* Knowledge of this article is an integral part of the contract with Rek House for any film production.
Creating a good video that will effectively promote your brand is an art created by a whole team - sometimes 5, sometimes 15, and sometimes 30 people. Fortunately, it is a repetitive process and is a bit like building a house: first you need to create the foundations and then start finishing work. That's why I've written an article for you that will explain all the steps needed in making a video with Rek House.
Base: Google Sheets file.
The most important document we work with is the file in Google Sheets (Excel) visible to everyone involved in the production. Thanks to this, there are no understatements and information is not lost in the maze of e-mails. Anyone involved can check any information at any time and make the right decisions - both the client and the writer, camera operator or animator.
This file contains a brief, script, storyboard, schedule, work plan and contacts to the team. The template for it is prepared and you will get it at the beginning of our cooperation.
Most importantly: the file covers the entire production and only the informations contained in the file is valid for us and for you. Established and met deadlines for shooting, decisions, editing, etc. will allow us to make the best possible film within the deadline - and we all want it
Step 1. Interview and brief creation.
We start each production with getting to know your brand, type of business and product. For this purpose, we complete a short questionnaire and learn about the brand's assumptions. Each movie is slightly different, but we will surely ask about:
- information about your company, product or service. We need to understand what we are promoting.
- the purpose of the video. Do we want to explain something, encourage, sell?
- target audience. Who is this video intended for?
- where and for how long the video will be displayed. Website, marketing campaign, YouTube?
- identification of the decision-making person. Who will make decisions? Whom should we contact in case of doubts?
- references. Show us the 3 videos that best show what you want to get.
After the interview, we sign a preliminary contract and go to pre-production.
PREPRODUCTION
Step 2. Developing the scenario.
The scenario defines what and how we want to show.
There are two options at Rek House:
1. You provide us with the script and we work it out together. We have to transform your ideas into the language of the film.
2. We create a script and work on it together. Your expert knowledge is essential in order not to make a mistake when creating your movie.
Step 3. We define the style with the moodboard
A moodboard is created simultaneously with the script. This is usually a presentation that includes a collection of photos showing what the mood of the video will be. Thanks to it, we define in what style:
- should the interiors look like?
- actors are to be dressed?
- we want to use props?
- we want the music to be?
e.t.c.
Step 4. Storyboard or storyboard
Based on the script and moodboard, we create a scenario, i.e. a description of the scenes that will present the content. Example:
For larger productions, we also create a storyboard, which is a series of drawings presenting exactly what shots we want to get. Sometimes they are very professional, and sometimes a simple drawing is enough.
A well-prepared storyboard allows us to avoid missed shots, and thus unnecessary costs. However, creating a storyboard itself is a cost and its use depends on your production budget.
Thanks to steps 3 and 4, we will fully understand what we want to create together. This will allow us to build a good budget, in which we will fit the production, and you will not overpay.
Think this way: it costs differently to record stuffed dinosaurs than to create them at the Jurassic Park level. Scenario, storyboard and moodboard explain such things.
After each of them is developed, we need your final approval, because the subsequent change turns the entire production of the film upside down and generates unnecessary costs.
TIME FOR TESTS
At this point, we offer an option that we highly recommend to each of our clients. We can make test films and use them for marketing testing of the message.
We create them then without a camera operator, professional camera, lighting, make-up, and usually someone from our team plays the role of an actor. Such a film is not suitable for showing to a wider audience, but thanks to it we check whether the message itself is understandable and properly remembered. We do tests on people who see the film for the first time and check if it reaches them the way we want.
Sometimes adding a single sentence or scene dramatically increases the end result. Thanks to this, we have time to refine the script before starting expensive production and maximize the effectiveness of the film.
Trial films are the last moment when we can change the script, storyboard and moodboard without generating additional costs and without changing the dates.
Step 5. Create a budget and Gantt chart in 48H
After a maximum of 48 hours, you will receive from us a prepared budget and schedule with the described production stages. It looks like this:
After accepting the budget and schedule, we sign a full contract. We also issue an advance invoice in the amount of ⅓ of the production price.
Step 6. Decisions before production
In this step, we will prepare a presentation for you, in which the actor, location, music and voiceover suggestions will be presented. Thanks to it, you will make the last decisions necessary before production. In case of problems, our specialists will help you make the best decision for your brand.
PRODUCTION
Step 7. Photo day or animations
At this point, our team creates visual content. Sometimes this means film sets, sometimes creating animations. A decision maker from the client is essential on the set. It is not always possible to predict everything and it is often on the set where many decisions are made.
POST-PRODUCTION
Step 8. Video montage
The finished material goes to assembly. At this point, the material is reviewed, trimmed and arranged in a video. We also add animations, effects, music and a voiceover if needed.
Step 9. Corrections
After montage, you will receive a link with the video in the first version. The film may still look pale as it will only work on color correction after full acceptance. At this point, we are waiting for your comments. Comments should be in the form of an e-mail, where you will collectively describe what you think is worth changing. Then we refer to these comments, we sit down at the computer, and upload the next version of the movie. We are providing two series of amendments within the budget.
Remember that the preview is not a test movie. This is a practically finished video that can be polished. There was a place for changes to the script, storyboard and concept before step 5 and we are currently working on a ready, already recorded material for a given script.
Comments may include, for example:
- different style of changing shots
- different selection of the shot or take
- faster or slower montage
Comments should not include:
- changes to the scenario
- changes of the actor, location, props
- changes to the VoiceOver text
Step 10. We finish production
After accepting the film editing, we perform the final color correction and sound mix. You will receive the finished movie file as a link, as well as an invoice for the remaining ⅔ production amounts.
After paying the invoice, the rights to the video pass to you and you can use it in your promotion. If you want, we can help you - after all, we are a marketing agency. But that's a topic for another conversation.