The Process of Creating a Professional Video Documentary for a Business

The Process of Creating a Professional Video Documentary for a Business

In 2019, MOJO worked with STScI/NASA to create a 36-minute documentary that introduced gravitational microlensing to the world. We did everything from pre-production to post-production. (You can view the whole story + documentary here)

When it comes to creating a professional video for a business, there is a process that needs to be followed to ensure that production runs smoothly and that the final product is the best that it can be. 

What is the process of creating a video documentary for a business? What are the benefits? Let us walk you through the process.

Pre-production planning

Pre-production planning is very important to the success of your documentary. Planning out the logistical details of your documentary will help prevent mistakes during the production process. 

Here are some things that you need to plan in the pre-production phase:
 

• Plan everything like the scale of the project, the budget, how long it will take, etc.
• Go over the “who,” “what,” “when,” “where,” “why,” and “how.” This includes the target audience, the location of the film, and more
• Write/plan all of the scripting
• Do your research
• Complete storyboarding

Acquire the proper equipment

Before you can start filming the documentary, you need the proper equipment. The most obvious piece of equipment you’ll need is a camera, but here are some other pieces that you’ll need to create a professional looking/sounding video:

• Microphones: this includes lavalier microphones for interviews and shotgun microphones for capturing natural sound.
• Tripods: your tripod is your best friend when making a documentary. A tripod holds the camera in place and helps capture scenes at different angles/heights while holding the camera steady.

Start the filming process

After you properly plan during the pre-production phase and acquire the necessary equipment, it is time to start filming. Here are some tips on filming:

• Be aware of the focal length of each shot– having the same depth of field and focal length in every shot makes things very boring for a viewer. Mix it up on each shot!
• When filming interviews, keep in mind that you want the shot to be a medium close up (MCU) shot. This means that the subject is in the frame from the shoulders up. 
• For interviews, we want the subject to be slightly to the right or left of the exact middle of the shot. This creates a more interesting shot and applies the rule of thirds. 

Edit your video

Once you shoot all of the video and capture all of the audio you need, it is time to edit. Here are some tips on the editing process:

• Start by importing your clips into your editing software of choice, and make sure they’re in a sequence.
• Delete unnecessary video or audio that could bore the audience.
• Trim your video and audio clips.

Share your documentary

You have the final product, but now what? You share it! Whether it’s for your business or another business, spread the word about it!

Wondering how beneficial it would be to create a documentary for your business?

The benefits of creating a documentary for your business

• A documentary will inform your audience about something important–whether it be about what your business does, sharing the story behind your business, etc.
• Documentaries can be used to promote your business.
• They can establish beneficial partnerships with other business owners.
• It’s a creative way to build a connection between your audience and business

If your business has a great story to tell and wants to connect with new and old customers then a documentary may be just the thing for your business.

Here at MOJO, we have experience with creating documentaries for big names like NASA. If you are considering having a documentary made for your business, do not hesitate to give us a call. Feel free to schedule a consultation with us and we’d be more than happy to help you out. 
 

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