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ESTIMATED PROJECT COST
Best Estimate
Low Range
High Range
General
How long will the video program be?
The length of a program is an important factor in its cost, but it is not a 1-1 correspondence. You can't price a video project on a per-minute basis. The effort and resources put into a 30-second commercial often exceed that of a 30-minute marketing video. In combination, all the other factors below determine the cost more than just the program length.
FAQ
0-5
5-10
10-30
>30
minutes
What quality level do you need?
We keep the project's purpose in perspective to hold the budget in check.
FAQ
Medium – project is for internal or one-time use only
High – video has to represent the quality of our product or organization
Very High – promotional or advertising program to entice potential customers
Pre-Production
Do you need a script?
Not every project needs a script, for example documenting an event. But if you write your own script, we will break it down into scenes for efficient shooting and if you'd like, make suggestions. If you need more help writing it, we're here for you.
FAQ
Nothing needs to be written for this project
We will write a script
We have an outline which needs to be turned into a real script
We need full scripting services, but we know what we want
We need you to help us develop a concept and a script
Pre-production planning
The more complex a project, the more time and experience it takes to coordinate all the moving pieces.
FAQ
No planning needed
We will make all the arrangements
You will help us coordinate 1-3 people and/or locations
You will coordinate half-a-dozen people and/or locations
This is a complex project needing extensive pre-production
Locations
(Only one location is covered by this Estimator)
Let's talk if you need to shoot in multiple locations (where we drive from one place to another). The logistics get complicated in a hurry and only an experienced producer can estimate it accurately.
Anything calling for airplane travel is also a job for a human estimator.
FAQ
We will provide the shooting location
Shoot in a studio
Please find a shooting location
Site Survey
Depending on the location, it may be essential to see it ahead of time to make a game plan and bring the right crew and equipment configuration.
FAQ
You don’t need to see the shooting location ahead of time
You need to see where the shooting will take place
Actors
We may be shooting interviews, an event, a facility or equipment, none of which would involve hired performers. But you may need a host, an on-camera narrator, or characters. For this, professional talent is best. This Estimator can handle up to a dozen actors.
FAQ
We will provide all on-camera people
Professional performers to be cast
Production
Days of shooting
Take your best guess at how long it will take to shoot, but only an experienced producer knows for sure.
FAQ
Which equipment/service do you need?
Equipment needs determine some of the crew below.
FAQ
Full 4k camera package, 2-person crew, lighting & audio equip.
Package features a Sony FS7 Mark II camera and enough gear to handle 90% of the work we do.
FAQ
An extended audio package (more than two microphones)
Let's talk if you need more than five or six mikes.
FAQ
Small grip truck with additional lighting (more than for a basic interview)
We rarely need a large truck, but the number of lights needed (and their cost) can vary.
FAQ
Days of TelePrompter
TelePrompter is what news anchors use. It allows you to read a script while making perfect eye contact with the camera.
FAQ
Days of Aerial Drone
Some areas have restricted air space and a licensed drone operator needs permission from the FAA (through Air Traffic Control) to fly the drone. Request for permission should be made 90 days before the shooting date.
FAQ
Which crew members do you need?
Some crew members are determined by the equipment choices above. Most projects need a Director. Larger shoots call for a Producer as well. If you need more crew or equipment, give us a call.
FAQ
Camera Person
Audio Person
Lighting crew (2 people)
TelePrompter Operator
Drone Pilot
No Audio/Lighting Assistant needed (person
will
be included with Extended Audio Package)
Producer
Director
Makeup and Hair
Production Assistant
Expendables, crew meals, footage archiving, misc. expenses
Odds-n-ends, figured on a daily basis, but easy to exceed with, for example, expensive downtown parking. Can also be less.
FAQ
Post-Production
No editing needed
In case you want to edit yourself.
FAQ
Hours of editing
suggested
(includes text & 2D graphics)
This figure is difficult to estimate. Here it is determined only by the length of the program and the quality of the project, but other details factor heavily in the edit time. Discuss your project with us if you need a more precise estimate.
FAQ
Hours of editing
(leave blank to accept suggested number)
If you know how many hours of editing this project will need.
FAQ
We get all raw footage on a hard drive
If we provide the hard drive and ship it to you.
FAQ
Don't keep a backup of the raw footage
We normally archive everything we do. You can opt out and save a few dollars.
FAQ
Professional voiceover (talent and recording)
There's nothing like a professional narrator to give your project professional polish.
FAQ
Cuts of library music
Library music is fine for most projects, but custom-composed and scored is great for high-end work.
FAQ
Clips of stock footage
Some footage is cheaper to buy than to shoot, but if it can be shot locally, it's best to shoot exactly what you need.
FAQ
Minutes of animation or 3D graphics
3D Graphics is another item whose price can be all over the spectrum, depending on details. Use this as a rough estimate but call us for a more precise figure.
FAQ
DVD or Blu-ray authoring
DVD or Blu-ray with custom menu
This is to create the master disc. Duplication is a separate project.
FAQ
Disc packaging design
Custom label for the disc and an album insert.
FAQ
ESTIMATED PROJECT COST
Best Estimate
Low Range
High Range
Budget Breakdown
Best
Low
High
Pre-Production
Estimate
Range
Range
Producer
Director
Writer
Production
Day
Producer
Day
Director
Day
Camera Person
Day
Audio Person
Day
Gaffer
Day
Best Boy
Day
Makeup Artist
Day
TelePrompter
Day
Prod. Assistant
Actor-Day
Performer
Day
Camera Pkg.
Day
Audio Package
Day
Grip Truck
Day
Lighting
Day
Aerial Drone
Day
Studio
Day
Location
Crew Meals
Expendables
Post-Production
Hour
Director-Editor
Hour
Edit Suite
Animation/3D Grfx.
Library Music
Clip
Stock Footage
Voiceover
Archiving
Hard Drive
DVD-BluRay
Each
Director-Author
Each
Edit Suite
Materials
Each
Pkg. Design
Miscellaneous
Contingency
ESTIMATED PROJECT COST
Best Estimate
Low Range
High Range
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