Hi there

Here are a few things to consider when briefing for video production:

- what style do you want the final films to be? give examples of clips you like, look at what competitors are doing, etc. A bit of research goes a long way and you can talk to the producer about whether you can achieve your ideas within the budget you have

- budget - on top of the basic, it's a good idea to allow a little extra for changes following the first edits, or things like music licenses and unforeseen extra time, for example if you plan to film one day and it rains so you have to abandon the shoot and come back! editing may take longer than you think...

- be clear about who the films are aimed at. This may seem straightforward but it's worth thinking about things like calls to action if it is marketing video, or providing interactive elements on the page if you want feedback. what do you want people to do as a result of watching the film?

- if it is a more 'viral' type film you want, then it may be worth investing a small amount in getting a script writer in. Lots of clients want 'funny' films, but it's a real skill to get humour right, and you won't necessarily get great ideas unless you invest a bit of cash to get some good ideas going. A good script writer makes all the difference.

- if it is a film which covers an event and you want to make sure certain key people are interviewed then give the crew their names and pictures in advance. it is also worth considering setting up a space away from the main action for interviews.

...

I could probably think of more, but hopefully this will help for now. There is a great book if you want to get a clear understanding of the process:

http://www.amazon.com/Pre-Production-Planning-Video-Film-Multimedia/dp/0240802713/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1247485609&sr=1-7

But a good production company should spend some time (free) running through your ideas and concepts before they pitch for the job.

Hope this helps!

Sarah

p.s. (I run Kinura - a web video company - but happy to just have a chat if you want to talk about anything - no hard sell)! :) I'll have a look if i have any client briefs that you could use as reference too.

Hi Anon,

We are an end to end Online Video Solutions provider and work on all aspects of Online Video from conception to Players hosting and seeding.

The brief side is important, but you just need to know what you want to achive and find somone who can specialise in comunication this through video.

Give me a call on +44 7990 812 497or drop me a mail at  and I'll walk you trough the proces.

I look forward to hearing from you

All the best

Alistair