How much does video production cost?

What does video cost?

More and more, companies, non-profits, and schools are turning to video to add flare to their website, advertise, or concisely state their message. Video works in ways pictures and text cannot to draw in new clients, donors, or students and is easily viewable and shared from desktops to laptops and mobile devices. The question then becomes how much will video cost your business? The beauty of video is that every project is unique and likewise every budget varies. Therefore, the cost of your video is derived through carefully measuring the volume of pre production, production, and post production needed to create your vision.

Pre Production

Pre Production entails all the preparation leading up to the shooting and editing of your video and is the most important step in video production. It’s at this stage that we ask you to tell us what you want to say in your video. A producer can then take your message and help you find the best possible way to show it through video and even prepare a script to help illustrate the structure and look of the final product. In the pre production stage, costs are derived from how much preparation is required before the shoot day. Most corporate projects consist of interviews, B roll, and voice over narration and can easily be handled by a producer, cinematographer, and a lighting specialist. Additional crew might be necessary on complex television, music video, or product videos with complex lighting setups or scheduling. If your project requires actors or unique locations, there might be a cost for finding the talent and locations. Using several locations often forces your project to span multiple shooting days. The producer will work with you to schedule your shoot days, determine the size of the crew, and focus your message so that the end result is effective and high quality without breaking the bank.

Production

Production is the process of shooting your video. When the crew arrives on set, there are 3 steps: Lighting, rehearsal, and shooting. Lighting is very important to the professional look of your video and can range from very simple interview setups to complex scenes. The producer will build the appropriate amount of lighting time into your schedule. Rehearsal time is only necessary for scripted commercials, music videos, or scenes and not only involves practicing the delivery of lines, but also the placement and movement of the actors or performers within the scene. After the location is lit and the actors rehearsed, the cameras can roll. Productions costs are based on the amount of lighting, props, and camera equipment needed to complete your project. Most corporate videos require simple lighting, no props, and one or two cameras, but more complex projects such as short films, skits, and music videos likely need additional equipment to maintain a professional quality. Yet again, the producer will work closely with your company to suggest the proper amount of equipment and time to shoot your video.

Post Production

After the video is filmed, the editing, or Post Production process begins. This is where the footage is trimmed, color corrected, polished with graphics, voice over, and music and delivered to you in the format of your choice. The producer and the editor of your project will discuss the editing style and structure of your video in the Pre Production stage so that the video is shot with the end result in mind. When interviews and testimonials are part of your video, the footage will have to be transcribed and sent to the producer. The producer will then adjust the script written in Pre Production to include the transcribed interviews and send it to you for your approval. After, the editor will use the new script to edit the footage. During the editing process, the status and versions of your video will be sent to you for your review and input or you can sit with the editor and see the footage for yourself. The cost of Post Production is based on how many days it will take to finish your video. The addition of professional voice over narration, intensive graphics, and mass reproduction of DVD or Blu-ray disks also affect the cost of your video. The total cost of Post Production is determined in the Pre Production process by the producer.

Building the Budget

When the producer builds the customized budget for your video, all elements from Pre Production, Production, and Post Production will be considered and listed line by line for your review. With a budget presented in such a detailed form, it’s easy to add and subtract line items before agreeing on a final cost that your company is comfortable with. Our goal is value: To provide the highest level of quality, professional video at the best possible cost and we will work with you to provide a product that you will be proud of.

If you’re interested in learning more about how we can help your company through video production, give us a call at 781-229-5900.

The Future of Internet and Mobile Video

Watching videos on the web, and especially on mobile devices, is a bit more complicated than it seems.  This stems largely from Apple’s disdain for Adobe Flash, which is why Apple doesn’t allow the Flash runtime to be installed on iOS (the operating system for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch).  According to Adobe, 75% of web video is viewed using the Flash Player, 70% of web games are made in Flash, and 85% of the most-visited web sites use Flash in some way.

The late Steve Jobs had some very strong feelings about Flash, and Apple’s relationship with it.  There have been many arguments for both sides, whether it’s from web designers, app developers or just the everyday Internet consumer.  One of Jobs’ gripes was that Flash videos drain a device’s battery life.  For example, on an iPhone, videos decoded through hardware can play for up to 10 hours, while those decoded through software (Flash) would play for only 5 hours before the battery is drained.  Another is that Flash is not very secure (according to Symantec).

The biggest problem for Flash when it comes to websites is that many Flash websites were not built with touch screens in mind, but rather for PCs using a mouse.  For instance, many Flash-based websites have “rollovers” which allow additional options or sub-menus that appear when the cursor hovers over a particular area.  This action just can’t be done with a touch screen unless the coding for the site is rewritten.  However, many sites have created mobile versions of their pages that are completely touch-friendly, but there are still plenty of websites that have not, will not or cannot make a mobile version for a variety of reasons.

This issue does not necessarily pertain directly to video-watching on a mobile device, but if you have an Apple device and a website is either made with Flash or has a Flash video on it, you won’t be able to see it.  The same goes for the plethora of Flash games on the Internet.  But eventually, Flash support for mobile devices will go away completely.  The new version of the HTML coding language, HTML5, is solving the operating system and browser compatibility issues with video.  Instead of being owned by one sole proprietor like Flash (Adobe), HTML is controlled by a committee of three companies (Apple, Mozilla Foundation, and Opera Software), thus making it an “open standard.”  This “openness” allows different companies and people to contribute to the improvement and advancement of the system.  Both iOS and Android support HTML5.

This is a pretty tech-heavy topic, but Long Tail Video does a great job explaining HTML5 and its benefits for video playback compatibility.  You can check out that information here: http://www.longtailvideo.com/html5/.

Should you use video on your website?

Question: Should you use video on your website?

This has become an increasingly pertinent question that businesses and individuals have to ask themselves.  The Internet is getting more saturated with consumers and videos each and every day.  In December 2011, 182 million U.S. Internet users watched online video, averaging 23.2 hours per viewer. Just one year prior, 172 million users watched a measly 14.6 hours on average.  This is interesting because that means the number of viewers increased about 6 percent, but hours watched increased almost 59 percent! [1]  Bottom line, people are seeking more and more video content on the Web.

Naturally, the most common way people found videos online was through Google searches; they led the way with 157.2 million unique viewers.  This, of course, makes sense, considering that Google owns YouTube.  According to datasphere.com, “Google LOVES videos. Studies show that businesses with videos on their own website are 50X more likely to appear on the first page of Google results! (Forrester Research, 2009).  And because your video is also on YouTube, you are more likely to rank higher than your own website.” [2]

Here are a couple more statistics, this time from Nielsen:  “On the Web, four-in-10 respondents rely on ads served alongside search engine results, 36 percent trust online video advertisements, and one-third believe the messages in online banner ads—an increase of 27 percent since 2007.”  Also, “Display ads (video or banner) on mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones are trusted by one-third of global respondents, which is slightly higher than the reported consumer trust level of text ads on mobile phones (29%). While the reported consumer trust level in mobile phone advertising is still low, it increased 61 percent since 2007 and 21 percent since 2009.”[3]

Without a doubt, videos make a website more interesting, dynamic and eye-catching.  They keep viewers on your site longer, and encourage them to explore more, as well as being able to convey multiple messages quickly.  Video can be a tremendous tool in showing who you are as a company or as an individual. On camera body language is a seriously powerful tool.  It’s human nature to want to relate to someone, and when you can relate to someone, you’re more likely to want to do business with that person.

Here is a great article on About.com that explains different uses for website video, and how each type can benefit you:

http://desktopvideo.about.com/od/webvideosforbusiness/tp/use-video.htm

 

Internet Video Channels Powered by Brightcove

McElroy Films is now utilizing one of leading video publishing systems available on the web called Brightcove. This unique and powerful platform was introduced in 2006 and with it’s flexible business packages, Brightcove allows video content producers like McElroy Films to utilize it’s revolutionary online video tools.

McElroy Films has been producing and publishing videos to the web for several years. We’vebeen on previous video content management systems in the past but nothing compares to Brightcove. McElroy Films is excited to launch an all new McElroyTV channel powered by Brightcove. We have also utilized Brightcove for our partner company McElroy Weddings.

To find out how McElroy Films can build your Internet TV Channel, please contact our Sales & Marketing Director, Ruth Marvin at rmarvin@mcelroyfilms.com or 1-888-303-2744 x701.

Click here to see Brightcove’s latest pricing.

Coalition for AR Jobs Video

Workforce Fairness Institute – Arkansas

Campaign Video Production Services

McElroy Films is proud to announce additional services. We now offer campaign video production for public servants seeking higher office.

Click here to see the service page.

▪ Event Coverage – From Diners to conventions, McElroy has you covered. We use single and multiple cameras to capture your entire speeches or Q&A.

▪ Campaign Videos – Let the public see your personal side. We can produce a compelling vignettes for your supporters.

▪ Teleprompter - This is an important tool for any scripted message you need to get across.

▪ Green Screen – This is an industry standard for television and web videos. We can replace a background with any information you need. From logos to scenic settings.

▪ True Broadcast HD Production - We Shoot entirely in High Definition video. Proving the highest quality resolution for videos.

▪ Post Production – Once the video is shot we can provide postproduction work on your video including color correction, image enhancement, graphics and audio.

▪ Web Implementation – The final step for your video is delivery. Online video is an essential key to any campaign. Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace are some of the most popular sites to get your message to voters. We prepare, encode and upload your video either to our dedicated servers or launch your video onto social networking sites.

▪ Traditional Broadcast – Television is still a powerful means to get your message across to voters.  Strategic placement of your television buys is key and makes a difference while campaigning against your running mate.

Bottom Line 2010 Commercial

Workforce Fairness Institute 2010

Workforce Fairness Institute

This is a great project we just wrapped up for the Workforce Fairness Institute.

Enjoy.

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