How to Create a Video Production Budget

Why is Video Quality So Important?

Whether you're talking about a commercial, a narrative film or television show, a live event or something else entirely - what you're really talking about is a visual medium.

Film and television depend on two main elements to create the desired response in people - the way something looks and the way something sounds. If video quality is inherently lacking, a finished product will start to look amateurish in a way that is off-putting to most people. That isn't how you effectively sell something in a commercial, and it certainly isn't how you create the emotional response people are looking for when it comes to a narrative.

A lot of (proverbial) blood, sweat and tears go into any production and the finished product should always be taken seriously. Lower quality video prevents that from happening, blurring the line between "professional production" and "amateur video shot on a consumer-grade camera or smartphone" in a way that you can't afford to deal with.

Not only that, but the reverse is also true. The better something looks, the more people will respond to it positively. They will assume a project is more "professional" or had a bigger budget than it truly did, allowing you to maximize your return on investment as much as possible.

These days, it's possible to capture incredible video quality in stunning detail with relatively inexpensive cameras - if you know how to operate them, that is.

A Breakdown of Video Production Costs

When it comes to video production, everything has a cost. These expenses are commonly separated into two different categories: everything unfolding in front of the camera and everything necessary behind the camera.

In terms of what is taking place in front of the camera, understand that absolutely everything you see and hear has a dollar value attached to it. If a scene in the script says something even as simple as "A male character in a green shirt walks across a room and picks up a book from a table" can be broken down into the following costs:

• You need a male actor, whom you will assumedly be paying.
• They're wearing a green shirt, which will need to be purchased.
• They're in a room, which means you have to find an indoor location to shoot in, which will also cost money.
• That room needs to have a table if it doesn't already (a potential additional expense).
• You will also need to find the book to be used as a prop.
• If there is any music playing, that will either need to be recorded or licensed for use.

With that, one seemingly straightforward sentence turns into multiple unique costs. Then, this process must be repeated for every scene throughout the entirety of the script. Set dressing, vehicles, etc. - it all must be budgeted.

Of course, you won't be paying actors and actresses for each individual scene - you'll be paying them once. But the same principle applies.

Then, you have the behind the camera costs - meaning crew and special equipment. While live event coverage like sporting events or conferences likely won't have a script (meaning you can eliminate some of those expenses above), you'll still need experienced crew members and special equipment to cover it all. That means not just cameras but sound recording equipment, lighting equipment, etc.

When to Hire a Production Company or Freelancer

Ultimately, the decision whether to hire a production company or freelancer will probably be influenced by budget more than any other factor.

Again, even "modest" productions have a lot of elements and associated expenses to account for. Equipment needs to be rented. Crew members need to be hired to operate those assets. Studio space needs to be secured. The list goes on and on.

When the financial (and especially the time) cost of putting this all together yourself becomes too much, hiring a production company or freelancer is absolutely the way to go. Not only do they bring experience to the project that you and your colleagues may lack, but they also probably have at least a few of the aforementioned resources, too.

Many production companies like TV Pro Gear offer access to their own camera and sound equipment, studio space, and even crew members. That way, you can maximize your budget predictably and still enjoy all the other advantages of hiring a production company or freelancer as well.

At TV Pro Gear, we pride ourselves on our ability to bring a unique approach to every production we handle, making sure that everything is executed flawlessly and to your liking. Not only does our passionate team have years of combined experience in live-streaming events, film, and television, but we've also done commercials, concerts, corporate videos, and more.

The logistics of live video production can quickly start to feel unwieldy, because there are a lot of "moving parts" that need to be accounted for. That's why we work directly with clients to understand their vision and what we need to do to help bring it to life - that way, they can focus less on the mechanics and more on what shape the finished product will take, exactly as it should be.

If you'd like to find out more about how to create a video production budget, or if you'd just like to discuss your film production needs with a team of passionate experts in a more personal way, please don't hesitate to contact the team at TV Pro Gear today.