GUIDELINES: Here are some tips when making a video
Getting Started: The Creative Brief
It’s important to generate a creative brief when producing a video. A creative brief is a short, written document used by project managers and creative professionals to guide the development of creative materials (e.g. drama, film, visual design, narrative copy, advertising, websites, slogans) to be used in communication campaigns. It’s important to have an agreement within your organization about the video you want to produce, so that money and resources are allocated wisely.
Here are some important questions to discuss and answer:
1) What’s the purpose of the video? Here are some examples:
- Are you defining your organization?
- Are you fundraising (showing what your organization does/making an ask)?
- Showing an event (i.e. speaker or performance).
2) What’s your message (be specific because one video can’t do everything)?
3) What do you want the video to accomplish?
- What do you want people to leave with after seeing the video? What’s the action you want someone to take (make a donation, visit your site, etc).
4) Who is the audience you want to reach?
5) What’s the tone of the video (serious, funny)?
6) How do you want people to feel?
7) What makes your organization unique?
8) How will you measure the success of the video?
9) Budget and delivery date
- How much do you have to spend and what’s your delivery date
- Your filmmaker can also help you with your budget (what’s the best length for your video given your budget)
10) Distribution and Deliverables (can be worked out with your filmmaker)
- Where will your video be shown? Website? Social media?
- What final formats are needed
Finding a Filmmaker
1) Look at the links on our site to see past work of local filmmakers
2) Request a meeting with a filmmaker – see if they align with your vision
3) Get a bid from the filmmaker
4) Schedule and plan the entire job with the filmmaker
Other Tips:
1) Have good artwork for your logo for the beginning and/or end of the video
2) Put contact info at the end of your video (website, etc)
3) Music rights – there are free services on the internet. Otherwise, you have to pay for usage
4) If you’re filming people you will need to get a release giving their permission to participate in the video
5) You should have a contract or letter of agreement with your filmmaker
- What is being delivered, the payment schedule, etc
6) It is recommended that the job be a “work for hire,” which means you are paying the filmmaker for their services and any and all materials generated will be owned by your organization. It is a courtesy to give the filmmaker permission to use the video for their own promotional purposes (i.e. on their website).
Need additional help/information, contact Diane Pearlman: diane@berkshirefilm.org