Getting into video production? You need to prepare a brief, no matter the type of video you’re producing. Let’s take a look at some different types of productions you might be involved in, so we can bring you some actionable examples of video briefs for you to take home and start working on.
Video Brief Template 1: Event Video Production
We recommend this template for someone who’s looking for a video production company to record a live event. This template works as an initial brief for:
- Weddings
- Celebrations/Birthdays
- Live music
- Social events
- Corporate conferences and events
Download a PDF version of Video Brief Template 1
Download a DOC version of Video Brief Template 1
Google Docs version of Video Brief Template 1
Event details
Event date/s: xxx
Time (start to finish): xxx
Location/s: xxx
Type of coverage and type of video wanted
- I want to cover the whole event and I want everything professionally recorded (video and audio)
- I want to cover part of the event and I want this professionally recorded (video and audio)
- I want a highlights video of the event, so I need to capture only specific things
- Something else: __________
Length of edited video
- I’m looking to produce a 2-3 minutes highlights
- I’m looking to produce a 1 minutes highlights
- I’m looking to produce a 5 minutes highlights
- I want a long video that shows everything that happened at the event
- Something else ______
The final edited video will need to be (format)
- Full HD – 1920×1080 (standard and most common format for most video productions)
- Ultra HD 4k – 3840×2160
- DCI 4k – 4096 x 2160
- Social media vertical video
- I’m not sure, I need to talk to the videographer
Do you have any specific technical requirements in terms of footage?
- Some (or all) shots will need to be in slow-motion
- I prefer steady shots, from a tripod or a gimbal
- Hand-held shots (a little shaky) are ok
- I need a specific camera profile so I can better colour grade in post (log, flat)
- I have specific requirements regarding camera equipment and settings, and I’ll be sending these specific to the videographer in advance
- I will need to speak to the videographer about all this, I’m not sure
Do you need things captured from multiple cameras?
- Yes – how many camera angles________
- No
Is there anyone speaking during this event and do you need this captured with good audio?
- Yes – how many speakers_____
- I don’t need good audio, I’m ok with ambiance audio recording
- I don’t need any audio recording
Is there live music performed during this event and do you need this captured with good audio?
- Yes
- No
Is there an audio department present at this event? (a sound engineer on site, usually with an audio mixer/board)
- Yes
- No
- Not sure
Video references
Please share, if any, some examples of video productions that you would like to use as references. Watching examples of what you have in mind helps the videographer better understand the type of video production that you’re aiming for.
- Link 1: xxx
- Link 2: xxx
- Link 3: xxx
Video Brief Template 2: Short Video Content
We recommend this format and template for someone who’s looking to produce short videos (between 30 seconds to 5 minutes). This template works as an initial brief for:
- Social media videos
- Promotional content
- YouTube video ads campaigns
- Corporate testimonials
- Recruitment videos
- Company overviews and mission
- Product videos for e-commerce
- etc..
Download a PDF version of Video Brief Template 2
Download a DOC version of Video Brief Template 2
Google Docs version of Video Brief Template 2
What’s the proposed title of the video?
You might think this is the last step, to name your video and publish it wherever you need to. Quite the opposite actually, it’s what we recommend as the first step of the video production process (we write more on this topic here). Basically, if you don’t know the name of your video, you don’t know where you’re going. So our warm recommendation is to think of the title first.
- Proposed video title: _____________________
Reason for you producing a video
Write a few words on the reason why you’re producing this video. Here’s two questions you need answered at this point:
- Who is the audience?
- What result do you want this video to achieve? (ex. more sales, video views and engagement, more leads for my business, better staff training)
What is the message/purpose of the video
- To sell a product or a service
- To share an experience
- To tell people about my business
- To convince people about something
- To teach something
- Something else________
Where do you think you will be using this video?
- In a website’s homepage
- In a website
- On social media
- On YouTube
- On TV / Cinema
- Other ______
Video references
Please share, if any, some examples of video productions that you would like to use as references. Watching examples of what you have in mind helps the videographer better understand the type of video production that you’re aiming for.
- Link 1: xxx
- Link 2: xxx
- Link 3: xxx
What’s the proposed video length in minutes?
- Less than 1 minute
- Between 1 and 2 minutes
- Between 2 and 3 minutes
- Between 3 and 5 minutes
The final edited video will need to be (format)
- Full HD – 1920×1080 (standard and most common format for most video productions)
- Ultra HD 4k – 3840×2160
- DCI 4k – 4096 x 2160
- Social media vertical video
- I’m not sure, I need to talk to the videographer
Is there going to be anyone talking in the video?
- someone interviewed
- someone talking to camera
- a recorded conversation
- a voice-over
- no, nobody will be talking
Is there a script involved?
- Yes, ready to go!
- Yes, but might need the videographer’s revision
- Yes, in the works…
- No, the talking will be unscripted
Is there a storyboard?
- Yes, I know exactly what to show in the video, shot by shot
- Yes, in the works…
- No, I will need help with this
- My video doesn’t need a storyboard
- What’s a storyboard?
- I’m not sure
Are there people being filmed for this video?
- Yes
- No
- Yes, but without showing faces (ex. hands or other bodily parts)
Are the people being filmed actors or non-actors?
- Actors
- Non-actors
Do you have a location/s in mind already?
- Yes, here’s the location/s_____________
- Not sure
Would you like some music playing in the background during the video?
- Yes
- No
- Not sure
Do you need captions playing during the video?
Yes
No
Do you need graphics elements?
- Company logos
- Lower thirds with names and people’s titles
- Some basic text during the video, with no complex animation
- I prefer modern animated text and graphics
- I need complex motion graphics and animations
- No graphics at all
- Not sure
Do you have any specific requirements for the edit?
- Yes: ________________
- No
