Field Notes / 2026-08-24
How to Brief a Video Production Company
At OnePointFive Studio, the first call is always about the brief before it is about the budget. A vague brief leads to a vague quote. A specific one leads to a specific plan.
Start with the outcome, not the format
Say what the video needs to do. "We need a recap video" is a format request. "We need a 90-second recap to post within 48 hours of the event for our Instagram audience" is an outcome. The second version tells a production team the turnaround, the platform, and the length before anyone picks up a camera.
Outcome-first briefs also help decide crew size. A single-camera interview needs one operator. A three-hour gala with a keynote, a step-and-repeat, and candid coverage needs a lead shooter plus at least one second shooter to cover both the stage and the room.
Describe the event or shoot conditions
Location details change equipment choices. A dim restaurant dining room calls for fast lenses and small lighting kits that don't crowd a table. A rooftop event calls for wind protection on audio and a backup power plan for longer coverage windows. If the shoot involves a brand activation with AI-generated visuals or a hybrid live-and-synthetic edit, mention that early. Our AI Video Production in NYC work runs on a different pipeline than standard live coverage, with separate timelines for generation, review, and revision rounds.
For restaurant or hospitality shoots, mention service hours. A kitchen team can usually give a crew a 90-minute window between prep and service. That window determines how many dishes or angles are realistic to capture. Our Restaurant Video Production in NYC page outlines typical shoot structures for that setting.
Give a real timeline, not a rough one
"Soon" is not a timeline. "We need the final cut by September 10 for a paid media launch" is. Include the event date if there is one, the internal review date, and the hard deadline for delivery. If revisions are expected, say how many rounds you anticipate. Two rounds of revisions is a common default. Four rounds changes both the schedule and the cost.
List every deliverable format up front
A 60-second hero cut is one deliverable. A set of six vertical cutdowns for paid social is another. A raw footage archive is a third. Each one adds editing time. Naming them all in the brief avoids a second round of scoping after the shoot is already booked.
Note any live-event specifics
Live events carry variables that studio shoots don't. Multiple simultaneous moments, like a speech on stage and a reaction shot in the crowd, require multiple cameras running at once. A single-day conference with breakout sessions might need three crews working in parallel rooms.
Address cost factors honestly
Cost moves with crew size and shoot duration. It also moves with the number of locations and the number and length of final deliverables. A half-day shoot with one editor working on a single 60-second cut costs less. A full-day, multi-camera shoot producing ten deliverables across formats costs more. Rush turnaround, meaning delivery within 24 to 48 hours of an event, also adds cost because it usually means an editor working overnight or over a weekend.
Include internal approval steps
If your organization requires legal, PR, or executive sign-off before a video goes live, say so and give a realistic timeframe for that review. A brief that accounts for a five-day internal approval cycle prevents a delivery date from slipping without warning.
Clients include Moët Hennessy USA and TAO Group.
Send the brief and start the conversation
A written brief gives both sides something to check against once filming starts. Send your project details through Contact to start scoping the shoot.