Video Services by Type

The difference between a video service and a video sector is that video services relate to the type of video being made, whereas a video sector is the industry area that a film is being made for. So, for example, a video sector production like corporate (company) can use different video services such as filming for live events or training. And corporate sector films can also be fly-on-the-wall documentaries, TV adverts, or product videos. So the difference is that a film service refers to a type of video and a sector is an industry for which the production is being made.

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The main ingredient that a good film production company needs to make award-winning films is the ability to tell a story interestingly. It is the same for every type of video.

Planning in the film industry comes under the umbrella of production, and this is another critical element of making good movies or videos. There is a real skill in identifying what a client wants and knowing how to produce the best possible end-product within the available budget. With experience, it is possible to optimise production values without investing heavily in making a video.

For example, some production companies send out large crews for what essentially is a two or three-person project, cutting costs on creativity, equipment, or edit quality and time. All the elements need to be balanced in the correct ratio in making an excellent film, like making a cake.

The result is usually very good if the ingredients are used in the right amounts and the right way. That’s the same with film-making.

Yes and No! It matters if you’re trying to make a high-end TV commercial or feature film using an iPhone, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to use the most expensive cameras – or the cheapest!

What matters is the quality of the equipment, including lenses, lighting, and sound, together with the knowledge and creative capabilities of the camera operator and Director of Photography making the film.

From a technical perspective, using cinema cameras for quality video productions can make a significant difference because better cameras capture low-light images and give a more realistic result. Often, using DSLR or Mirrorless cameras to make video productions can compromise the quality of the end-product. As a result, it is much more difficult to get a professional end-product.

TV Commissioning, for example, usually stipulates what cameras are or are not acceptable to make broadcast television. They do this because they know that some cameras give a more enjoyable viewer experience than others. On the other hand, Thinktank generally uses cinema cameras to give clients the best possible quality result.

Not having a clear plan and end goal is the biggest mistake, closely followed by selecting a video production company based on their fee.

Unfortunately, like most things in life, you get what you pay for, which is true when creating video content.

The next biggest mistake to make is not checking out where you are filming and what it may look or sound like on camera.

Eyes work differently from cameras, and ears work completely differently from microphones. Because we make a lot of films in the UK and many around Manchester and Liverpool, the weather is often an overriding factor when filming.

Large expansive offices with tons of light shining through the window look marvellous to the human eye. Yet, on camera, when the sun goes behind the clouds and then comes out again, it can cause havoc to the film crew or in the edit. The same is true with lighting.

If you’re filming interviews and the sun goes down, editing interviews can be a challenge. We’ve arrived on location many times only to find quiet rooms situated next to busy areas, with air conditioning which can’t be turned off or next to high-street locations in the City Centre (think London, Manchester or Liverpool) with heavy traffic passing by.

If you’re unsure what type of film works best for you, think about what you wish to achieve from making a video.

It may be possible to make one film then repurpose this for different uses. For example, a product launch film may be converted or adapted for use as social media video content.

Depending on your market sector, you may also be able to use your video for training materials or in-store promotions. So, it may be best to start thinking about what you want to achieve and speak to a film production company like Thinktank to get advice about the most cost-effective way of repurposing existing content for other uses.

Video content helps with SEO from several perspectives. First, it is a content-rich format. Secondly, it helps engagement, meaning that website visitors will stay longer on your site. In turn, this leads to higher search engine rankings. Together the result is likely to be more web traffic, higher engagement, and more conversions for your organization.

It’s really important to know that videos are generally only as good as their subject matter. It’s impossible to make a film about paper clips and make the product look like an iPhone advert. That’s where creativity comes into play.

The drier the subject matter, the more creative you need to be to make engaging video content. One important thing to remember when making a video is that you can only film what is in front of you! If something doesn’t exist, then it cannot be filmed.

There’s a common trick that the mind plays on people when making video – it’s called Director’s Eye. This happens when you think that something has been filmed because you have seen it happen with your own eyes, sometimes even imagined it! Yes, this does happen! Often these things may have happened, but it can be when something is not being filmed or when the cameras are pointing in a different direction of focusing on something else.

Yes, social video content does need to be high quality for many reasons. First, unlike videos made ten years ago, which may be somewhere on a hard drive, social content tends to stay around for a very long time.

For example, if you’re using the content on YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook, the content is still likely to be available in years to come. So, it’s important to make good quality content consistently, keeping your brand values intact.

The main factors affecting the cost of video services are talent fees (if needed), travel and accommodation (if necessary), production team size, crew size, equipment hire, location fees (if any), and the amount of time required for planning, producing and editing your production.

Of course, with TV advertising, there are other unavoidable costs such as specialist colour grading and delivery fees; however, on the whole, these are the most common factors affecting the cost of video production services.