will be able to offer a quote for their services. If agreed, the scripts will be finalised, the shooting arranged and any other details of the production phase.
Production – the phase of video production where the video is shot.
Post-production – the shot footage will then be digitised onto non-linear editing suites and the appropriate edits made, together with additional graphics, narrations, titles, music and any additional material, to finalise the video.

What is the scope of video production?

There may be convergence between corporate videos and other media communication mediums with the growth of digital communications. This may include TV advertising and broadcast television. For example, an organisation may feature a promotional video on their website from video sharing websites such as YouTube.