Your boss just assigned you the task of creating “the best video ever” for your upcoming team event. He even gave you a budget! Now, you could shoot this yourself on your iPhone and have your nephew edit it on YouTube, but you’ve got the feeling that won’t cut it (you’re right, that video is going to suck).
So now you’ve got to find a video production company. But what can you expect from the experience? That really depends on who you hire, but one thing’s for sure–this isn’t “set it and forget it,” you’ll need to be an active participant in the process.
Here’s a look at what it’s like to work with a video production company.
The First Meeting: The Magic Happens (Sort Of)
You’ve got a killer idea (or, let’s be honest, you’ve got a general “vibe” in your head that’s probably a mix of “I want this to be epic” and “I have no idea how this works”). You sit down with your video production team, and here’s where the real magic begins.
This meeting will involve a lot of questions that make you think, “Did I really think this through?” Things like: “What’s the story? What’s your target audience? What’s the goal of this video, beyond making it look cool?” You may find yourself scrambling to articulate the vague concept bouncing around in your head while the team takes notes.
This is when it’s nice to not work with jerks. A good video production will be like a friendly sherpa guiding you up video mountain, not snobby auteurs sneering at your lack of knowledge. Check the vibe, if you don’t like it, get out and find another video production company!
The Concept Phase: Prepare for the Rewrites
Alright, you got all your questions answered now, that’s great! But it’s not video-making time quite yet. After that initial meeting, expect a fair amount of back and forth. In fact, your idea might go through a few phases. Your writer or director might throw out ideas like “What if we make this look like a ’90s music video?” or “How about we add a unicorn in the background for no reason?” (Okay, maybe not *exactly* that, but you get the idea).
But don’t freak out. This phase is all about refining the vision and making sure it matches your brand’s message, while also being… well, watchable. It’s not always pretty, and sometimes you’ll wonder why you didn’t just go the PowerPoint route. But stick with it—the magic is in the details.
At Red Canary, we typically will start with a concept outline, then move to a script, then finally a storyboard. This will help you feel comfortable that the final product aligns with your vision before we move into the production phase.
Production: A Day of Chaos (But in a Good Way)
It’s shoot day! You’re ready for the action, the crew is pumped, and the energy is buzzing. But then—surprise! The talent is late, the sun is playing hide-and-seek with the clouds, and yes, someone somehow forgot to order lunch. Take a deep breath–and welcome to the unexpectedness that is video production filming.
As the day progresses, you notice something happening: the seemingly random chaos is becoming less chaotic. The actors are hitting their marks, the lighting team is making magic happen, and the camera angles are starting to work. Slowly but surely, the story you’ve envisioned starts to materialize. The set, once a collection of moving parts, is now a living, breathing version of your vision.
But that only happens if you’ve got the right video production company. They need to keep a cool head and expect the unexpected, roll with the punches, and adjust as needed on the fly.
Post-Production: Cut, Paste, Add Some Magic
You’ve got all the raw footage, the script, the dreams of a great video…post production is where it all comes together. In post-production, we take all that footage and turn it into something that doesn’t just “look good”—it *feels* right. Music, pacing, color grading—it’s all part of the process of giving your video that special sauce.
Expect to be a participant in this phase as well. Your production company may send you some music samples, or voice talent samples, giving you the opportunity to choose what you like best. Then, you’ll get to see (drumroll please)...THE FIRST CUT.
This could be amazing. It could be…not amazing. Yet! This is where your thoughtful feedback comes in. Your video production company is here to make your changes, and is expecting revisions. Usually videos go through 3-5 rounds of edits, so don’t be afraid to ask for what you want! But be specific, please…instead of “I dunno, it’s kinda cheesy,” say “I’d love for the sasquatch to just drive away on the scooter, instead of looking at the camera first. Do we have a take like that?”
When the video is close to how you want, share it with a few others in your organization to get feedback, then you’re ready for final edits.
The Final Product: You Did It! (Now, Let’s Hope the Internet Likes It)
And there you have it. You’ve gone through the brainstorming, the shoots, the edits, the revisions—and now you’ve got your shiny new video. But here’s the real kicker: it’s not over. Time to see how your audience reacts. Will they love it? Will they share it? Or will they wonder if your marketing team lost a bet?
Either way, you’ve got a piece of content that tells your story—and that’s what working with a video production company is all about. It’s a journey, not a destination, and you’ve just made it through the chaos, the creativity, and (hopefully) the caffeine.
Need a hand with the whole process? You know where to find us. We’re the ones with the cameras, the ideas, and (most importantly) the snacks.