Useful
Information...
We know video production can be a bit intimidating so here is some information to help you out.
Video production costs can vary drastically depending on what the project is, which equipment is required, the amount of shoot days and many other factors. Some shoots require just one camera operator with a lightweight camera and no lighting, which will be on the lower end of the cost scale. On the other hand, a three day TV commercial shoot with 10 crew, multiple cameras and numerous deliverables will be considerably more. To get an idea of what your project might cost, send us an email outlining your project and we will build a quote for you.
It comes down to which production company you feel understands your needs and what your goal is.
I'm sure you have looked at many showreels by now, so which one do you feel can produce what you are looking for? What style do you have in mind? what is your budget? Where is this video being hosted or played out?
After considering the above it should become clear to which company you should go with.
Not sure if Saros Films is right for your brand? Let's get on a call and we can discuss your needs. If we can't accommodate your project, we will do our best to find the production company that suits you.Multi-camera productions can be used for many different projects, at varying scales. I will use a case study which Saros has done many times before to give you an idea of what is involved.
We captured Bonobo's record breaking tour at London's Royal Albert Hall with an eight camera set up. In the pre-production process we work out what we want to capture to give the best coverage of the event. Working with the team at Royal Albert Hall we blocked out our camera positions and decided how each one will be rigged. During rehearsals we work with the artist to plan out different focus points throughout the show running order to make sure we don't miss any key events. With the exception of a couple of static out of reach cameras, each camera was operated at all times.
There are varying ways in which multi-camera set ups can be monitored or vision mixed live back stage, which in turn adds a bigger crew and more kit to make possible.1. Camera positions and coverage
Plan your shots before the show starts. You want enough variety to make the edit feel energetic:-
Wide master of the stage
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Tight performance shots
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Crowd reactions and atmosphere
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Artist interactions
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Detail shots — hands, instruments, lighting, signage
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Alternative angles from backstage/VIP areas if permitted
Key question: If one camera fails, do I still have enough coverage to build the film?
2. Audio
Great visuals won't save bad audio. Establish exactly where your audio is coming from:-
Take a feed directly from the sound desk where possible
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Record a separate camera/ambient track for crowd atmosphere
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Confirm who is responsible for recording the multitrack/board mix
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Make sure you understand the PA and stage setup before shooting
For a polished event film, I'd generally want clean desk audio + your own ambient recordings.
3. Lighting
Live lighting can change dramatically from one second to the next. Check:-
LED screens and flickering fixtures
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Very dark stages followed by intense spotlights
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Backlighting and silhouettes
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Moving lights hitting the lens
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Whether your cameras can handle the dynamic range
Do a proper lighting rehearsal/test recording if possible rather than judging everything by eye.
4. Shooting plan
Don't just document the performance — think about the edit while you're filming.
Work out:-
Which songs/moments are the priority
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When you need wide, mid and close shots
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Where cameras can safely move
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Who is covering which performer
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What B-roll you need before, during and after the show
For multi-camera shoots, give every operator a specific responsibility so you're not ending up with five cameras all shooting the lead singer.
5. Access
This can make or break an event shoot. Confirm beforehand:-
Camera pit/access requirements
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Artist/venue permissions
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Where you can place tripods
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Power and cable runs
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Security restrictions
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Whether you can film the audience
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Parking/load-in times
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Crew passes
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Insurance requirements
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How and where gear can be stored safely
The biggest mistake is treating a live event like a normal shoot. You don't get a second take, so your preparation needs to account for things going wrong.
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The key is to have a very clear plan in advance going into the shoot day.
Are you capturing content already? Can you use that footage or do you need an extra person shooting socially native phone videos? These are questions that need to be asked from the beginning.
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Work out what your online audience is going to engage with and from the day of filming what content is worthy of editing into clips. I always suggest quality over quantity, a great clip with high engagement is more valuable than lots of clips which aren't engaging and hurting your algorithm.
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Plan a variety of content, for example, don't have two cameras pointing at the same thing, if one if capturing your main subject, have the other filming behind the scenes content. This way you have two separate pieces of content in the same moment but giving the audience a different experience in each.
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Look at social media trends and how you can incorporate these in to your shoot day. These put your brand right on the forefront of social media, reaching audience that your content hasn't previously resonated with. Joining a trend at the right moment can produce huge wins, amassing millions of views in some cases.
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Give your audience some exclusives, make them feel included in your brands future and that they are part of something bigger than just a product or service.
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Create a release schedule and stagger the posting times of the content. See when your audience is online and post just before the peak for the biggest impact.
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With a strong plan and researched strategy, social media can be an extremely strong marketing tool.
The key difference is what they are responsible for.
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Video Production Company: Focuses on the creation and execution of video content. From filming and directing through to editing and delivery. They are the people who physically make the content.
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Video Agency: Takes a more strategic and creative approach, often working with clients on the overall content strategy, concepts, campaigns and distribution, then managing the production process.
In simple terms, a production company makes the video, while an agency helps decide what video should be made and why, although the two often overlap.
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