HOW DOES THE PRODUCTION OF AN EXPLANATORY VIDEO WORK?

Frame from the explanation video Infinity 236

Consulting and briefing

At the beginning of each project is a conversation with the customer. Essential questions are clarified. Who is the video for? What defines this target group? Is the video rather watched on laptops or smartphones? Should the video also be used at trade exhibitions? And much more. Research in advance is extremely important. It must be determined exactly who is watching the film and where. A clear message must also be formulated. Furthermore, the customer must be aware of what he wants to achieve with the video. Only when these questions have been clarified can a precisely communicating explanatory film be created. However, general conditions such as the budget and the production schedule must also be defined.

Definition of objectives and target groups

Concept and styleframes

On the basis of the collected information I develop a concept in text form. In addition to the text concept, so-called styleframes are created. Styleframes are images that represent the visual design of the film. With the text concept and styleframe the customer can get an impression of how the film will look and function in the end. Why not create a storyboard right away? If the customer already has a very precise idea of the film, both on a conceptual and visual level, this step can also be skipped. The latter is the case, for example, if it is a continuation of a video series and accordingly a large part of the design questions have already been answered. However, since this step does not require additional time and therefore does not incur any additional costs, I recommend it in most cases. Just imagine I create a concept and a whole storyboard that goes in the wrong direction. Then the storyboard creation has to start all over again, which would cause additional costs. If the text is not supplied by the client, first draft texts are also presented.

Storyboard and, if necessary, speaker's text

Animation and motion design

As soon as the customer has approved the storyboard, the animation starts. With the text concept and styleframe the customer can get an impression of how the film will look and function in the end. Why not create a storyboard right away? If the customer already has a very precise idea of the film, both on a conceptual and visual level, this step can also be dispensed with. The latter is the case, for example, if it is a continuation of a video series and accordingly a large part of the design questions have already been answered. However, since this step does not require additional time and therefore does not incur any additional costs, I recommend it in most cases. Just imagine I create a concept and a whole storyboard that goes in the wrong direction. Then the storyboard creation has to start all over again, which would cause additional costs. If the text is not supplied by the client, first draft texts are also presented.

Voiceover and sound recording

Delivery of the relevant data

As soon as all parties involved are satisfied with the film, the relevant data is transferred to the customer. Which data this is, has to be clarified in advance. If the customer wants to have the open files, this must be discussed in advance, as it will lead to additional costs. In Germany, by law, designers sell royalties for the designs they create and not the open files themselves. Rights of use can be a very complex and complicated issue. They can be limited, for example, by place or time. Since the majority of the films I produce are also shown on the Internet, I have decided to sell the rights of use without restrictions. The latter is also marked on the offer and invoice.