What does a typical image film production process look like?
Do you want to increase awareness and recognition of your brand? Do you want your customers to start seeing it in a positive light? This is a good reason to make an image film. If you are trying on creating one, see how the production process looks like in practice.
Image film, or what kind of film?
An image/corporate film is not a standard advertisement that is supposed to induce a customer to buy a certain product. It’s material that is primarily intended to arouse positive emotions towards your company – so that it is perceived in a certain way. That is, how? That depends on who you are targeting.
- If you operate in the B2B market – you may want to show yourself, for example, as an experienced professional in your industry.
- When operating in the B2C world, you may want customers to think of your brand as a partner “with a human face” – cool, friendly, close.
A properly prepared production will help you present yourself to the market and have the desired effect. However, in order for this to happen, you need to go through the process of preparing an image film. And this requires time, energy and the involvement of a team of specialists.
Stages of preparation of an image film – how can it look like?
At the outset, it is worth noting an important thing: each production is different.Experience shows us that in the implementation of each creation we act a little differently – so as to move as smoothly as possible from the idea to the receipt of the finished publication. However, a few typical stages can be distinguished. Here’s what that might look like.
Step 1: Conceptualize the image film, or brief.
You know that your company could use an image film. But what kind specifically? What should this creation communicate to your customers or clients? What goals should it help you achieve? These are just a selection of the elements you need to include in the brief. It is the starting point for creating a specific plan for production.
At this stage, both the communication and marketing assumptions and the production budget should be defined. This will ensure that the emerging concept will find a viable translation into practice.
Step 2: Film script
Every film – even the shortest – must have a script.The more accurate, the better. The good news is: you don’t have to prepare it yourself. If you don’t have a ready-made creation – our team will prepare it.We know how to translate your assumptions and goals into an image and story that will attract attention.Of course, you are the one who ultimately approves it.It is important that the script depicts your vision as much as possible.This will make post-production go quickly and smoothly.
Do you have an idea of what you want your image film to look like? Or are you looking for inspiration? Talk to Justyna about it –
Step 3: Prepare for production
Once the script is approved, you can start preparing for filming. What will they include? Most of the tasks at this stage are “on the head” of the film creative agency that is handling the production. What activities are involved? These include issues related to:
- documentation;
- the selection of filming locations (i.e., the interiors of your company or locations in the surrounding area where the photos will be shot, for example);
- the logistics and order of shooting at your company;
- selecting the people who will appear on the screen (they can be both actors and your employees – depending on the conditions, situation and preferences);
- Formalities – for example, signing an image acquisition agreement with the employees who will play/stand in the resulting production;
- selecting the appropriate equipment for filming;
- planning the shooting schedule.
In a word, there is a lot going on at the pre-production stage. The final result depends on how diligently one approaches the preparation!
Read also: How to prepare for shooting an image film?
Step 4: Image film production, or shooting.
When all the details are caught up, and the shooting calendar – buttoned up to the last button, the crew can enter the set. Most often this happens on a “normal” working day – most of the shooting can easily take place without disrupting the normal rhythm of your team. This is important because recording how the company really works adds authenticity to the production.
On shooting days, you can expect a sizable crew to show up at your place – not just camera operators or the director, but also, for example, make-up specialists or sound engineers. Naturally, you will receive information about the composition of the crew in advance.
Step 5: Post-production
Just shooting the footage is not the end of the work. Now you need to review the collected material and edit it – so that a meaningful, appealing story is created from it. At this stage one usually also works on:
- possible catching up with the sound from the “off” (that is, the voiceover, which will be the narrator of the film story);
- additional visual effects (e.g. subtitles, graphics, animation); special effects, color enhancement, etc.
Only after the material is fully developed and the client approves it – the image film can go “into the world”.
And finally, the most important: the process of producing an image film does not have to be “painful” for your company at all.On the contrary! With our team, the transition from concept to publication will go smoothly, smoothly and without stress. Do you want to talk about it? Get in touch to discuss the details!