FAQ on film production

That depends on what you want to achieve with your film. An image film strengthens the brand and corporate image, a recruiting film addresses potential employees, employer branding campaigns strengthen the employer brand and an explainer video makes complex products or processes understandable.

For social media, it is important to take an even closer look when it comes to the platform, the different formats and the core messages for your target groups. Attention, dwell time and engagement are the most important currencies. Social first is now part of the communication strategy for numerous brands.

Together, we develop the film solutions that fit the target group, communication goal and channel.

An image film shows what a company or brand stands for. It can also be about attitude, sustainability and, above all, corporate culture. Basically, image films should emphasize the emotion you want to achieve in your target group.
A corporate film is more informative, but should not and must not do without storytelling and emotions.
Recruiting films provide insights into corporate culture and the world of work and have a very clear function: to reach and convince qualified applicants.
Employer branding videos go one step further and at the same time serve internal communication and thus also employee loyalty and identification.
Explainer videos convey complex topics in a way that is as simple and understandable as possible. They help to understand and are an effective tool, also for telling facts and figures.
Social media videos are specially designed for platforms such as LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube or TikTok and are usually shorter and more direct. Several formats can often be combined with each other.
Serial formats are playing an increasingly important role, especially on YouTube.

A film production focuses primarily on the cinematic implementation. A film agency starts much earlier: Together with the company, it develops strategy, message, story and creative concept and then accompanies the entire production. This is not just a film, but a solution for a concrete communication goal.

A film agency must understand and classify the context and strategic goals of the company and the brand 100% in order to provide targeted support as a partner.

No. A rough idea of the goal is completely sufficient for the beginning. We clarify together who the film should reach, what message should be conveyed and on which channels it should be used.

What we always want to know:

• What exactly is to be achieved? Both the qualitative and quantitative objectives. We can also work on these together.

• When, how and where should it be published?

• And of course everything about your company, mission statement, brand, history and, in the best case, the strategic objective.

From this, we develop the right idea, story and cinematic implementation.

Good corporate films don’t just convey information, they tell stories. Storytelling creates emotions, makes complex content easier to understand and helps to anchor messages in the memory. It is always crucial that the story authentically fits the company and the target group.

We can tell good stories ourselves again and again.

The cost of a film production depends on the project. Concept, number of shooting days, team size, locations, technology, actors, travel, animations and the effort in post-production influence the budget.

After an initial meeting, in which we clarify what you want to achieve and what is easy for you to represent, we can estimate the effort and define a suitable and, above all, transparent budget framework.

If you have a fixed budget in mind, this information is of course valuable for a tailor-made concept and a corresponding implementation within your cost framework.

The simple rule always applies: You should not place an order that makes you feel uncomfortable and we will not accept an order that does not feel right to us. It simply has to fit for both of you. Then you have the perfect starting position.

Since this point is essential for you as a company, we also provide support here. If you tell us which references you like and your interest in working with us is clear and genuine, we will at least provide you with a rough estimate of the costs. In addition, we can also estimate the costs of other films quite well.

When commissioning, you will receive at least two different conceptual solutions from us.

A film production consists of several components. These can include consulting and conception, screenplay or storyboard, shooting planning, production, camera and sound as well as editing, music, speakers, animations and other post-production services. Furthermore, licensing rights, e.g. for music or footage, insurance and travel expenses. Which of these are required depends on the respective film project and, of course, conception and implementation.

It always starts with research, briefing, consulting and conception. Together we define the target group, message, story and creative direction.

This is followed by different concepts, possibly with an initial script or storyboard and concrete or possible shooting planning.

The casting of testimonials such as employees is an essential point that we strongly support. Another role is played by the exact filming locations, which we take a close look at beforehand whenever possible.

As soon as all the time windows have been superimposed, all the people and locations have been determined, the film production starts with the shooting schedule, shooting team and all the equipment that is needed. In post-production, the real magic is created from the material. Editing, sound, music, graphics, animations and also the first soundtracks. After coordination and approval, the finished film is played out for the desired channels.

That depends on the scope and complexity of the project. A compact shoot can be realized much faster than an international production with several locations, language versions or elaborate animations. That’s why we create a realistic production and schedule together right from the start of the project. Always in coordination with our customer.

Of course, the capacities and availability on both sides must be clarified precisely. We can usually implement smaller projects very quickly. A typical length for larger projects and films is between two and four months.

However, this also includes a rapid, consolidated and consistent acceptance on the customer side.

Our goal is to keep internal effort as low as possible. On the customer side, we need contact persons for briefings, coordination and approvals and, if necessary, employees for interviews or shoots. We even want to be present at the shoot and see our customers as partners in the joint implementation.

Planning, organization and implementation can therefore only be carried out in close coordination.

Ideally, we are like a colleague of your own company, of whom you know that he has everything under control and thus relieves you and still supports you.

During production, there are clearly defined coordination and approval steps. In this way, feedback and changes can be taken into account at an early stage. It is particularly important to us that the concept, story and style are coordinated together before the shoot. This reduces later changes in post-production.

Ideally, we always watch the film(s) together the first time. This is important for the film agency because it pays close attention to the emotional reactions of the customer. This is valuable and also appreciative.

If feedback or approvals take longer due to internal processes at the customer, all further production steps are always postponed.

Yes. During the project, there is a central contact person who accompanies production and coordinates the individual steps. In this way, information, feedback and decisions come together in one place and the project process remains transparent for all parties involved.

Both can work. Real employees often seem particularly authentic and are therefore interesting for image and recruiting films. In the case of employer branding videos, they are indispensable.

Actors make sense when a certain role, staging or story is to be implemented that simply requires presentation to the point. The decisive factor is not who is in front of the camera, but what best suits the idea and the company.

Discover recruiting films

There is no universal length. The decisive factors are the content, target group and location. A social media video works differently than an image film on the company website or a film for an event. That’s why we develop length and dramaturgy to match the respective communication goal – as short as possible and as long as necessary.

Films that are watched on mobile devices usually benefit from shorter versions. Those that are shown at large events or in a closed setting are welcome to be longer. The following applies to all lengths: Thou shalt not be bored!

Learn more about our image film production

Of course. For internationally active companies, films can be produced with subtitles, different narration versions or adapted text elements, for example. Which variant makes sense depends on the target group, countries and areas of application. Ideally, the required language versions are already taken into account during the conception phase.

Accurate translations are important. Consultations with native speakers from the respective countries often help, also on the customer side.

This depends on the respective channels. In addition to classic landscape formats such as 16:9 or 21:9 (cinema format), portrait and square versions are often required for social media. Already during conception and filming, it can be taken into account that material will later be adapted for LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube or other platforms.

Discover social media videos

We use numerous AI tools for various procedures and processes. In doing so, we pay meticulous attention to compliance with all legal requirements.

For the creative process, AI helps above all with the creation of storyboards, pre-recordings or the installation of elements that would otherwise be too expensive to produce. In filming itself, the partial labeling requirement automatically leads to a rethink.

For us, AI agents are above all sparring partners in the creative process. We don’t see AI as an adversary, but as a tool.

In fact, however, we also feel that self-shot images and authentic narrative styles are now even more in demand, especially against the background of AI, and are particularly well received. Manufactured is now a seal of quality.

AI is “just” another tool in our extensive toolbox. We are familiar with this brand new tool and know how to use it. At the same time, however, we also know how valuable authenticity is, which only the real people in your company can reproduce. So we only use AI when it is ensured that people continue to be in the foreground.

If something deceptively real is added or “transformed” in the image with AI, it must be clearly marked in our industry according to the law. This can be an object, a person or a landscape, for example. Of course, we adhere to this regulation. By the way, this does not apply to private purposes.

The required rights of use are determined before production begins. This includes, for example, rights for music, speakers, actors or other material used. The handling of the filmed raw material should also be clarified in advance.
We generally charge a fee of 20% of the production costs for the transfer of all raw material. This means that it is transparently regulated how and where the film can be used later.

The standard for the transfer of rights are all digital platforms, one’s own pages and channels as well as public and non-public screening rights at trade fairs, presentations and events.

Yes – and that is often particularly efficient. Additional short versions, portrait videos, interviews, behind-the-scenes material or social media clips can be considered as early as the planning stage. In this way, one day of shooting not only results in a main film, but also a content package for different channels and target groups.

That depends on the goal of the film. Possible channels are your own website, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, recruiting platforms, trade fairs, presentations or internal communication. The relevant key figures also differ accordingly – such as reach, playback duration, interactions, clicks or applications. That’s why distribution should be taken into account as early as the conception stage.

Another important measurement factor is the sentiment of the audience. Postings and reactions on social media in particular provide valuable insights here. Or, quite analogously, applause, laughter and tears.