A useful production brief does not need to be long. Explain the purpose, audience, intended use and deadline, then add essential messages, available resources, deliverables, budget range and approval contacts. Mark unknowns clearly so the team can distinguish decisions from questions. Do not fill gaps with uncertain figures or material that has not been cleared for use.
Answer four questions first
Who is the film for, what should they understand or do, where will they see it, and when is it needed? Prioritise audiences if there are several. Turn a request for “high quality” into references and intended uses that can guide a creative discussion.
Provide facts that can be used
Gather approved company and product names, a short brand introduction, required messages, exclusions and usable logos, photographs or footage. Label versions and reviewers. Check figures, client names and descriptions of relationships for both accuracy and permission to publish.
List people, locations and timing
List possible contributors, locations, access times, products, props and a site contact. Mention restrictions, noise and travel considerations. Missing material may be addressed through additional filming, graphics or a different story approach, but those choices need a scope discussion.
Make deliverables specific
For each version, list the use, duration, aspect ratio, language, subtitles and deadline. A main film, portrait cutdown, subtitle file, clean version and photographs are different deliverables. If sizes are unknown, describe the placement so they can be resolved during planning rather than after editing.
Include budget and approvals
Share a budget range and priorities where possible. Identify the contact, content reviewer and final decision maker, with time reserved for feedback. Consolidating internal comments gives the production team a clear direction. These are coordination suggestions, not substitutes for the actual agreement.
Prepare a first brief with WEDO
WEDO’s inquiry page helps organise the direction, goals, location, deliverables and contact details. It prepares a brief in your browser and opens an email draft. You still need to send that email in your mail application; the website does not submit it automatically. Review it first and remove unnecessary personal or confidential information.
A quick commissioning checklist
- Are audience, objective, destination and deadline documented?
- Are required information and publication exclusions clear?
- Are material providers and the final approver identified?