Thinking of making a video for your company? Here's my toolbox of "Six Tips" to get you started.
Ask yourself: why am I making this film? In other words, know your audience--specifically. What do you hope to achieve from your audience when you hit the "Stop" button.
- Hire a qualified producer/director. Check the credentials. Experience is everything! How long have they been working? What areas are they proficient in?
- One or two messages per video! Keep it simple. Identify exactly what your audience needs to know.
- Ask for demo reels. Then ask, "who did what on the reel?" Meet the producer/director to discuss your project. "Likeability" is a high factor in this business. Do you get along? Do you feel comfortable with answers you are hearing. Do they LISTEN?
- Have a sense of your budget. If you don't know, be honest and tell the producer you don't know. Having to "second guess" your budget drives a producer crazy and in the end, does not add to the team building feeling, which is so critical in making a film. A great producer will work very hard to create the best video for you, given all the resources available. Hidden agendas only wind up hurting you!
- Hire a great scriptwriter. See samples...on video, not paper! Hiring a scriptwriter provides another perspective on the subject that I might have missed. Some producers write their own material. That's fine, but get to know their style, their personality, and their areas of expertise.
