It’s the big day. You’ve got a kick-ass video team coming in to shoot your new corporate video. Maybe it’s going to be a brand-new web short, or maybe it’s a full-on television spot. In either case, however, there are a few ways to make sure that you’ll be able to stretch your time on set and get the most out of your video shoot! We’ve put together a list of helpful tips to make sure that you’re getting absolutely the most bang for your buck the next time you’re on set!
Scout Your Sets
There’s a good chance that your video team, being the pros that they are, have already visited the filming location and have an idea of what will make for a good set. However, if you’re filming at your corporate office, there may be some locations that you want to feature. Be sure to think about this, and make a list so that you can share this information with your video team. Knowing what environments you’d like to use will expedite the video shoot, and get your cameras rolling quicker. The video team will be happy to work with you to make sure that you’re getting the most from your video shoot!
Keep the Cameras Rolling
You’d be surprised how valuable video content can be. Even a so-called blooper reel can be a fun way of recognizing the effort that your staff put into the video shoot, and can make for a fun internal video! On the other hand, candid interactions often make the best video content, so as long as your actors and staff are comfortable with it, be sure to keep the cameras rolling as much as possible. In every video shoot, there are always a few hidden gems that aren’t discovered until the editor goes through the raw footage and discovers them.
Get B-roll Footage
Any time that there are people around, it’s a good chance to shoot valuable B-roll footage. This is video content that is considered “secondary” to the A-roll footage, which can often be a person speaking, while B-roll tends to be such footage as an exterior shot of the office or a meeting between team members with a voice-over. This footage, while not the primary portion of the video, is valuable in creating an engaging video, and is often adjusted so as to shorten or lengthen the video. In this way, you can end up repackaging and re-purposing your video content for other tactics, hitting two birds with one stone!
Prepare a Flexible Script
If you expect to be using your video in a variety of formats, it helps to build a script that naturally lends itself to having scenes removed and dropped in. Chances are, you won’t want the same length of video or the same level of detail for your social media shorts as you will for your company overview video, but if you’re on a tight budget, you can derive both from the same video shoot! This is where it pays to put in the time on the front end with your professional video team, and communicate with them your intentions to get multi-purpose footage. They will know what to do to create the best scenes that cover all of your bases for content of all types!
Have Fun with the Video Shoot
This one we can’t stress enough. It’s no secret that a lot of planning and hard work goes into video shoots. All parties involved are heavily invested in making it turn out the best way possible. This is okay! But your video shoot should also be a fun time. Chances are, the video team are some of the coolest and most interesting professionals you’ve worked with, and they have a better time when the client is having fun with the shoot. And trust me-a happy video team makes way better video content. Make time for a decent lunch break, and have bottles of water and snacks on hand for your talent. A video shoot can be a lot of work, and a long day at the office, set, or studio, so keeping it light and fun can make what is sure to be an exhausting day a great one. Just be sure to stay on schedule!
By keeping these five quick tips in mind you will be able to get great footage that can used in a variety of ways in the future. If you have any questions about any of these topics drop us a note!
Any other industry tips to add? Share them in the comments section below!
