FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
GETTING STARTED
HOW MUCH DOES IT GENERALLY COST?
Video production pricing is highly dependent on a variety of factors. At Pinnacle, we’ve conducted full-service productions as well as standalone services both domestically and globally ranging from well over $100,000 to other more modest productions below the $10,000 range. In our initial discovery call we’ll determine the best solution for you to reach your goals and provide an accurate estimate as well.
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
Understanding how to start your project is most prospective client’s biggest question. To do this, we want to lay the foundation with a solid strategy, which begins with a discovery call that will determine if we are a good fit for one another based on where you are in your current marketing strategy.
We will then move into a secondary discovery call where we will lay the groundwork for an actionable plan on how to heal and strengthen your business.
I'M IN "X" INDUSTRY, HAVE YOU PRODUCED VIDEOS LIKE THIS BEFORE?
The building blocks of a strong and persuasive video remain consistent regardless of what industry you may find yourself in. The strategy, pre-production, production, post-production, and distribution components of each and every project should all work cohesively to help you reach your goals. We’ve had a plethora of incredible opportunities to produce content for industry titans such as the NFL and humble non-profit organizations alike.
Our team and our kit is fully capable of handling any and all requirements of your project. If we feel something is outside of our scope of capabilities on a technological front, our industry connections will allow us to source the necessary talent to help you complete your objective.
I'VE PRODUCED VIDEOS BEFORE BUT THEY HAVEN'T SEEN THE RESULTS I'VE WANTED
If a video hasn’t produced your desired results it generally means that there was an issue in the strategy phase or in your distribution phase. Understanding how to get your content in front of the right target audience is absolutely critical to its success. Uncovering these details during the strategy phase will allow for every subsequent phase to guide you to success.
HOW LONG DOES THE WHOLE PROCESS TAKE?
Project timelines can vary rather drastically depending on a number of internal and external factors. Some of these variables can include client availability, availability of project assets provided by the client, the weather, the complexity of your overall production needs, and revision requests. However, to give you an example, a typical service-based business like a local electrician needing a video business card might take anywhere from 3-4 weeks from start to finish.
HOW INVOLVED DO I HAVE TO BE DURING THE VIDEO PROCESS?
Once again, it depends! We’ve worked on projects where the client or their associated marketing teams are very involved and we’ve also worked on projects where there isn’t as much involvement on the part of the client. It generally depends on whether or not you need to provide us assets during the creative process. Depending on your revision policy, you may also need to provide feedback in order for us to bring your project to a point of conclusion
THE STRATEGY
WHAT MAKES PINNACLE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PRODUCTION COMPANIES?
At Pinnacle, we create emotions through imagery. The catalyst for most of us to take action when it comes to supporting a cause, or completing a transaction has some level of emotional involvement. Our ability to help our clients produce content that moves their target audience to take action is what we are known for. Plenty of video production still exists that is very cut and dry, but we find that a more artistic and communication-based approach almost always generates better results.
HOW DO I MAKE MY VIDEO STAND OUT IN MY MARKETPLACE?
Making your video stand out in your specific marketplace is more about understanding your target audience than anything else. Some people look at the video production process as a competition with other entities in your industry, but if you truly want to create a digital asset that will stick with people, it’s important to speak to them directly and that involves a deep understanding of your audience that can only be truly understood with market research, trust, and authenticity.
I KNOW I NEED VIDEO. BUT WHAT TYPES OF VIDEOS DO I NEED?
Video content is one of the best ways to connect with audiences everywhere and its prevalence across websites and social media is growing every day. However, your video needs may from another individual or business. To give you some context, Evergreen Videos are those that can be leveraged time and time again without the need to constantly refresh them. They might answer questions such as who, what, where, why, and how. These are consistent elements for an established business. You may also need to utilize ongoing or recurring content, which is usually refreshed regularly and helps keep your brand relevant to your audience. These videos may cover trending topics around events, product releases, or audience questions and concerns. Our preliminary strategy meetings will help uncover the best method for you to deploy video content for yourself or your business
PRE-PRODUCTION
WHAT IS E.T.I.?
ETI is Pinnacle’s staple. “Emotion Through Imagery” is the guiding force that allows us to develop high-quality content time and time again. It is the backbone of how we approach the video production process to help deliver consistent, high-quality products.
WHAT IS A SCRIPT?
A script is the blueprint for your video. It’s the foundation on which everything else rests. Scripts are often the exact words being read as well as directions about their tonality and emotion. The script is vital to helping us tell an engaging story and gives us an accurate video length to meet your deliverable’s needs.
WHAT IS A STORYBOARD?
The storyboard is the creative document that helps marry the script with its visual execution. This will outline the visual components of what is shown during each portion of the script and how much time we have during these sections to produce the correct messaging.
WHAT IS A SHOTLIST?
A shotlist transforms the storyboard from a creative document into a more technical document and provides an itemized list of shots that need to be captured during the production phase. It provides the crew with the necessary details they will need to plan in advance so that they are prepared and have everything they need to operate as smoothly as possible.
WHAT IS A PRODUCTION SCHEDULE?
The production schedule is just that… A schedule. In the production space, this schedule allows us to plan each shot from the shotlist in detail and ensures that we are checking off each item in an efficient manner over the course of the production. This document often outlines exact times, locations, and any props or actors that need to be prepared at specific times. This document should also include other time-relevant factors, such as travel, rest, and meal time.
HOW DO WE COLLABORATE IN PRE-PRODUCTION?
When it comes to the collaborative nature of the pre-production process, we find that a Google Drive folder gives us an organized and efficient way to share all of the relevant preproduction process documents with those who need the most.
PRODUCTION
WHAT GEAR DO YOU SHOOT WITH?
We own and operate all of our own equipment, which means that we are highly efficient and highly trained with each and every piece of gear we bring to set. Our in-house equipment is within the Sony cinema ecosystem. These industry-leading tools allow us to capture razor sharp optics without missing a beat. However, we realize that certain productions call for very specific cameras or other pieces of kit and our rental industry connections allow for any conceivable piece of equipment to be in our hands for your production at a moments notice.
DOES YOUR TEAM ALSO OFFER PHOTOGRAPHY?
Photography is a major part of our business structure. When it comes to video production, we are typically offering professional photographic services as an additional service item, but we also offer a variety of standalone photo packages.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION PROCESS?
This is another question that depends on a variety of factors with each and every production. For more complex productions you can expect more hands to be on deck, while very simple or streamlined projects will likely require less involvement. A Creative Director and Director of Photography will likely be your primary point of contact throughout the creative process while people such as copywriters, video editors, or animators will perform their roles behind the scenes. If your production calls for additional talent, we can hire in actors and associated hair and make up personnel as well.
I'M NERVOUS TO BE ON CAMERA, WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Many people are not completely comfortable being in front of the camera. If this describes you, don’t worry! Our use of industry leading teleprompter systems can help drastically when it comes to interacting with a script on the production day. However, the interpersonal communication abilities of our team is what helps most of our clients feel most at ease when we begin our recording sessions.
POST-PRODUCTION
WHAT IS INVOLVED WITH THE POST-PRODUCTION PROCESS?
The post-production process is a multi-step undertaking. We often describe it as putting all of the pieces of a puzzle together to create a finished product. Clip selection, data management, musical selection, sound effects, and color grading will all be steps that your project undergoes before reaching completion.
WHEN CAN I EXPECT MY DELIVERABLES?
This question all depends largely on what expectations were outlined during the strategy session of our discovery call and preliminary consultations. Every project has a different deadline and we will work closely with you and your team to ensure that we make these deliveries as promised. We highly discourage rush projects as it leaves very little room for adequately planning and executing your project.
DO YOU OFFER STANDALONE EDITING SERVICES?
We do offer standalone editing services, but generally encourage our clients to work with us in a full-service capacity. We find that it is almost always the case that editing content that we also produced in-house leads to a better final result. When we are handed assets from outside sources. There is no way to guarantee the overall quality of the materials we are being given
WHAT IS YOUR REVISION POLICY?
Revision policies will differ from project to project, but we usually implement a two-revision policy. This allows us to correct any small errors, spelling, mistakes, or omissions that may have been overlooked. Major re-edits are not provided as our goal is always to clearly define these terms and expectations during our strategy sessions and preliminary consultations.
DISTRIBUTION
WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH MY VIDEOS ONCE THEY ARE PRODUCED?
Creating a finely polished final video is fantastic, but the job doesn’t stop there! Being able to distribute your video effectively is incredibly important to its success and overall reach. We offer a variety of resources that can assist you in getting the most out of your new assets. Generally we want to investigate these distribution pathways during our strategy phase, so there are no surprises once you reach this portion of the journey.
CAN I REPURPOSE MY FOOTAGE FOR DIFFERENT PLATFORMS?
Repurposing your footage or video assets for other platforms is a great way to reach target audiences in new ways. However, because every platform has different sets of technical requirements, it is very important that we discuss these desires in our strategy and consultation phase. Outlining these alternative assets should be discussed early on so our production process accounts for all of the necessary elements that will be needed for proper distribution as your project reaches a point of conclusion.
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