A corporate film starts with purpose, audience and publishing channels, followed by planning, script, storyboard, filming and post-production. Clear approval points make feedback more useful and the delivery scope more explicit.
What should be approved at each stage?
The brief confirms purpose and the main message. Planning establishes the narrative, resources and budget scope. Script and storyboard agree on what is said, what is filmed and how material is obtained. Approve these before booking production so missing contributors, permissions or products are found early.
After filming, review story order and rhythm in a rough cut before moving into colour, sound, subtitles and approved animation. Check names, titles, figures, brand marks and languages before final output, then test aspect ratio, subtitles and volume on the intended playback device.
How the client and production team work together
The client supplies accurate brand information, access to locations and people, approved content and consolidated feedback. The production team develops the agreed treatment, organises filming and completes post-production. Business claims, product performance and specialist information still need client confirmation; visual polish does not replace fact checking.
The delivery list can specify the main film, cutdowns, subtitle files, languages, resolution, orientations, rights and storage. Adding locations, changing the core message or expanding animation after filming can affect time and cost. Discuss the change before agreeing on a revised plan.
Turn “we need a video” into a purpose
Is the film introducing a brand, helping sales explain a service or documenting a team culture? Choose a primary job before listing messages. References can communicate pace and style, but explain what you value in them instead of copying another organisation’s people or storyline.
Make resources visible during planning
Share brand information, possible interviewees, locations and existing media so the team can assess the story. Agree on the treatment, interview topics, locations and schedule together. Difficult product shots or motion graphics also need an approach and scope at this stage.
Prepare people, places and sound
Assign a contact who can coordinate the location. Check availability, noise, power and filming restrictions. Interviewees should understand the topics and intended use; memorising every word is rarely the only approach. Plan framing and sound with any language or portrait-format versions in mind.
Give actionable edit feedback
Review the story and key facts before fine details such as titles and subtitles. Have one contact consolidate feedback using timecodes, the issue and the requested change. New footage, reshoots or a changed direction need a scope discussion rather than being treated as routine corrections.
Check the final deliverables
Check company and personal names, figures, subtitles, aspect ratios and versions, then test the intended playback setting. A main film does not automatically include cutdowns, clean versions, subtitle files or raw footage. Confirm usage arrangements for music, contributors and external media with the appropriate reviewers.
Bring three things to the first discussion
Bring the purpose, intended placement and required completion date. List unknowns as questions. WEDO’s existing brand films can support a discussion about style, while responsibilities and deliverables remain specific to each commission.
A quick commissioning checklist
- Who is the audience, what is the purpose and where will it play?
- Who provides people, locations and information?
- Who consolidates feedback, when is approval due and which versions are delivered?