There is obviously no simple answer to this question and we supply quotes per job as asked, although the best results are always achieved when we receive a budget from a client, and then work with the client on the best way to spend that budget.

In terms of expense, the areas of producing video content which cost money are as follows:

Pre-Production – this is planning and scheduling, creating or growing ideas, scripting and storyboarding.

The Shoot – This is the period of production where we are actually capturing content. Costs involved are personnel, equipment, and locations and permits.

Post Production – Editing a job requires time, personnel, and specialised equipment.

Distribution – Delivering the video is usually cost free unless something specific like DVD delivery is required. Usually videos are delivered as a file and in multiple compressions. Clients walk away with a high resolution file optimised for youtube or vimeo, and also some smaller files to use as they wish.

Other costs for a video might be for the use of voice-over artists, teleprompters, stock footage, motion graphics or special effects, production music or fees for creating and recording an original score.

In very general terms, a very streamlined video can be produced from around three to six thousand dollars. More complicated videos with longer shoots and edit times, or more complex technical and design requirements can cost up to twenty thousand dollars and beyond.

We are an agile production company, and when required, videos can be made very quickly. Depending on the readiness of the idea, a few days of planning is required prior to shooting. The shoot could then take only a day or half a day. Post production might also only take a day. So a simple short video, could be delivered in one week.

If a video isn’t urgent then at least a month is a timeframe which allows good back and forth between us and you in both pre-production and post production.

This is a complex issue and is obviously very dependent on the type of content being produced, and also who the audience is and how they are accessing that content. The audience should dictate much about how your content is produced. Is your audience active and motivated to watch the content, or are they passive and have come across it by chance. For example, if your audience is at a trade show, then content needs to be simple and short. If it’s on your website, then content can be longer and more detailed.
Breaking videos up into shorter simpler videos can be an effective way of optimising your content.

Here is some data on viewing times for students viewing lecture material. It’s an example of how long you can hold the attention of some fairly motivated viewers watching something which has no entertainment value.

Read this article: Optimal Video Length

Our preference for most jobs is to use larger sensor ‘cinematic’ cameras. We love exploring the possibilities that technology offers. We’ve just acquired an aerial drone and are loving what can be achieved by getting a little height and some large scale movement – amazing vistas over cities, sports fields, music festivals. In essence though, we use whatever equipment the job demands, and choose whatever is going to elevate it above content competing in a similar space.