How we produce videos
OUR PROCESS TO ACHIEVE
BROADCAST QUALITY VIDEO PRODUCTIONS
Finding the right video production company to bring your vision to life can feel daunting. At Picture Lock Films we like to be as transparent as possible about our process and what you can expect when working with us. From beginning to end we focus on you and getting the very best outcome for your project.
We pride ourselves on producing broadcast quality videos and that doesn’t come without planning, processes and collaboration. When you work with Picture Lock Films you can rest assured that we’re working with you at every step of the production process. Read on to find out more about our end to end process.
FIRST MEETING
VIDEO PRODUCTION DISCOVERY STAGE
We start with you. Your project. Who is your intended audience. Your timescale. And any budget expectations.
All we need to start the ball rolling is an idea of what you’re trying to achieve and a rough idea of your budget. Good animation & video making relies on a clear editorial understanding of the subject matter.
We can either meet face to face or on a video call to get further information about your project and its objectives
Creating the brief simply starts with us asking you about the main aims of your project and to find out more about your organisation and business. Once we’ve acquired that knowledge, we can spend time thinking about the best way to interpret your creative brief/s and successfully tell your story, sell your business and represent your brand to engage your target audiences and markets.
What sort of things do we need to know about your project?
1) Who?
Who are you as a business or organisation – we’ll get to know you, your brand and values.
Who is your audience – we need to get to know your target audience, what they like and what will turn them off.
Key to any successful content is authenticity, whatever is on screen needs to feel real and not contrived or set-up.
2) What?
What type of content are you looking for? Promotional video content/conference or award show showreels and presentation videos, staff training videos, a showreel to present your business and stand out in the market place.
3) Where?
Where do you see this content being used? List every place you think you would like to host your digital content – social media platforms, employee intranets, LMS or face to face training environments, even large events. We can help make your video content work across multiple platforms
4) Why?
The most important question of all. It might seem obvious if you are promoting, informing, educating or entertaining your audience but we will help you delve into your brand values, project objectives and map out how we are going to achieve your goals.
WHAT NEXT?
THE VIDEO PRODUCTION PROCESS
Following the Discovery call or meeting, we’ll then prepare a written proposal, outline shooting script (if applicable at this stage) and an outline a budget and a deadline for delivering the content which will form the basis of the production. And generally speaking, the production consists of four phases:
1) pre-production
Live Action Filming: (cameras, lights and action)
The process generally begins with an outline shooting script with the content that’s needed to be filmed. We never go anywhere or shoot anything we haven’t thought about or discussed prior to any filming taking place.
There is also quite a bit of logistics and planning to do from identifying your locations, booking interviewees and any resources which may be required for the filming process. We’ll take into account the time of year for inside and outside locations, the time of day for the shoot and any external factors that might prevent us from filming; such as scheduled building or ground maintenance works – even the weather!
Animation/Infographics
The planning process for animation is more detailed and has a few different stages to live action filming.
For animation/infographics, we initially work on script that we’ll share with you to ensure we are covering all the bases of your project.
Once that’s signed-off we will go to work on the storyboard, showing you how each sequence will look when we get to the final animation stage. This will have the backgrounds, text information and any characters, depending on your project, and what you are looking for. It’s best and most cost effective to do any changes and amendments at this point in the production process (while you can make amends at the final animation stage it tends to be more expensive as the process of animating has to be redone for each change that is made).
2a) Filming
Filming days tend to be the expensive part of the production. Back at our planning stage we will identify the best and most appropriate method to capture your content as well as discussing some of the filming resources and kit we can bring to the shoot and the variety and type of shots each camera will get. A good shoot should be well planned and structured to produce all the material that’s needed. We also try to make the experience good fun for all involved, but the process is often more time-consuming than many people anticipate/ initially expect.
2b) Animation & Voice record
Once the storyboard and the script has been signed-off, we will record the voice over. Prior to this we will have agreed in advance who is providing the voice over. We work with a range of voice over artists and voice over agencies to ensure we can offer clients the right style of voice, tone, and accent for your project.
Once the voice record is done, it will be edited together and sent to the animators to apply to the animated scenes and images to bring everything to life.
3a) Editing (Post Production)
Clients rarely see this part of the process, although they are very welcome to. This is when the raw material (or ‘rushes’) are logged, ingested and edited. Graphics, including name straps, and music are added as is the voice-over should one be needed. However, before we spend too much on the finishing touches, we always provide clients with an early viewing copy to ensure the film and/or animation is ticking all right the boxes.
3b) Sound Design/ The Dub
This is when an animation or in some cases a live action film will go to the dub to have the sound mixed and the sound design adding. This is especially important on animation projects to create a high-quality finish. Films and animations are only sent-off to the dub when they are ‘picture locked’ – when there are no further picture changes or editing required. Also, if your film or animation has a voice over it will be ‘mixed’ in with the music bed and sound effects.
4) Approval & Delivery
Before we upload the finished video /animation we always ensure the client is happy. Normally, we provide a link to a preview site where clients can view their video/animation at their leisure.
At Picture Lock Films we understand that no two projects are the same. The possibilities are endless, and we pride ourselves at being able to offer advice and creative solutions for each of the projects we undertake. We only work with industry professionals we know and trust, who’ve a proven track record, the right experience and understanding of the equipment, technology and software used throughout the broadcast industry. Everyone who works with us is a broadcast industry professional ensuring your project is in safe hands at every stage of the production process.
If you’d like to find out more about how we work or would like to discuss your video production needs please contact us or request a call back.
VIDEO PRODUCTION PROCESS FAQs
It totally depends on the scale and the complexity of the content required, for example a short film (in live action) about promoting your business can be turned around between 5-10 days from the initial discovery call. Films that require various locations, scripts writing, research, actors casting and have more complex themes will take longer to make. However, we never let the grass grow under out feet, we can be very agile and are able to deliver content in a much shorter time scale, if required. It’s always project specific.
Animation has a slightly different workflow so timescales here will vary too. But again, content can be turned around in a matter of days not weeks as well if required. Timescales and delivery will all be discussed at the discovery stage.
The costs will be entirely governed by the ambition & scale of your project. Needless to say we will be as cost effective as possible and look to achieve any economies of scale ensuring we deliver value for money for your project. All our costs are calculated on the days required to delivery your content. All this will be discussed at our discovery & proposal stages. But as an approximate guide: Animation and Infographic content can cost upwards of £750 to £2500 per minute (this will depend on the nature of animation required.) Live action filming can start from between £650/£1000 upwards per minute. (the costs are dependent on locations/ travel/ camera equipment needed/ length of filming needed to get the content and the number of days needed for all the editing etc).
Yes, we do. We have experience of working throughout Europe, North America and as far afield as Antarctica. However, following Brexit we have some addition costs and administration to allow us to take camera equipment into EU countries as we are now required to have a carnet. (This is a temporary document to allow us to import and export the equipment in and out of the EU without any custom charges)
We are based in the north of England and are well known for video production in Sheffield and the surrounding areas such as Leeds, Derby and Manchester. However, we are available to work anywhere in the UK and often complete video production projects in London.
Yes, we carry full Public Liability & Public Indemnity Insurance. Also, every film shoot we attend we produce a full Risk Assessment to cover all our filming activities.
Yes, you do. You’ve paid for it so you own it.
We can either archive it for you at a small fee, or we can return all the rushes on a portable drive.
If you have any further questions or would like to book a discovery call then please contact us.
In the meantime if you want to get a bit more of a feel for who we are and what we do here are some helpful links:
