One of the essential components of advertising and marketing is video production. In the era where videos can be easily filmed and assembled via smartphone applications, people often take the task of video production into their own hands.
Aiya, we can shoot the video ourselves also what.
No need to hire video production crew lah, so expensive!
There is absolutely nothing wrong with you wanting to try video-making and editing on your own. However, it also depends on the goal of the video – whether it is just for content updates on social media networks, or will the video be used for a long-term nationwide marketing campaign?
When to Hire a Professional Video Production Crew
Different videos have different purposes, as we have explained in our previous blog post. So if you are looking to produce a large-scale marketing campaign video, you should hire a professional video production crew.
Besides, having a video production crew also means that you will have a team of experienced individuals at your expense to produce a top-class production!
The Anatomy of a Video Production Crew
Besides, having a video production crew also means that you will have a team of experienced individuals at your expense to produce a top-class production!
The reason why hiring a professional video production crew usually costs more than your average freelancer is because of the quality-assured services that come with years of experience within the field.
Having a video production crew will free you of the hassle of the pre-production, production and post-production procedures that can be a lot, especially for big projects.
Typically, a video production crew consists of:
- Producer
A producer is the point-of-contact with the client as they are the ones who receive the project brief from the client. Throughout the entire project, the producer will oversee the overall project progress and keep the clients updated while making sure that their goals are aligned with the crew.
- Director
A producer is the point-of-contact with the client as they are the ones who
receive the project brief from the client. Throughout the entire project, the producer will oversee the overall project progress and keep the clients updated while making sure that their goals are aligned with the crew.
- Assistant director
A producer is the point-of-contact with the client as they are the ones who
receive the project brief from the client. Throughout the entire project, the producer will oversee the overall project progress and keep the clients updated while making sure that their goals are aligned with the crew.
- Director of photography/Cinematographer
The person in charge of executing the director’s visions on screen is the director of photography (DP). DPs will use the right lenses, filters, and camera angles to deliver the results envisioned by the director while working closely with the lighting director.
- Assistant Camera
Video productions usually involve multiple camera setups, therefore assistant camera crew are needed to operate the cameras at the angles and lighting profiles that have been fixed by the DP and lighting director. Another important role of the assistant camera crew is to make sure that they have all the equipment such as batteries, SD cards and camera lenses ready whenever the DP needs them.
- Lighting Director
Never underestimate the importance of a lighting director as they are in charge of producing the overall look and feel of the production.
- Gaffer
Every production set needs a gaffer, who is basically the lighting electrician on-set. A gaffer not only plans out the entire lighting plan for the production but at the same time has to ensure that the lighting on set is optimized to produce the optimal effect.
- Key Grip
The master of rigging, aka the Key Grip. In order to achieve the perfect lighting, the equipment has to be in the right position and intensity. By using lighting stands, diffusers and other tools, the Key Grip’s job is to rig the equipment at the right placements without blocking the scene.
- Audio Technician
Audio is important when it comes to video production, especially when there are outdoor shoots. Having a professional audio technician on-set will definitely set your production apart from DIY video productions.
- Set Designer
In order to produce magic on screens, there are the people who work tirelessly offscreen to create the set for each production. Set Designers are the ones who design the production set and search for the right props to make the scene look perfect.
- Production Assistants
Last but not least, are the production assistants. They are the assistants to everyone on set and usually serves as extra hands to other crew members.
Each member in the video production crew is highly experienced in carrying out their roles. This will ensure the smooth progress of the project and minimize friction and gives you the ease of mind during the project duration.
Top 3 Reasons to Hire a Professional Video Production Crew
If you need some convincing on why you should hire a professional video production crew for your upcoming brand project, here’s why:
- Your video represents your brand
If you need some convincing on why you should hire a professional video production crew for your upcoming brand project, here’s why:
A high quality, original and engaging video is essential in order to build a reputable image for your brand.
Forget about the ready-made, user friendly templates that will make your company’s image seem “templated”! Be genuine and show your best professional image by engaging industry professionals.
Skimming on cost in video production by hiring freelancers or having your in-house marketing team to produce a brand video might be cost-saving in the short term, but if the videos produced are not up to par, it might tarnish your brand’s image in the long run.
Research by BrightCove has shown that 62% of people are more likely to have a negative perception towards brands who put out a poor-quality video. Hiring a video production crew will help you curate a unique and creative video experience for your viewers to improve brand recall.
- You have access to professional video equipment
One of the biggest differences between freelance video production and professional video production is in the equipment. A professional video production will have a variety of cameras, lights, microphone, and other equipment that a small video production company does not have.
Using high-quality equipment will definitely help in achieving a more sophisticated look for your videos. The efficacy of an experienced team combined with professional-grade equipment will allow the highest quality of work to be produced in the shortest amount of time.
- You leave post-production to the pros
If you think that video production ends once you are wrapped on set, you are wrong.
If you think that video production ends once you are wrapped on set, you are wrong.
Post-production is where the real magic happens. Having a professional
post-production team will elevate your video by incorporating audio mixing, transitions and animations into the existing footage using the best professional editing softwares.
A professional video editor will also work quicker than freelancers and have a keen eye for details which were developed by experience. Anyone can edit videos, but only a seasoned video editor can deliver a quality end product with the suitable finishing touches.
Long story short
Hiring a professional video production crew is ultimately the best decision for your advertising and marketing effort because it not only helps in maintaining your brand’s reputation by promising quality content, but it also saves time and results in higher profit in the long run.
Are you convinced yet?
Talk to us and we’ll talk you through the process of hiring a professional video production crew!
Stay tuned for Part 2 where we share the best practices for video production!
