From start to finish, there are multiple components involved in creating a video. We understand that this can be a bit overwhelming, but that’s why we’re here! Our job is to take care of all the complicated nitty-gritty stuff so you can focus on the big picture.

The only thing you really need to know is how our video production process works. We’ve broken it down into four phases, and we find that clients who understand these phases before they begin a project encounter less headaches and end up with a better finished product.

Phase 1: Preparation

If you know us, you know we like to emphasize the importance of preparation. It’s no secret that preparation is the most important aspect of any project! The more prepared you are from the beginning, the easier it will be for everyone involved. 

Before we kick off a project, we like to ask our clients, “When this video is finished and you hit the play button, what happens?”

If you can’t answer this question before you arrive on set, you’re not ready to shoot. It’s important to think about every single aspect of your video and get specific.

Still have undeveloped aspects of your video project? That’s fine! This is the time to ask questions and explore possibilities. We’re always ready to help our clients through every step of the preparation process, and we understand that you have a lot on your plate outside of this one video. 

The important thing is to think about what you want/need in detail and communicate all of your thoughts, questions and expectations to us in the beginning. That will set everyone up for success.

Phase 2: Execution

This is where shooting begins! It’s time for us to do our thing. We love this part of the process, and you will too. Creating a video is FUN!

Our philosophy is that just because it’s “work” doesn’t mean you can’t have fun doing it. We started this business because we love making videos, after all. And the reality is that everyone does better work when they’re having fun and enjoying themselves. 

This is yet another reason why preparation is so important. The preparatory phase sets us up to have fun and be creative during the execution phase. When everything is planned out and we have the right resources at our disposal, we can step into our creative mode and do what we do best.

That being said, there will always be unexpected challenges that arise—that’s just a fact of life in the production industry—and it’s our job to deal with those accordingly. One of our strengths is that we can use our experience to anticipate those challenges in advance and deal with them when they arise. This allows us to create an environment where people can be creative without worrying about things going wrong.

A successful shoot comes down to preparation and experience. We’ve got the experience, and we’ll help you with the preparation. When we have both, that’s when the magic happens.

Phase 3: Assembly

The third phase is the assembly phase. The all-encompassing world of post-production!

There are many facets to video editing, but it always comes back to the shoot itself. There is only so much you can do in post-production, which is why it’s so important for us to have a solid understanding of the video as a whole before we ever shoot our first set up.

We believe some of the best directors are also skillful editors, and this is an important distinction. There will always be a number of things that need to be accounted for during the shoot in order to ensure the editing process goes smoothly. When the director is also an experienced editor, they’ll be able to accommodate all of those needs and visualize the pieces coming together before the shoot has even wrapped. 

Are there graphic overlays being incorporated into the video? Will that require specific framing of talent on set? Will the length of the video determine the amount of time you should spend  filming a sequence? Are you able to cut the video according to the treatment without compromising? Was the audio captured correctly?…And on and on…

With the right preparation AND execution the assembly stage will run smoothly.

Phase 4: Delivery

Your vision has become a reality! In the delivery phase, we’ll provide you with the finished product. Small last-minute changes can be made here, but for all intents and purposes, the video is done and ready to be shipped.

And although this project may be done, we’re already looking forward to the next one. Our goal is to establish long-term relationships with our clients, where you can come to us for any and all video needs you may have. That’s why we call ourselves a video production partner. We’re not just a company—we’re your partners for all things video.

Think about how you would like to feel at the end of your next video project. Are you just going to be relieved it’s over? Ready to cross it off your list and move on to the next thing?

Or would you rather feel excited about what this video can do for you? Would you rather be blown away and thrilled with the experience?

To us, the answer is clear: We want our clients to feel excited, happy, and satisfied at the end of a project. If that’s the case, we’ve done our job.

If you’re interested in learning more about what it’s like to work with Team of Scientists or how we can help with your next video project, just click here for your free Quick Quote!

Everyone knows that content is king these days. Successful brands and influencers are releasing videos on a near daily basis, but is it really as easy as they make it out to be?

Regardless of the amount of content being produced today, there is still a general lack of understanding around the video production process and all that it entails. It might seem easy to crank out a video every few days—after all, everyone’s doing it—but it’s not really that simple. There’s a right and wrong way to do it.

We like to say there’s a difference between a good video and a really good video… And that difference all comes down to understanding the value of preparation.

There are a lot of nuances to consider as you move from the idea phase of a video toward production, many of which are only apparent to those who have experience creating videos. Sometimes, you just don’t know what you don’t know. Talking to your production company from the beginning and getting prepared well in advance is the best way to ensure your video project is a success. 

So with that in mind, here are ten of the most common things we come across with our clients that always have them saying, “I didn’t think about that!”

#1: Good Work Takes Time

Videos come in many different forms, lengths, and subject matters. One constant, however, is the time it takes to create a video. Like anything, good work takes time—and video production is no exception.

Your production partner can help walk you through what your shoot requires time-wise. They can explain exactly why a shoot may take longer than you realized. They can steer you away from potential problems and ensure your video comes out right the first time.

We’ve seen it many, many times. A client will take the initiative in scheduling and setting aside time to capture aspects of a video they need to create before discussing the project with their chosen production company. 

Clients have good intentions when they do this, but they often underestimate the amount of time it takes to create a quality video. The result is an unrealistic timeline that frustrates their on-camera talent and crew, resulting in a less-than-optimal finished product.

And we get it! Clients have full schedules with deadlines and many other tasks in addition to a video shoot. They’re just trying to be efficient. But far too often this “time-saving” approach can actually sabotage a production, even causing it to take longer than necessary due to time spent fixing mistakes in post-production or, in a worst case scenario, reshoots.

For example, setting aside ten minutes for a “quick” interview probably won’t achieve the results you want. Or scheduling an hour long shoot in a location thirty minutes before sunset will likely backfire and result in a video with mismatched lighting and continuity problems.

Remember, any company you hire to shoot your video wants to share in the success of creating something great! Don’t make assumptions. Follow their lead to ensure your project is successful.

#2: Everything Has a Cost (and It’s Not Always Money)

There’s a simple equation that applies to many things in life, but is especially relevant to video production: Good, Cheap, or Fast. You can probably see where this is going—you can pick two, but you can’t have all three. Good and cheap is slow, fast and good is expensive, and fast and cheap… Well, you get the idea. We’re not very interested in fast and cheap, and chances are if you’re reading this, neither are you.

This is a critical decision you’ll need to make when working with any video production company. Everything has a cost, and it’s important to remember that it’s not just about the money—time and quality are equally as valuable.

A large crew may seem expensive, but they will be able to finish a video shoot within the scheduled time frame. A much smaller crew might be less expensive, but they would need double or triple the amount of time to achieve the same results and quality as a larger crew. More time needed equals additional costs all around (gear rentals, location fees, etc…). If you’re concerned about not having enough money for a project, talk to your production partner about it! They have the proper experience to help find the solution that serves your budget and quality concerns.

Understanding this equation and being honest with your video production company means you’ll be able to create a better plan, communicate your priorities more clearly, and ultimately get better results. If you’re clear on what you want, your production partner will be clear on how to get it done right.

#3: Location, Location, Location!

If you have a shooting location in mind, you should always mention it to your production partner before you begin the production phase of the project.

Why? Because there are a lot of nuances that go into choosing a location for a video shoot. Oftentimes, clients try to be helpful by finding a location that makes sense to them and fits within their budgets and limitations. But in the end, it causes problems that delay the project and lower the overall quality of the video. They had great intentions, but they just weren’t aware of all the factors that go into choosing a shooting location.

Your production company will be able to tell you why a certain location may or may not work. If you do have a location in mind, your production company will be able to point out any potential problems that may occur, offer alternative solutions, and explain why.

Things like sound quality or environmental noise, lighting needs and even weather conditions all play into choosing the right location. When we tell a client that their associate’s office may not be the best place to film an interview because it’s next to a busy elevator, or directly across the street from a noisy construction site, they usually say… ”Oh wow, I never thought of that!”

We’re always open to ideas for locations and we want our clients to have the video they’ve envisioned. But we’re also looking to create great videos, and in order to do that, you need a location that checks all the boxes. Sometimes your desired location will work, and sometimes it won’t—but you’ll never know unless you talk to your production company about it. 

#4: Budgets

The biggest overarching mistake we see clients make is they assume how much a shoot might cost without consulting their preferred production partner. We understand most projects come with fixed budgets already allocated to a project, but far too often these budgets can be too small for the client’s ask. It’s not about a production company trying to get more money out of the client, it’s about being able to deliver the client what they had envisioned…being able to meet their expectations and quality demands.

One small example, like hair and makeup, might seem like a needless expense when you’re trying to keep costs low, but it’s more important than you might think. We’ve seen it before—without proper hair and makeup, the whole production has to stop and clumsily fix the on-camera talent’s hair between every take and the shoot takes twice as long as anticipated. The talent becomes uncomfortable and unfocused leading to a less than desirable performance. That one small cost you thought you’d “saved” inadvertently ended up costing more time, energy, and money due to overtime and and a poor on-camera result.

Oftentimes guessing how much a shoot should cost can end up backfiring. That’s why your video production company should be involved at every step of the process. They can find creative solutions for all ranges of budgets and individual constraints.

#5: Cutting Corners Cuts Quality

More often than not, clients have preconceived notions about what a video production company can and cannot do. They figure they need to work within their means, and that requires cutting a few corners to get the video they want.

But the reality is that there are many ways to achieve a goal. Any time you cut corners, you’re hurting your video—and no production company wants to create a bad video. Their job is to help you in a creative, pragmatic, and honest way. That means they’ll be able to figure out a way to accomplish your goals without cutting corners!

A good production company will always present multiple ways to achieve a goal. From there, you can work with them to create your ideal video without cutting corners. That’s their job, after all—you just need to be willing to share and be open with them. Your success is their success!

#6: Establish Delivery Specifications BEFORE You Shoot

Most clients want to use their video for a number of different use-cases and settings. And that’s fine! You just need to tell your production partner about all your intentions before they start filming.

Is it going to live on Instagram as a post or a story? Is it going to be played in an arena on the jumbotron? Is it going to be used as an advertisement on TV? Will it live on the homepage of your website?

These are the types of questions you should be asking yourself at the beginning of a project, so your production partner can be extremely clear on how to shoot your video.

Depending on where a video is going, your video production company may need to shoot considering altered framing in-camera, use different sound mixes, or adjust color correction for each video format. Playing a video over iPhone speakers is very different from playing over the speakers at Madison Square Garden. Presenting a video for both YouTube and Instagram might require different aspect ratios and resolutions.

These things need to be planned out in advance, as they affect how the video is shot in the first place. If your production company knows exactly what formats you require for your video, they can plan for that in the production phase. If not, they’ll be scrambling to adjust your video to various formats in post production—and that will result in a lot of compromises in quality or additional costs.

#7: The Amount of People You Need to Turn Your Vision Into Reality

It’s very common for clients to underestimate just how many people it takes to create a video. It’s an easy assumption to make.

Creating a high-quality video involves many different roles and responsibilities, from lighting to sound to makeup to producing and more. To put it simply, there are two directions you can go here. You can have a few people who are average at everything, or the proper number of people who are experts at  their specific craft.

People are resources, and just like any other resource, you need to take this into consideration when planning your video. Each video is different, and you’ll never truly know how many people are needed (and why) for your specific situation unless you speak to your production company first.

Always remember: your production company is there to make your life easier! Once they’re able to determine the real scope of the project, they’ll be able to flag any false assumptions you may have and chart a path to success.

#8: Inconsistent Variables

Anyone in film production knows to assume the best while preparing for the worst. Say you want to shoot an interview at someone’s office between the hours of 4:30 and 6pm. That may seem like a quick and convenient option, but there are a lot of variables at play.

How’s the lighting environment? Should any fluorescent bulbs be changed out or gelled? Are there large office windows that let in unwanted natural light? Will the sun go down during the shoot and create continuity issues? Moving the shoot up by just a few hours or changing locations could solve nearly all of those problems—but you’ll never know that unless you consult your production company first.

Similarly, an outdoor shoot is at the mercy of rain, winds, and other unexpected factors. It happens all the time—it starts raining and your entire production grinds to a halt. And, of course, there’s no budget for a reshoot. 

Your video production company will be able to suggest ways to minimize those variables and ensure your video shoot is successful the first time around—but they need to know your thoughts ahead of time. A lot of video production comes down to putting out fires before they happen, and this is a perfect example.

Long story short: be mindful of fluctuating variables and don’t commit too quickly to tight timeframes until you’ve consulted your video production company.

#9: You Get What You Pay For

No matter what industry you’re in, you get what you pay for. It never fails. If you buy a cheap car, it will have flaws. The more money you spend, the more value you’ll get and the less compromises you’ll be forced to make.

If you’re stretching your budget by selecting the lowest-cost options in all areas, you might want to pause and rethink. An experienced production company will ask you to be transparent in collaborating from the get-go to help identify the best way to approach your needs. They’ll also be able to provide a fresh perspective on what will work, how, and most importantly, why. They’ll say, “Let’s put everything out on the table, sift through together, and sort it all out.” 

With their help, you’ll discover different solutions and what you viewed as obstacles may be recast and revealed as opportunities in disguise. Clients often assume what they can and can’t afford, or cut out what they don’t need in an attempt to be resourceful, efficient, and helpful. In reality, those assumptions can create unnecessary headaches for you and your production company. In some cases, it can even result in higher total costs for the project.

If you try to keep costs down by cutting things you don’t think are necessary, something will get lost. A simple conversation with your production partner will likely result in an easy fix ahead of time.

#10: The Objective

It’s not always about accommodating a lack of resources or slimming down your budget. Sometimes it’s about properly allocating abundant resources so that you get more bang for your buck, walking away with much more than you thought you could.

But to do that, providing a number isn’t enough. You should be clear on exactly what you’d like to get out of your video, the items on your production wishlist, or the target metrics you need to hit. These allow your production partner to help you in the best way possible.

In the past, clients have given us an idea and a high budget. It’s only after they tell us their objective that we realize they could use an entirely different approach with lower costs and higher returns. 

Who are your customers? Who are you marketing toward? What have you done in the past, and did it work or not? Tell your production partner everything!

Once they understand your objective they can adjust the project accordingly. They might say, “Hey, now that I understand your objective, I think you’d be better off doing it this way—and we could make two videos instead of one while staying within your budget.”

With an open collaboration, we can redefine the project to open up more time for the most impactful aspects of your video and give suggestions for ways to maximize your return.

Ready to Get Started?

If you’re ready to work with a video production company that will think of all the things you may not have considered for your next project, we’ve got you covered. Reach out to book a free consultation and receive your Quick Quote! We’d love to have a chat.

We pride ourselves on representing our clients’ brands in the best way possible and producing high-quality videos that accomplish their goals. But our job doesn’t stop with the video itself. We aim to build long-term relationships with our clients and make sure our videos are helping them grow their business and bring awareness to their brands in the best way possible.

There is a difference between working with a standard video production company and having a Team of Scientists behind you. Let’s take a look at some of those differences.

#1: We’re boutique, and we like it that way.

Our ultimate goal is to give each one of our clients the attention and focus they deserve. We’re not interested in expanding into a massive company or having dozens and dozens of clients. 

We’ve seen what happens when companies go that route. They get seduced by the idea of growing their business and maximizing their revenue, but they typically end up spreading themselves too thin while acquiring massive overhead. They lose that ultra personal relationship with their clients and product quality can suffer.

That doesn’t sit well with us.

We like our niche and we’re not interested in becoming bigger than we are. We want to be able to give our full attention to each project as it comes in, and we want to have the best people working on every aspect of our clients’ videos so we can produce the greatest possible quality. 

And we have no intentions of changing that.

#2: Learning is part of our equation.

It should come as no surprise that we love creating videos. It should also come as no surprise that a production company called “Team of Scientists” is a big proponent of learning and problem solving.

We love having conversations with our clients and opening their eyes to what’s possible. We want to help guide you toward the best possible outcomes for your business, and that inevitably involves some level of education—whether it’s on certain aspects of video production itself or how videos can best support the growth of your business. The more we can share about the nuances of video production, the better and smoother the overall process will be.

Naturally, we love learning too, and we’re always staying up to date on the latest trends in video, marketing, and business operations. We’ll take any opportunity to evolve and add new tools and techniques to include in our repertoire.

#3: We prioritize relationships over profits.

One of our primary goals is to establish long-term relationships with our clients. We’re not looking for one-off experiences where we never work with a client again after an initial project. We’re much more interested in building and growing with our clients. And that takes time.

We’ve found that the deeper you get into a relationship, the better work you can produce. When we understand our clients on a foundational level—and they understand us in the same capacity—we’re able to provide a better quality of service and a finished product that checks all the boxes. 

In many cases, we’ll actually avoid taking on small one-off projects in favor of investing more time into long-term relationships with our clients.

#4: We know small businesses.

Even though we’re a production company, we know marketing and entrepreneurship. We know what it’s like to run a small business in this day and age—the struggles and challenges, both good and bad—and we understand that you’ve got a lot on your plate. We’re in the same boat!

We’re entrepreneurs at heart, and that means we know where you need support. Because we have that entrepreneurial spirit and understand all the various aspects of building a business from the ground up, we can create videos that will suit your needs in the best ways possible.

#5: We’re well-rounded. 

We’ve created practically every type of video you could think of. Documentaries, commercials, social media content, recap sizzle reels and music performance films—we have experience creating a wide variety of video content across many different industries, and that makes us particularly versatile for our clients.

When working with clients, we’re able to draw on our well-rounded experience to find the best creative solution for their specific needs. Whereas other video production companies may choose to focus on a specific style or subject matter, we get the bigger picture and can pull on our varied experiences to offer creative opportunities that others may not.

#6: Our founder does it all.

We’re proud to say that our founder, Ryan Stober, truly walks the walk. He’s done it all when it comes to video production—from directing to editing, shooting, lighting, sound mixing, and everything in between. And he doesn’t just have experience in all of these areas, he’s got a lot of it.

Why is this such a big deal?

Well, this well-rounded background allows him to take on things that not everyone can. Most people can’t shoot and edit, or produce and mix sound.

But most importantly, Ryan’s varied experience means he is able to look at a project and understand each individual component. He knows what it takes to edit a video and he knows good lighting from bad lighting. This means when Ryan’s overseeing a project, he can ensure that each component is being done the right way and up to his standards (which are high).

There’s wisdom inside a company whose founder has worn every hat both creatively and professionally, and that wisdom translates into a perfectly executed vision when Ryan works with our clients and manages projects.

#7: Our name gives us away.

Although we do think our name is pretty clever, it isn’t just some shtick. We call ourselves a team of scientists because we have perfected the process of producing high-quality videos that accomplish our clients’ goals.

There’s a formula to this stuff. When you combine the right talent, resources, and capabilities with the right vision, it leads to a better product. With the right team in place, you can go above and beyond what you thought possible. That’s why many of our clients will tell you that we consistently over deliver. 

Ready to get started?

If you’re ready to work with a video production company that is scientific in their approach and committed to you and your vision, we’ve got you covered. Contact us today to schedule your complimentary consultation and receive your Quick Quote! We’d love to have a chat.