Appearing on camera in your video in the best way to establish credibility with your audience. When you get your message going, it is helpful to add supporting shots to illustrate what you are talking about. (Thes shots are called “B-roll” from the old film reel days where these shots were stored for the editing process.) The name just stuck.

Media Furrate works a great deal with 30 second spots and the outline we use is as follows:

1. Attention getting shot 4 seconds
2. On Camera introduction 6 seconds
3. B-roll with our credentials 8 seconds
4. B-roll with what we can do for you 5 seconds
5. On Camera call to action 3 seconds
6. B-roll with how to reach us 3 seconds

Thes spots can be shot in six easy to shoot segments and the editing is simple and fast. We concentrate on word counts and have found that 75 words is a sweet spot for most people doing a 30 second spot. Some people can do 80 – 83, but they are usually very experienced at being on camera.

This is a proven technique with research behind how the brain reacts to commercials. The unspoken questions are:

Who are you?

What are you trying to sell me?

Am I a candidate?

What’s so special about you?

Do I believe you and trust you?

Am I interested in your offer?

All this data processes in a matter of seconds. If someone in not a prospect, they will tune out instantly. If they are a prospect and they see your message enough times, you will have a shot at earning their business.

Download a PDF of one of our 30 second simple scripts.

Ask the question and the response will be, “It Depends.”

The main factors that determine a production cost are:

1. Preparation Costs
2. Time and Labor of the Crew
3. Any Talent Fees
4. Props & Costumes
5. Location Costs
6. Complexity of the Editing Process
7. Overhead of the Production Company

Preparation costs include writing the scripts, scouting for locations, budgeting and planning the production details. This process is the single most important factor in creating good videos. The good news is that it has one of the lowest costs. It generally is a few people from the client side and one or two people from Media Furrate. Do not skip proper planning.

Time and Labor of the crew is the biggest variable in the production process. If a production I an interview and the gathering of a few supporting shots, then it is two people for a day. If it is a Cajun dance scene with a band and dancers, the cast and crew will be large, and it will take some time. Media Furrate breaks everything down to the size of the crew and then how may days or half days they will work on the production. This establishes a base cost.

Talent fees also vary from production to production. If a professional is needed, then paying for their serv ices is the reasonable response. If you have a reduced budget and want to use family and friends, this is quite common in a mdi sized market. Scheduling is the key in these situations. Shooting after hours or on weekends make it easy on these lesser paid participants. Media Furrate shoots a lot of videos with non-professionals being themselves on camera. It authentic and effective. However, when a video needs a voiceover, we suggest using a pro in these situations.

Not all shoots have props and costumes, but when they are called for we recommend getting multiple choices in case something does not work on camera.

Location cost is also a big variable. Borrowing a space is an option, but you must be aware that you will interfere with their business as usual. We often shoot before or after hours in companies that want to use a public space such as a lobby. The rise of the Airbnb market has made shooting home style videos much easier. These places are show ready and usually have a great look for videos.

Standard editing is priced by the day. Generally, editing takes 2X to 3X the shoot time. If it is breaking down long interviews, it will take longer. If it is a scripted 30 second spot, the edit will be quicker. The amount o motion graphics and animation will have large impact on the final price. Make sure to discuss these in detail. Most situations call for a template that can be customized and cost is a non-issue. However, a detailed 3D model of your product being built is a custom job that needs a lot of clarity tin order to get a price.

Not all production companies are structured the same. We are often asked why we are such a value for the production quality that we deliver. The answer is that we are lean. We rent facilities for shooting and have one truck and a trailer for the gear. Our gear is paid for, and our largest overhead expense is insurance. If you get a price from a video company with a large studio and staff, they will charge more because their model calls for it. They are not necessarily “too high on price.”

TIP#1: The better you can describe your vision, the easier it is to get a quote. “I want my boss to speak on camera at headquarters and during his talk, we see supporting shots from our four locations which are in four cites here in the state.” A few follow up questions gets you a tight bid.

TIP#2: If you know how much you need to spend and have an objective for the video, just let us know and we can tell you how to get the most for the amount you have allotted to spend.

We appreciate the opportunity to bid on any of your projects and promise to put the time in to get you a fair and accurate price for your production.

Of course, experience matters in production… it matters in every aspect of business. Jason Furrate began his career in 1978 as an editor. This position is the best teacher in the field of production because you either have the materials to put together a strong video or you don’t.

Jason voiced his concerns early on while working on local television commercials. His boss sent him out to direct and get all the shots needed for editing. The scripts were written by salespeople, and it was not their strong suit.  He learned to write and then how to do the planning. (FYI project management is called “producing” in the production business.)

When you do a production with Media Furrate, you are with a team that has seen over 12,000 videos put together. Jason is prepared when he arrives on your shoot, and he is editing the video in his mind as the production is taking place. Doesn’t everyone do this? The answer is no.

There are many great shooters who as are masterful with light and camera motion. Their video does not edit together well because they are only focused on each clip as a stand-alone shot. You will never hear the phrase, “We can fix it in post-production” on a Media Furrate production.

Jason is committed to constant process improvement. He stays on top of the latest technology and techniques. He has mentored over 100 college graduates while working at broadcast stations and cable providers during his career. This continues at Media Furrate. The crew member are all recent graduates who are getting hands-on guideance and are all advancing in their skills.

When you have a production challenge, Jason will likely have the answer based on experience. If he doesn’t, he will get the proper answer for you. He can be reached at (225) 317-4233. Feel free to text or call.