Production: Frequently Asked Questions

How does a video get made? What is the process?
There are three main phases of the process: Pre-production, production and post-production.

In pre-production, we work with the client to determine the basic requirements: What’s the message? Who’s your audience? What’s the tone and/or style? What’s the budget? How will the video be seen or distributed? Who will write the script? In what form will you want the project delivered?

 

Once all these questions are answered, A budget estimate will be developed by AMP. Work proceeds only after all parties have signed off on the estimate. This gives us a firm footing moving forward.

 

Next comes concepting and script development. Ideas and script content can come from AMP, the client or any combination between the two. We want to work in the manner that best suits you and your production. This process can take a day or two for a short message or many weeks for technically complex scripts that must meet approval from multiple constituencies within the client’s organization.

 

The schedule is drawn up and approved by the client. As the client, you may be responsible for securing locations, equipment and personnel within your organization. Often, “real people” from your staff will be used in the video. AMP also can, and often does, hire professional actors. The choice depends upon budget, content and style considerations.

 

Once all necessary elements are scheduled and approved, we move into the production phase, in which the cameras and lights are brought into play. This can be an exciting - and some times hectic - time. This is when having an experienced production partner like AMP is vital. Since the most efficient process can involve shooting the script out of sequence, and since disparate elements must be brought together to create the whole, knowledge of the ins and outs of the process and confidence that the end product will be what is needed are what is required. AMP brings a vast variety of production experience to bear on the process, ensuring that things go smoothly and that schedules and budgets are met.

 

When the shooting is over (and sometimes while it’s still in progress), post-production begins. This is when all the elements come together to create the show. Our editors will begin with a string-out, or rough edit, that we will present to the client to approve that the overall message is intact, coherent and effective. From this, the editors and graphic artists proceed to apply more polish and effects as required to create the right style for your project. Another round of approvals confirms that the message is complete and allows for any last-minute tweaks or corrections. Finally, the last pass of post-production ensures the i-dotting and t-crossing that makes the show complete.

 

Some clients like to sit in on the post-production process, others prefer to wait for the approvals and provide input then. AMP can work with you either way. Be advised, however that client input during the editing process can slow down the work flow considerably and may affect the budget.

Once post-production is complete, AMP can provide your video in any manner desired. This may be via DVD duplication, encoded in a variety of ways for distribution on the web, we may post the completed project to a server for streaming, or we might even give you a good old video tape for screening at a conference. This deliverable would, of course, have been determined early in the process and agreed upon in advance.

 

Can you stream video sessions recorded in studio or on location?
Yes. AMP works with a variety of third party vendors to provide flexibility and scalability for our clients when it comes to hosting and streaming video content online. We handle all the details and provide a one stop shop for clients who need to distribute content on the Web.

 

What is on-site editing? When and why would I want to use it?

On-site editing occurs anywhere outside of our editing suites. An editor with a laptop, working with our crew and producer, can edit a variety of projects on-site. Some projects require that a video be shot, edited, then shown within hours. For example, a client might choose to have us shoot a “red carpet” event before a big meeting, edit the footage, and then project the finished project just minutes after the meeting has begun. Other clients have hired us to travel to a meeting in an exotic location, where we shoot various “skits” and events and create a finale video to be shown the last night.

 

I get that you do everything “script to screen.” What if I only want the “script” part? Or the “screen” part?

Talk to us, and let’s see if we can partner together to deliver what you need. We work with many companies that have in-house producers, post facilities, what have you. Working together is often a perfect fit for everyone involved.

 

How much do corporate videos cost?

That is a great question with a long answer. Check out this article, here, for our best answer.

 

What should a corporate video runtime be?

That depends on your message, your audience, and your type of delivery. We’ve produced hours of training modules that have been used in conjunction with live training or on-line training. We’ve also created hundreds of corporate communications pieces and have learned that video is a great medium to deliver a high-impact message in a concise amount of time. We’d love to consult with you about the best length for your message, your audience, and your delivery method.

 

How long does a project take to make?

We can be very, very fast and turn projects around in days. However, it often comes down to how long it takes our clients to get group consensus or executive sign-off. So, if you can find out on your part who the decision-makers are and how much time they need to review scripts, edits, etc., then we will work diligently to create a timeline that fits your deadline.

 

Do you shoot outside of Dallas/Fort Worth?

Our studio is just east of downtown Dallas. We have personnel in Austin and Houston and provide video support throughout North Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. Of course, AMP has the capacity to deliver production services nation-wide and world-wide if the need arises, especially with our extensive experience working in the documentary style, combined with newer, small-format HD technology. In addition, we have strong relationships with the premier crew-booking agencies which can be leveraged to extend our production network effectively.

 

What makes AMP different from other production companies?

We could tell you what we think sets us apart--but why not let our clients speak for us? According to a survey conducted by Beggs Consulting, our clients describe AMP as organized, flexible, responsive, positive, respectful and logistical. We pride ourselves on being prepared and prompt--yet not rigid. We are organized to minimize surprises. But when those surprises come (and in video production, there are always surprises), we use experience and problem-solving skills to deal with them professionally.

 

It’s a time-worn cliche to say “Our people make the difference.” The funny thing is, it’s true--and our clients back us up. In the Beggs survey, clients chose phrases and words like team players, great personnel, collaborative people, and experienced to describe us. When AMP hires a team member, we don’t do so lightly. Ours is not a revolving door. We consider it an honor to work with one another, we treat each other with respect, and we believe that this quality comes through in our relationships with our clients and the work we do together.

 

Organized AND flexible. Responsive AND relationship-oriented. What this means for our clients is less stress--we work together smoothly to deliver projects on time and on budget with no surprises.

 

And when it comes to technology, AMP is on the cutting edge of this rapidly changing industry. We produce all turn-key corporate work in HD, utilizing latest-generation Panasonic cameras and P2 solid state recording media. The benefits include increased picture quality, increased camera reliability and vastly reduced capture times--time-to-edit is reduced by as much as 75%.  Another benefit is that projects can be backed up and archived more easily and inexpensively than previously possible. To this end, we have created an archival system that protects our clients’ media. We find that footage captured and archived for one project can be reused again and again and our centrally located digital server system allows for easy management of libraries of footage.

 

Most clients still desire much of their content to be delivered on standard definition formats, such as DVD.  Acquiring the media in HD offers greater picture quality throughout the process and "future-proofs" the content in case it may be needed for HD projects in the future.

 

A final differentiator: AMP is a woman-owned business, with Amy Lou Abernethy serving as President. Some of our clients find working with woman-owned businesses helps them meet diversification goals.