It can also mean a company that comes up with a concept and script for your project, but doesn’t actually complete the work; conversely, it could mean an organization that will accept a script and move forward to finish your project; or, it could reflect the capacity to finish your project from concept to delivery.

What does this mean for your choice of vendor and how do you decide if you have the  right one?

What sort of company you need depends on who you are and what your project entails.

If your production is short, straightforward, and well-planned, and if you’re experienced with videos, you can probably work with just about any reputable company and get good results.

If your production is more complex, you’re not precisely sure of what you need, and you’re not steeped in knowledge about video production, you may want to give some thought to selecting what will be the best video production company for you.

Here are five qualities that a full-service production company offers.

1. A professional project management staff. You want to work with a firm that knows how to manage your project, in addition to having the creative and technology skills to carry it off. This means they know how to communicate with you, how to bring your project in on time and on budget, and have systems in place to involve you in the process.
2. A dedicated team to work on your account. You need to be able to talk to one specific liaison throughout the process, who has a deep understanding of your business and the project, and who in turn directs an entire team of creative experts. (More on them below.)
3. A well-practiced and documented process for creating the video. If initial discussions don’t evidence such documentation, you may want to look elsewhere. You want to work with people who knows step D comes after step B but before step L, because they’ve gone ‘round this barn enough times to know what is most efficient and effective.
4. A QA process to ensure the final outcome meets your requirements. Successful Quality Assurance means you get no alarming surprises: the project proceeds and finishes on a timeline and a budget you agree to. The finished product accurately reflects your company and its mission, and it does the job you need done.
5. Experience in making the kind of production you need. Video production can include thousands of approaches and techniques to tell the story you want told. You want to work with a company who has successfully used those approaches and techniques in the past. They may not have produced a video before for your specific service or product, but they have performed well using the approaches and technology that will best serve you.

Having In-house Experts

A full-service video production company must have creative staff able to perform many in-depth skills, including:

• Writing
• Directing
• Project management
• Project coordination
• Animation
• Sound
• Camera operation
• Computer and software operation
• Computer and software programming
• On-set staff

In addition, a whole range of specialists may be required for your project: for instance, make-up, color, green screen  and technology of all sorts. If a company you’re considering doesn’t have each of these experts on staff, they should have a network of contractors to call on with whom they’ve worked in the past.

As you interviewing video production companies, you have two pieces of homework:

1. Realistically assess your own experience and knowledge in video creation.
2. Understand the company’s approach, capabilities, past experience, and the range of activities they can do for you.

For other insightful advice, watch the vBook & download the eBook titled “Ultimate Guide to Hiring a Promotional Video Production Company.”

The post Five Things Only the Best Production Companies Offer appeared first on RCP Learning.

Now you might be wondering, “How do I hire a company to create something I don’t know anything about?” You may not (and probably shouldn’t, but we’ll get to that soon) even know the specific parameters of your project yet.

It can be daunting to launch into a field with which you’re unfamiliar—and there are some bases you want to be sure and cover. But finding talented, reputable people who want to do an excellent job for you isn’t difficult, and might even be fun. Here are a few steps to making a confident decision.

If you’re not sure exactly what kind of production you want yet, that’s good. Let your production company help you consider your audience, message, and the desired outcome—they’re the professionals, after all, and may have options you’re not aware of—and then select the appropriate medium. For example, you might want an animation to explain a complex concept, or an actor-based how-to video for a new product or service.

Because you’re not quite sure of your direction going in, the production company you choose needs to have a broad range of capabilities, including video animation and mixed-media, so that no matter what you decide you want, they can deliver it without compromise.

As with any such choice, ask others you trust for recommendations, and research a few companies. If you like to work with people face to face, you might prioritize local companies; if you’re comfortable working online, you can go further afield. You will probably end up with a couple of companies that you want to interview in depth.

Who are these people?

Each company’s website should introduce its primary players and clearly communicate their specialties, education, and years of experience.  Websites may also list awards and organizational memberships that indicate recognition from and participation in the field.

In initial conversations, listen for the ability to understand your project thoroughly:

• Are you able to communicate easily?
• Do you feel you are being heard?
• Are you hearing a range of enthusiastic ideas for how your project might best be tackled?

Ask about the process:

• How does this company work with clients?
• Are they clear about decision trees and deadlines?
• What happens if you need to make a change somewhere along the line?
• Will the budget be clearly documented, so you know bottom-line impacts for changes?

Know what you’re looking for

You want a video production company with three clear strengths: creativity, technical skills, and project management. You want people with imagination and vision who know their craft and will deliver a product to you within the deadlines and budgets set.

So what can you ask for that will demonstrate those characteristics and abilities?

Ask to view a portfolio of their work.

Ask for a Portfolio review

You should be able to see a selection of productions that are similar to the one you are planning. Some projects are proprietary, but an experienced company will be able to share a fair sample of their work with you.

As you view each piece in the portfolio, inquire:

• Was the organization responsible for the entire production or just an element of it?
• Were they collaborating with other organizations?
• What facets of each sample might be similar to your needs or project?
• What technical skills does each piece illustrate? For instance, does the portfolio reflect a range of software and media?
• Is the technology used older, or is the company keeping up with new options?
• What was challenging about the portfolio pieces? How did the company meet those challenges? (Listen for creative approaches and the willingness to learn new things.)

Learning about the people in the company, interacting with them, and viewing a portfolio of their previous work are fundamental steps in deciding which video production company to hire. It’s an important decision, and with due diligence, you’ll reap a satisfying experience and a great product. Then you’ll be the experienced customer recommending the company to others!

For other insights, watch the vBook and download the eBook titled “Ultimate Guide to Hiring a Promotional Video Production Company.”

The post What to Look for in a Creative Video Production Company appeared first on RCP Learning.

It all takes time.  Sometimes, we don’t have that luxury.

If you find yourself on a short timeline to find the video production company you want to work with, you probably feel stressed in the first place. Here are a few tips to save you some time without risking disaster.

Use your network

Like finding a good dentist or someone to cut your hair, the first step is to activate your network of professional and personal friends. Professional video production is a widespread activity. When you find people who have experience with it, interview them!

• What was their experience like? What made it easier or harder, faster or slower?
• Who did they work with? Would they recommend that company to you?
• Was their project similar to yours, or do you require different capabilities?
• What do they see as that company’s strengths and weaknesses? Did they feel they got good value for their money?
• Has the video filled the need that prompted its creation?  How well and why?
• What would they do differently if they were to do another video project?

Instead of telling the world what you’re eating for breakfast, you can use social networking to do something that’s meaningful.  — Edward Norton

Find videos you like and work backwards

You have an advantage in that, if you’re looking to hire someone to create video for you, you are likely to have been noticing videos for awhile. You’ve probably seen some videos online that are similar in some way to your project; and if you haven’t, it’s not too tough to use YouTube, Vimeo or our website to find some.

Now you can use that list of videos you like to find companies and interview them… which is a much better strategy than calling the first company that shows up on a basic Google search.

To work backwards, note the name of the company that produced the video you like. Often you’ll find it in the credits at the end; or in the description of the video.

Alternatively, you can call the company for whom the video you like was made. Ask them who produced the video, and use the questions above to interview them about that specific company!

Now it’s just a matter of finding that company online and giving them a call. You can tell them, “I found your company because I saw [name of video] and I liked it. It seems similar to what I’m planning. Can you tell me the story of how you worked with [name] to develop that video?”

Ask for metrics that demonstrate how effective the company’s projects become. 

Finally, ask how the company would approach your project—both in creating and launching the video. If you’re satisfied with your interaction so far, you’ve found a company you may well end up hiring, and saved yourself some research time in the process.

There’s more interviewing to do before you make a final decision (see Five Qualities to Look for in Video Production Companies), and it’s always wise to talk to more than one company. But you’ve launched a good search, and you’re well on your way to getting that video started.

For other insights, watch the vBook and download the eBook titled “Ultimate Guide to Hiring a Promotional Video Production Company.”

The post The Super Quick Way to Find a Great Video Production Company appeared first on RCP Learning.