A step-by-step guide through the pre-production stage of producing a corporate video

The Pre-production stage of producing a Corporate Video

Meeting with the client

At this initial production meeting we will collate as much information as possible about the requirements for your corporate video and information about your company.

We will be interested in company logos, graphics used on literature which may be used in the video to enhance your corporate image and contact details of those who will need to be involved during the production process.

You will have the opportunity to have as much in-put as desired in sharing ideas regarding the content of your corporate production and the main points to be covered.

Other issues discussed in detail will be your target audience, the duration of your corporate video production, whether you want a voice-over or presenter and actors, the locations, the budget, and the deadline for completion of the master.

You may want to refer to our guidelines on how to write a Brief in order to help in considering these choices.

We will also advise you on the most suitable form of delivery for your programme ie. a DVD is most suitable if you want a short programme that loops for an exhibition or in your foyer.

We offer a wide range of options for your professional corporate production - a promotional video, training video, exhibition video, corporate DVD, or streamed corporate production for your website.

You may want an online video to get your message across to a wider target audience and have it playing on your website.

A early decision needs to be made on the media to be used as the end format may influence the techniques we use to acquire the footage.

The Treatment

A Treatment will provide the client with an documented overview of the programme and will be based on the decisions made during our meeting - your message, your target audience, locations, media choice and dates scheduled throughout the production.

Occasionally, a client may have a tight deadline for the completion of their corporate film and we may decide to proceed with the draft script rather than producing a Treatment. On other occasions, the client may already have been provided with the Treatment before commissioning our production company to make their corporate programme.

The Script

The script is the most important document produced by the production company as it provides the core upon which the whole production process is based. It will be used throughout the whole production being the most important source of reference.

We usually produce a ‘two-column script’, the format most often used in video production, one column containing the visual elements and the other column for the audio content and dialogue. This clearly shows how the programme will be developed.

A script can also be of great importance to you as it provides you with a point of quality control. Occasionally a production company may suggest that a script is not necessary for the production of a corporate video and merely supply you with the narration. This may be an indication that the end product may not live up to your high expectations. The lack of structure resulting from working without a script can add considerably to the production and editing time and therefore can actually cost you more in the long term than paying for the full service in the first place.

If you have any suggestions for changes to the script you will have opportunity to make them at this stage when they can easily be written into the script. It becomes harder to make changes the further through the production we have progressed.

The Storyboard

The storyboard provides a more visual representation of the corporate video It comprises of a series of sketches showing what the shots will look like that make up the video.

The storyboard is also a working document which can be referred to when developing the shooting script and even when setting up props and organising talent on location.

It clearly depicts where talent and props should be and also shows the flow of action. Although it can be very useful to have a storyboard to refer to later in the production process, actually developing the storyboard itself is very time consuming.

Therefore, the budget available and time allocated for a specific production often dictate whether or not a storyboard will be produced. However, there are instances when we would advise that a storyboard should be developed e.g. if a production is drama-based and a storyboard is necessary to plan camera angles, the number and continuity of shots, and exact positioning of props and actors.

Scouting locations

Scouting locations is the key to producing a professional result, enabling us to plan for the Shoot accurately, thus saving time and money. We consider the colour temperature of the lighting, the available space, location of power supplies etc. For outside locations we need to consider factors such as traffic noise, weather implications, to assist in our planning for the Shoot.

We may also take stills from different camera angles which can be used in designing the storyboard if required.

Acquiring permissions

At this stage we begin the sometimes lengthy process of acquiring permissions necessary for your corporate production. For example, should you want to list companies in your customer-base and use their logos, we would have to get their permission to use their logos, as they are copyright images.

Shooting Schedule

The shooting schedule is a list of the shots arranged in the order they will be filmed, with an indication of the timing of the filming. This is produced with reference to the storyboard and the scouting of the locations.

You will be provided with a copy as far in advance of the Shoot as possible, in order that any arrangements can be made within your company to ensure everything runs smoothly on the day of the shoot.

Pre-Shoot Meeting

If it is necessary at this stage a pre-shoot meeting will be arranged with you to confirm that all the necessary arrangements have been made for the day of the Shoot and that everyone involved from your company knows what is expected from them. This may be done over the telephone rather than arranging to meet with you face to face, but is likely to be dependent on the size of the production.

Now the pre-production stage will have been completed ready for the actual day of the Shoot.


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