Steering Your Marine Video Project: Part 1 - Crafting an Effective Video Brief

Welcome to the first installment of our four-part series on managing video production for the marine industry. In this series, we'll delve into the key components that make a successful video project. Whether you're experienced in marketing or new to video content creation, this series offers valuable insights to guide you through the complexities of video production.

Before we dive in: have a look at our latest showreel here.

The starting point of any video project is the video brief. This foundational document serves as a blueprint for your production, outlining your objectives, target audience, and how you plan to achieve your goals. A well-crafted brief is crucial for aligning the visions of all stakeholders involved.

Key Elements of a Comprehensive Video Brief

1. Objectives and Goals: Clearly articulate what you wish to achieve with your video. Whether it's enhancing brand recognition, driving sales, or educating your audience, having clear goals helps measure the success of your project.

2. Target Audience: Identify who your video is intended for. Understanding their demographics, interests, and challenges is essential for creating content that resonates deeply with them.

3. Key Messages: Define the core messages your video will convey. These should be aligned with your marketing strategy and highlight your brand’s unique value in a clear and concise manner.

4. Style and Tone: The style and tone of your video should reflect your brand identity and speak to your target audience. Whether it’s humorous or serious, it should be consistent with your brand’s overall messaging.

5. Visual and Creative Direction: Provide direction on visual elements such as color schemes and imagery. Consistency with your brand’s visual identity is key to creating a cohesive look and feel. Make sure to communicate your brand guidelines

6. Budget and Timeline: Being transparent about your budget and timeline helps set realistic expectations and ensures the project stays on track. What assets can you provide to make the production more cost efficient? Particularly when shooting with or on ships or boats, try to figure out any relevant schedule limitiations in advance.

7. Call to Action: Specify the action you want viewers to take after watching your video. A clear call to action is crucial for guiding your audience to the next step in their journey with your brand.

Improving Communication with Your Video Production Company

- Be Specific: When providing your brief, be as specific as possible about your requirements. This clarity reduces ambiguity and guides the production team in aligning their creative vision with your objectives.

- Provide Examples: Sharing examples of videos that you like or envision can be incredibly helpful. It gives the production team a concrete idea of your expectations in terms of style, tone, and content.

- Establish Clear Communication Channels: Determine how and when you’ll communicate throughout the project. Regular check-ins can ensure that the project remains aligned with your vision and expectations.

- Be Open to Suggestions: While it’s important to have a clear vision, being open to the creative input of your production team can lead to innovative ideas and improvements to your original concept.

- Provide Constructive Feedback: When reviewing drafts or final versions, offer specific and constructive feedback. Highlight what you like and what could be improved, providing clear direction for revisions.

A good video production company will go out of their way to bring your vision to life. Clear communication enhances their ability to concentrate on the creative process.

In an ideal world, you have the brief ready in writing when you approch the video production company.? In real life, the prep time sometimes is just not there. Experienced video producers will know that and can assist you in creating a brief during a meeting or video call.

Stay tuned for the next part of our series, where we’ll delve into the significance of pre-production planning. In the meantime, if you have any questions or need assistance with your video project, feel free to reach out. We’re here to help you bring your vision to life.

Best regards,

Gerrit Haaland

Creative Director, NAUTIC.FILM