Video production and image film: How to create a commercial – Insights!
IO Video Production for Commercials and Social Media Today Insights! How do commercials actually work? Video Marketing has far outstripped all other forms (Pring, Billboard, etc.) in the budgets. No matter if it is a commercial for the Superbowl or the Facebook clips for regional supermarkets. But how does the planning, organization, conception of commercials work? This article summarizes all aspects of IO Productions. Other articles and links about video production: Learn more about IO Video & Film Production.
How is a commercial or image film created?
Fashion brands, online stores, technology, automobiles … commercials all need. Because with advertising you can make products known but also brands. Today we give a deep insight into the production and its different steps:
- Storytelling: History, Emotions and Impact Chains
- Process – Initial Contact, Briefing and Brainstorming
- First Contact – initial discussion and ideas development with the agency
- Pre-Production: Video shoot Preparation of storyboard, equipment and team
- Production – Production Process and High End Equipment
- Post-Production: Video Sifting, Editing and Editing
- Promotional Videos and Commercials
The Process – First Contact, Briefing and Brainstorming
The process covers a variety of areas, from initial contact to finished video production on post production and delivery in various formats and scales. Depending on requirements and wishes, the approach in film production, as narrated in storytelling, is very multifaceted. At first, however, everything is limited to the first contact and the first briefing, what is it about?
- For which brand is produced?
- What does the brand want to promote?
- Is it a new product or an existing product being expanded?
- In which countries will the film be published?
- In which languages will the film be published?
- Which media are you looking for for publication?
- How much budget is available for production?
- What video lengths and formats are expected by the customer?
- Which content should be transported?
- Is it part of a larger campaign?
- Is the commercial film the main medium or “only” part of the campaign?
- What needs does the product / brand fulfill?
- Are there competing products?
- What defines the target audience (demographic characteristics)
- Which wishes and needs does this target group have?
All these questions are raised on first contact.
First Contact – initial discussion and ideas development with the agency
At the first briefing on the upcoming video production, we talk to our customers about the parameters mentioned in the new video campaign. As a rule, the conversation is initially limited to a 30-minute meeting – after which you let the impressions take effect and subconsciously develop initial frameworks for the concept. In this 30-minute kick-off talk, you have a quick overview of the company, or about the products and services, which especially helps the creative director to get a first unobjective picture of the project. Likewise the wishes of the customer are noted, they are particularly important for the planning and the first thoughts. The third important point is the target audience, is it an existing demographic crowd, or is it a new address for potential customers who are not currently connected? From these three parameters, the first ideas can now be generated how a possible campaign can be implemented. The ideas then lead to a first customer briefing by roughly presenting the concepts. Therein is not only the content of the film or the different versions but also the chain of effects. The easiest way to compare this with the storyboard. Here is shown step by step what will happen in each scene of the final advertising clip.
Impact Chain and Storyboard: Imagery and Video Concept
In small, square boxes on paper or in PDF format every single important scene is named. In addition, it is shown at which moments the emotional effect is achieved. As a rule, one has to pay particular attention in the advertising film that the first moment is sitting. As a rule, this should be in the first two to three seconds. This time frame has not only been proven in classical studies, the new media (such as Youtube and Facebook) rely on these factors.
- When you’re on Facebook, you count on ads, impressions from the third second,
- On YouTube, the video ads can be skipped from 5 seconds,
- Instagram also counts an impression from the third second in the video.
If you have not reached the consumer here, it will be difficult to get through to it. Therefore, especially the entry into the videos must work well and take the viewer directly!
Of course, the prior planning of promotional videos saves a lot of time in later production and makes the effect of videos more efficient. This will allow you to gain more sales but also generate more reach, which is why most companies invest in a good video production company that has been recommended to you. Thanks to numerous recommendations, we were also able to gather great reference projects within a short space of time, which we unite in our portfolio. As an agency for video production, we stand for quality, innovative media and the service of full trust. Our customers often give us a free hand for production so we can get the most out of them. In close consultation, we then design the parameters but also the storyboards, as just described. If everything is planned and defined, it goes into the production of the videos!
Pre-Production: Video shoot Preparation of Storyboard, Equipment and Team
After the conception of the film, one comes now to the final preparation. All agreements were made and that first storyboard was approved by the customer. In the following step, all concrete preparations are made. The storyboard will no longer be in its conceptual form, but will be worked out once more in detail. Based on the detailed storyboard you can now also plan the team members.
Team Planning in Video Production: Model, Make Up Artist, Stylist, etc.
The typical team in a video or commercial film production does not only include the videographer and the agency as well as the customer, but also various actors on the set. The more complex the production, the more people are involved in such production. As a rule, apart from product videos, you definitely need a model.
Booking Models: Promotional Models for Movies and Rights
For every video you need a suitable face that matches the brand but also to the message that should be conveyed. Models are absolute professionals in their field and have through their many years of experience with photo shoots and commercial production a sense of how to create planned emotions controlled. At the push of a button they can show that they have a certain “need”, that they rejoice, that they develop mourning, that they show affection. Especially in an elaborate production, such a professional model is worth gold!
Models not only ensure that the emotions are transported perfectly and that the campaign looks good, they also ensure a good mood on the set. Their professionalism and positive charisma make for a generally good mood, which also speeds up production and raises results to a higher level. In the end, however, it is not just about booking the model, but also about the rights of use and the work with modeling agencies. Besides the perfect advertising model, you also need a make-up artist or hair and make-up artist.
Make-up artist booking: Hair and Make Up Artist for perfect video sequences and close-ups
Even when booking make-up artist we take care of everything, rely on our service and we organize experts in hair and make-up. In addition, you need the perfect clothes for many shoots, the outfit has to sit! Therefore, to book a hair and make up artist, the organization comes to the stylists.
Booking Stylists: Outfit, Accessories and Harmonious Colors
Stylists are on the set, so outfit, accessories & amp; Sitting jewelry perfectly. They make sure that everything goes well apart from hair and makeup on the model. Finding good stylists is not so easy, because the job is very demanding and requires good contacts. However, we are happy to help you find the perfect stylist with our contacts
If an elaborate video production is already organized, it is often advisable for companies to directly book a photographer. On this one day, many people are on site and already organized, photographers can perfectly capture those moments as “backstage” or “behind the scenes” shots. This picture material can be used not only for own PR measures or press, but of course also for social networks, as well as on the own company website, thereby one has beaten two birds with one stone directly. If the set is organized intelligently, photo and video production can even take place in parallel. This is often worthwhile especially for companies from the travel industry but also from the fashion industry, eg. in the photography and videography of travel catalogs or advertising films for travel or lookbooks in the fashion industry. The resulting image material is versatile, a perfect complement to the shoot. So our recommendation for video productions is to book directly with an experienced photographer.
We take care of your team but also your video production
All of these plans are complex, but as we draw on many years of experience, as well as an extremely large network of photographers, videographers, make-up artists, make-up artists, stylists and many more, we can quickly and easily produce perfect video results even for complex productions help! After the pre-production, the entire planning, we have everything now! Now it starts, the big production!
Production – Production Process and High End Equipment
In the following step we go into the production of the commercial. Depending on the size of the production, everything is organized on one day, spread over several days or even on different dates, with short break times. Especially for transnational productions, eg. when production is due in the US, plus a flight to Canada and Europe, such a production stretches. Of course, as an agency you try to bring in your expertise directly in order to make the most efficient ways possible. This saves time but also costs for the customer. This is always the highest priority for us as an agency. The location was already visited in advance and prepared for production. On the day of production, you as a customer are on site to take everything away. We also always recommend that a person is on site. This allows a direct insight into the production and also a direct influence on the image and video material.
Production Process: Location, Look and Teamwork
At the beginning of each production, the team gathers to discuss the final details. Then the models are prepared by the make-up artist, while videographers prepare the set with helpers and assistants. On some sets the whole day is produced, others change the location. With well-organized technology and high-quality equipment, all productions are done quickly – preparation is everything! Depending on the production then also technical devices are used. Here is just an overview of the most important devices of current productions.
Gimbal: Quiet camera pans for breathtaking scenes
With the gimbal camera shots can be simulated, which used to be elaborately made with rail technology. This technique stabilizes the camera and lets the videographers work freely. In short, the gimbal replaces the classic rail system. Camera shots are very smooth (smooth) even though the videographer is running or even running alongside the actor or model. Such recordings are needed z.b. slow camera shots for the automotive industry but also production for sports manufacturers, eg. when the runner starts jumping. The cameraman starts at the same moment and captures the pictures. In the past, complex and expensive rail systems had to be installed here, and today it is enough to have a high-quality gimbal for production. How should I look a high-quality camera ride, you see z.b. here, despite rocks and cliffs, just rides without wobbling.
Sony Camera: High End Image and Video Quality for Commercials
Most video productions do not require huge cameras today, processors and chips have become so small that size is hardly relevant anymore. Modern camera technology can be packed in extremely small housings. 80% of our recordings are currently produced by Sony Equipment. In this way, we guarantee our customers first-class camera quality and high brilliance in the pictures. This is especially important for customers who pay attention to high quality material. And that’s what you pay attention to, right?
After the production is done, all materials on memory cards are backed up twice. In the following it goes back to the agency to make the production of the video. In post-production you have three big steps:
- Viewing the video footage
- Editing and Editing Video
- Customer’s change loops
Now let’s take a closer look at the post production of commercials. Again, depending on the complexity of the matter, that is from the small advertising film for Facebook, the designed to 10 seconds to the image film that runs for 15 minutes and is used for press, PR and internal use. In summary, post production can be described in this way.
Post-Production: Video Sifting, Editing and Editing
In this last step of the video production it is about sighting, editing and changes, in agency circles also the “change loop”. First, we start with the sifting of the material from the different cameras.
Viewing the material
Even when viewing the material of the video production, a good videographer pays off immediately. He still has all the cuts in his head, sequences and the different cameras that were used. All the material is now merged and spotted on the best scenes, these are stored in extra tracks and sequences, as in a classical were economic analysis, after A, B and C material.
Cutting the videos
After the material has been spotted and divided into the different categorizations, start the cutter by cutting the material. Different video sequences are joined together and depending on the complexity of the video (final product) still filled with text or with animated logos or fonts or explanations. Cutting is a relatively time-consuming and complex process, but with good production, much has been clarified and organized in advance. Ideally, this will allow the cut to be kept to a minimum so that you can get into the first loop of change with the customer as quickly as possible. The rough cut first shows a first version, which is the basis for further processing and modification. First, the customer should make an overview, so that the rough cut is approved. Only now the videos are finally put together and configured when it comes to light but also all other important settings and configuration of the video material. At the end, the cutter will produce different formats and versions. Why?
There are various streaming platforms, including TV, cinemas, the entire online world and of course social networks. It will display video generated by HTML5 animation or banner ads for other online stores in GIF format. Likewise, individual formats for Instagram but also Musical.ly or other versions, faster and sleeker for Facebook, while another version for YouTube goes long, about 12 minutes.
Change requests and editing
If everything goes well after the customer’s change loops, all of these different formats are exported and subsequently provided to the customer. The fact that the media can be used across networks increases the success of the videos. It increases the reach, hence the interaction and, ultimately, the sales results or the desired results of the campaign.
That’s it!
No matter if it is a commercial for the Superbowl or the Facebook clips for regional supermarkets. According to this principle, commercials and image films are produced by agencies! Other articles and links about video production:
- Learn more about IO Video & Film Production
