The video production Guide

When it comes to engaging with customers online, nothing is more effective than video. It gets your message across more quickly and clearly and visitors to your site will watch a video far longer than they will read text. You can also post it to YouTube and Vimeo, or even show it to live audiences at events and trade fairs. However, how do you go about making a video that looks professional and conveys quality? We are a London based agency specialising in high-quality video production. Here at Courage Media, we are confident we can help you to achieve your objectives with your video production. This guide will take you through the basics.

The video production process

Video production is made up of three stages: Pre-production. The basic idea for the video is developed at this stage. It will involve working with a few initial ideas to determine which is likely to be the most effective. A script will be created, followed by a storyboard, which enables the director to see how the video is to be shot. We can supply you with a scriptwriter and storyboard artist who will help bring your vision to life. We can also location scout on your behalf as we know all the best places to shoot in London. Finally, we can help with casting. You may wish to present your video yourself but this is not always the best option, as a professional presenter can often make more of an impact. You will need actors if you want your video to tell a story.

Production

This is where your video is actually shot, either on location or in a studio. We can supply you with a trained camera operator and even with a UAV pilot, so you have the option of adding impressive aerial shots to your video. We will ensure that everything goes to plan and that shooting is completed within the planned timeframe, keeping costs down. If you’ve decided to use actors or presenters we’ve sourced for you, you can be confident that they’ll know exactly what to do.

How does it work?

Video production is made up of three stages: Pre-production. The basic idea for the video is developed at this stage. It will involve working with a few initial ideas to determine which is likely to be the most effective. A script will be created, followed by a storyboard, which enables the director to see how the video is to be shot. We can supply you with a scriptwriter and storyboard artist who will help bring your vision to life. We can also location scout on your behalf as we know all the best places to shoot in London. Finally, we can help with casting. You may wish to present your video yourself but this is not always the best option, as a professional presenter can often make more of an impact. You will need actors if you want your video to tell a story.

Why use an agency?

In an age when millions of teenagers have video blogs, some business owners ask why they need to get outside help to make their videos. The simple answer is that without it the finished product is likely to look amateurish and will not impress viewers. Your video is, in effect, your shop window. It’s the first way many people will encounter your business and it absolutely has to make a good impression.

Working with an agency like Courage Media means you can be confident that your video will be well presented (even if you’re making it yourself, we can show you how to stand and speak more effectively), properly lit and well framed. If it involves action, we’ll make sure the camera movement is smooth and we’ll ensure that you achieve good sound quality. Our professional expertise guarantees you a high-quality product. What’s more, because doing it yourself is so time consuming – having to learn new skills and correcting errors – it takes a lot of time from other, perhaps equally important work. Usually the case is that it will be cheaper overall to use an agency.

Post-production

We’re very proud of our post-production team. They take the raw material from our shoots and turn it into the polished products our customers have been hoping for. We have first-rate motion graphics specialists who use After Effects and Maya to refine and stylise videos as well as adding the visual extras that some of our clients require. They can do everything from editing out distracting movement in the background to adding animation – whatever is necessary to bring your original storyboard to life. Our excellent audio editors, who include Pro Tool specialists, can get rid of unwanted noise, add sound effects and even make voices sound better.

Editing is one of those tasks that involves a very steep learning curve and is notoriously time-

consuming for non-experts, so it’s a stage at which you’ll be particularly glad to have Courage Media’s experts on your side.

Equipment required

To make an effective video you don’t just need professional expertise, you’ll need professional quality equipment – and we can supply it. We have everything from high-end cameras and sound gear to adjustable lighting rigs and, for use in the post-production stage, full editing suites. There’s no need to rely on second-rate audio from your camera – we’ll mic you professionally so that you sound good even if you’re outside in rough weather. We’ll adjust the look of your chosen location or studio spot to create the mood you want your video to convey.

The production industry is constantly changing and evolving with the continued advancements in technology. At Courage Media we use cutting edge equipment, such as Gimbals and Drones, to give your film the highest production value possible.

Your video – your way

Everybody wants something different from their videos and that’s fantastic, because potential

customers are attracted to things they haven’t seen before. What you will need to focus on is finding the right balance between attention-getting novelty and the sophistication that assures them you’re competent and reliable – somebody they will really benefit from doing business with. At Courage Media, we can help you hit the right note. We’ll help you to create a video with both character and selling power.

Whether you’re a first timer or somebody that has experimented with video without great success, we can turn things around for you. Our London location means that we’re right in the heart of the media scene with access to all the best talent. Get in touch and let us put all we offer at your service.

The production industry is constantly changing and evolving with the continued advancements in technology. At Courage Media we use cutting edge equipment, such as Gimbals and Drones, to give your film the highest production value possible.