On seeing the word recce a military operation comes to mind. The word comes from reconnaissance which in the video industry, refers to visiting a location in advance of filming video content. If you are shopping around for video estimates for your business you will have seen words like ‘pre-filming recce visit” in a few proposals.  If you haven’t, we think it might be a red flag and you may want to have another chat with your potential supplier.  But is it really worth the extra time and expense?

Does my video really need a pre-filming recce visit?*

Preparation is key to any video production. The more preparation ahead of a shoot, the more efficiently the day will run and the less likely that something will go wrong. Plus the better results the client will get.

A pre-filming recce is one of the crucial ways of preparing ahead of a shoot. Particularly due to budget constraints, visiting a location is the perfect way to assess any risks before filming.

We’re all so pressed for time that using precious hours in a pre-filming recce might not sound great but when compared to what it would cost if something were to go wrong, it’s more than worth it. Most projects involve a crew, talents, equipment and location. Organising all of that only to realise on the day that the location is not perfect or unsafe, would mean very expensive delays.

*It’s a great question to ask your production company

When requesting prices for a filming job, ask the production company if a recce is required for your particular project. It is not *always* the case. Pre-filming recce visits are more commonly used for example in live streaming projects and in general for larger budget commissions where there’s a need to really make the most of a specific location.

What will a pre-filming recce visit reveal?

You want the crew to see the location with their professional hat on. They will be able to spot any potential issues and come up with solutions and alternatives. There’s always the risk of a location being totally unsuitable but it’s best to find out ahead of the actual filming day. Maybe the place is not ideal considering the equipment required, or there might not be proper sound insulation. Perhaps there might be insufficient space for crew and kit, or safety issues like faulty electrics or slippery surfaces.

Top 3 issues to watch out for:

• • Sound: Crisp, clear sound is a key component of a good video. Environmental sounds such as traffic, air con units and such can be easy to overlook. Experienced filming crew will spot trouble
  • Lighting: Good lighting is crucial to a great end result. Whether natural or artificial, lighting can make or break a video. During the pre-filming recce visit, the crew needs to check existing light sources and make an assessment of what kit they will need to bring on the day.
  • Electric power: Video production is a power hungry operation. These days most kit will run on batteries for a good few hours. An experienced crew will know to come prepared for any contingency though and the best tip is to walk around the location and identify all power outlets, always double checking they are in good working order.

If the pre-production team does spot any issues, they will suggest strategies to resolve them. Sometimes briefs can be tweaked to suit. In any case, a pre-filming recce visit allows for this approach to be been taken ahead of filming day, rather than having to deal with nasty surprises later.

It’s not all negative though, a pre-filming recce visit will also be a source of inspiration. Some of the best ideas our crew has had are born on location whilst preparing before filming day. A great video maker should really be able to make the most of any particular setting in terms of space and lighting.

Costs implications:

We have set rates for pre-production, production and post-production based on the time we spent on each task. A pre-filming recce visit will always be less expensive than a filming or editing hour. One member of our team will set aside 1 or 2 hours depending on distance and project complexity.

We really do think a pre-filming recce visit is worth the cost, as it can really make a difference on filming day.

Check out a rough pricing guide we’ve put together and do get in touch if you have any questions or wish to request a quote. We’re always happy to help with any queries.

Which trends will rule social media video in 2019?

2019 is the year of video… but wait, isn’t every year “the year of video”? We share with you the social media video trends that will help put your brand at the top of your followers feeds.

Over the past few years, we’ve seen a steady rise in the use of social media video in marketing and PR, and in 2019, the power of social media video seems as strong as ever.

With the start of the new year, I’ve been mulling over what I think will be 2019 social media video trends to give you 10 ideas you can use to bring your social media posts to life, including the use of stories, short-form video and many more!.

Stories.

Remember Snapchat stories when most marketing people couldn’t make heads or tails of it? Well, Instagram dixit, their stories have increased the time spent on the platform from 15 to 32 minutes a day and 82% of brand audiences prefer live video from a brand to social posts. a
Take advantage of that FOMO to attract viewers!
Even more so, it is a proven fact that most audiences prefer ads that read like stories, who doesn’t love a good story?

Captions, the case for inclusive videos.

Videos without subtitles are watched, on average, 66% to completion whilst 80% of Facebook videos are watched on mute!
We think those are huge numbers you just cannot afford to ignore.

Thought leadership.

First person story-telling just works!
It’s also one of the easiest types of video to create: just you in front of the camera.
Your audience wants to see what your day-to-day is like, particularly if you share issues you are very familiar with and can provide expert advice.

Podcasting? Film your sessions!

You’ve already discovered the power of podcasts. Why create one asset at a time when you could be creating two in one go?. With a video recording of your podcast, listeners can put a face to the voice and relate even more to your content. If you can record and film from your business’ premises even better! You’re giving potential customers front row access to the ins and outs of the biz.

Mobile-first video.

According to eMarketer, nearly 80% of people watching videos do so from their smartphones and 94% of the time they hold their phones vertically. Vertical video is here to stay. If you wish to meet your customers’ needs consider filming good quality vertical content to use on Instagram stories.

Video in email.

On average, how many emails a day do we get? Surely tons clogging up notifications, so how to stand out? Using the word “Video” in the subject line can lead to higher open rates, whilst video thumbnails lead to higher engagement!

Video allows you to inject personality to otherwise boring marketing emails. Maybe try adding a video to the signature so clients can quickly see who you are.

We think this social media trend will continue to grow in 2019, as more and more people start to see success when including video in their email communication.

Paid-for video courses.

Over time you’ve worked hard creating content loaded with value for your customers. In return, you’ve built up a captive audience you already know is interested in what you have to say. Perhaps it’s time to start charging for that content and what better way to deliver it than online video courses. How about creating videos around those topics

This social media trend will help you balance your marketing efforts vs. revenue and help you come up with ideas for even more new content.

Be transparent.

Don’t be afraid to show what happens behind the scenes. We’re not only talking about sharing the good days and achievements, but also the setbacks. Sharing your decision-making process, what’s worked for you, and what hasn’t, can be communicated more easily and effectively using video.

Live Q&A.

Live streaming capabilities are available in nearly every social media platform. Make the most of a live session and engage with the audience by encouraging them to ask questions around a specific topic.

Back to Instagram stories, check out the “Ask Me Anything” sticker.

Influencers.

75% of consumers trust social media when it comes to making purchase decisions. This applies to holiday destinations through to choosing a restaurant for dinner or picking the most ‘instagrammable’ place to hang out. If you collaborate with the right influencer to mention your brand or showcase your product, you’re immediately tapping into a ready-made target market more than willing to follow the opinion of someone they trust.

 

Are you curious about which 2019 social media video trend is more suited to your business? Get in touch via the contact page to learn more about what we do. Remember to follow us on Instagram to see snippets of our day to day work and access valuable tips that will help you nail social media video.