As a rule of thumb, in video production, there are a handful of factors that all affect the final price of your live action video. The good news is that none of these factors are a mystery and most of them can even be planned for ahead of time. Surprise cost changes are bound to happen from time to time, but knowing what variables you can control and planning accordingly will save you the headache of breaking your budget later. Here are a few decisions to consider carefully when planning your next live action video.
Talent
Your talent encompasses all on-screen individuals (including voice talent) involved in your production. Your decision lies in whether you would like to hire outside talent or use your own employees and contacts. Hiring professionals will up your price in more ways than one, but will also increase production value.
When you decide to hire outside talent for your live action video, first keep in mind the cost involved in casting. The number of days set aside to find the perfect performer will depend on the number of actors you need in your production. Then there are the fees associated with their work on set. The price will be dependent on how big the part is for each actor, how long and how many days they are on set, and if they are compensated for travel. The good news is, once the shooting is complete, talent costs are closed!
Location
Finding the perfect location is essential to your live action video, and being smart about your choices is even more important. When thinking about your setting, your biggest decision will be whether to shoot in studio or on location. Shooting in studio limits you to the aesthetics of the space and what you can do with a solid backdrop or green screen. This option is ultimately much cheaper. The alternative requires location scouting, and certain venues may come with usage fees, permit requirements, and transportation needs for the parties involved. Outdoor productions face dealing with the unpredictability of the weather. In the instance of bad weather, you run the risk of adding production days to the schedule if you aren’t able to work around the conditions. All of these associated costs are typically billed back to the client. Shooting on location becomes especially costly when your set is not local and you are paying for some combination of mileage, airfare, rental vehicles, and meals. Weigh your options carefully when choosing a location – some settings are more essential to a production than others.
Hair and Makeup
Keeping your talent looking fresh throughout your shoot makes for a more professional, higher-quality finished product. The details matter. But being smart about your hair and makeup choices matter, too. The biggest cost-factor to consider when choosing a hair and makeup artist is whether you will outsource the work or have someone on your team step up to meet that need. Anything you can keep in-house will typically reduce your final price, but sometimes at a cost. Knowing what type of skill set you are working with before you commit can save you the headache of working through a shoot with mediocre hair and makeup artistry. This is also true of professionals. Not all professionals are created equal. Be sure to see a portfolio of work before any decisions are made.
Regardless of which you choose, be aware of other cost-altering factors. The number of actors who will need hair and makeup attention will influence how much you are charged as most artists have per-person fees in addition to an hourly or day rate. This means you should also keep in mind the duration of your filming. Will you need your artists on set for the entire shoot? Will anyone need touchups throughout the day, or is this is one-and-done deal? Each task adds to the professional’s service time, so be sure to understand your artist’s pricing breakdown and know what type of cost to expect.
Set Design and Art Direction
When thinking about set design and art direction, the amount of work and supplies you invest is largely going to be determined by the location you choose. Some venues will have a natural setting you can work with or that provides all the materials you need to build your set. When you choose this option, you eliminate much of the pre-production involved with set design and art direction, and pre-production is where the cost will add up.
You’ll sit in on meetings to discuss exactly what each scene, character, and prop should look like. There will be coordination with the venue and vendors for any/all involved to ensure smooth execution on the day of. Materials costs can add up quickly when you begin to build a repertoire of costumes, props, and anything custom to create the backdrop. And don’t forget the time it takes to build, assemble, and create any assets. You can start to see how quickly set design and art direction become costly and time consuming. Remember this when in the planning stages for your live action video. Often times, simple is better.
Script
In terms of scriptwriting, the more content and ideas you can provide for your agency, the faster the project will progress, which means less work time time billed back to you. When you come into the process with great ideas and an open mind, locking a script is a simple process. When you give the agency your ideas, they will use their experience and knowledge to mold them into a polished up version that will shine on screen. Without any idea of what you’re looking for, you can expect to spend more time brainstorming and fleshing out ideas before you even reach the stage of polishing. Enter the process prepared, and your experience will be a smooth one.
Day of Shooting
Decisions for the day of shooting will take place before shoot, but affect the look and feel of your production. What types of equipment and the number of pieces you choose/need will be a major player in determining the final cost. A typical broadcast commercial requires a 2-camera set with all associated sound equipment. If your piece is more involved, you may need to increase the number of cameras and crew to achieve your look. Extra cameras lenses, stands, tripods, lights, microphones, etc. all factor into what numbers you see on that final price tag.
Some shoots will take advantage of drones, cranes, or a grip truck, which again, will cost extra. This is not to say they are completely unnecessary, because using these types of equipment can really add extra value to your final product. But be sure to discuss all options with your agency to get the best bang for your buck.
Music
Once your footage is shot, it’s time for post-processing to begin. One decision you’ll have to make here is what kind of music you’d like used in your live action video. You’ll have a few options – stock music, custom tracks, and licensed music. Stock music is the most common and least expensive. Agencies pay a certain fee associated with an individual track that gives them the right to use the music you hear in your video. Some artists compose music specifically for stock purposes, so you generally won’t find any recognized artists work here. In a custom track, you or the agency has the music composed based off your specifications. This will guarantee a unique sound experience for your live action video, but is a step up on the price scale. The most expensive option is using a licensed track. This requires the artist of the music you want to use giving you express permission to use their work in your video.
Animation
In post-production, you will have the option to add animation to your live action video. This is a great way to add extra interest to your video and make an impact by accentuating certain points to stand out. If you decide to add animation to your final production, the level of detail in the animation will affect the specific price of the animation. Higher numbers of animated pieces and higher level of detail will drive up your cost, so weigh your options carefully. And as always, don’t hesitate to seek opinions and advice from your agency. It is, after all, their job to produce a piece that perfectly suits your needs.
