When it comes to telling your story, a talking-heads video can help deliver powerful results. Whether you’re creating internal films, brand videos or landing page explainers – keep these key points in mind for maximum impact!
If you need a talking-heads style video, assembling the right team is essential. From finding creative professionals who can bring your story to life, to hiring experienced crew that understand how best to capture your story – it all requires careful consideration and expertise. So be ready for your production with our guide on picking the perfect crew!
Making videos is an incredibly important part of marketing—they tell stories, promote your brand and services, create conversations with customers and followers, and are great ways to show off your products. But what goes into creating a great video? One decision you’ll need to make is how big your production crew should be for the type of video you’re shooting. In this post we will explore key factors when it comes to understanding how many people you need onsite for, specifically, a talking heads style video so that you can make educated decisions about who to involve in the process.
1. Budget
Accurately preparing a budget for your upcoming video project is key! Our guide on setting realistic expectations can save you time and potentially even money. Get the best results in conjunction with an experienced production team by having all of the information ready before contacting them.
2. Consider the scale and scope of your project
Your video is a reflection of your brand, so you’ll want to craft an audio and visual experience that accurately portrays who you are. Your choice of interviewees will set the tone for what kind of image viewers draw about your company; make sure they can provide insights into topics relevant to their field while keeping in line with your branding goals.
Consider where these interviews take place as well, certain backdrops and locations may suggest certain values or themes associated with the conversations captured on camera. Think ahead – understand what your audience needs to get from your video.
3. Define the size of your video production crew
When it comes to producing quality film projects, having the right crew on hand is essential for success. Generally speaking, a standard-sized and well equipped production team consists of a director/producer, DOP (Director of Photography), two camera operators, sound recordist plus one or more assistants – though this can vary depending on budget constraints and filming environment.
Your production company should be able to provide you with an optimal solution that meets your project goals while fitting within your allocated resources. For instance in smaller spaces such as offices only half the usual amount may suffice!
4. What crew members do you need?
A professionally produced talking-heads video requires both talented and experienced crew members. At the very least, an effective team should comprise of a camera operator (or two) to capture flawless footage; as well as a Producer/Director who can manage operations while adhering to quality audio production.
If your content is meant for broadcast or you have the budget available, then it would be worthwhile hiring a sound recordist in order ensure clear results are achieved. With larger scale projects that require additional support roles such as Gaffer, camera assistants, runners etc., make sure any extra professionals bring value to your project!
5. Factor in the amount of time you have to complete the interviews
It’s important to give your crew enough time to properly set-up and light the scene. We recommend allowing at least one hour for capturing even a few questions during an interview, plus additional time if you plan on recording b-roll footage of your subject and their environment. For longer days with multiple people or complex shots, make sure that you leave plenty of room in your schedule – it’s always best not to be rushed when making quality content!
6. Make sure everyone is on the same page with regards to the interview.
The success of an interview shoot depends on being well-prepared. A great production company will work with contributors before a shoot to ensure they have all the information needed for optimal performance – from knowing which questions to anticipate and how best to answer them, down to even the most seemingly small details.
7. Keep in mind that a bigger crew doesn’t always mean a better outcome
Achieving the perfect video requires more than just a bigger budget and crew. To get top-quality results, you need an experienced production company that understands your project needs – they’ll know how to assemble the ideal team for success!
8. What camera kit should be used?
It’s no secret that the right equipment is key to a successful interview. With such an array of cameras available. We recommend these essentials for capturing every moment with clarity and quality no matter what your budget.
- 2 x 4K pro video cameras with tripods.
- 1 x set of prime lenses (35mm, 24mm, 50mm, 85mm)
- 1 x Zoom lens (24mm – 70mm)
- 3 point lighting set-up
- Client monitor
- Mics and record decks (if not using a sound recordist).
9. Anything else to consider.
When taking the plunge into content production, there are a variety of considerations to keep in mind. What clothing should be worn by your interviewee? Will external noises interfere with recording sound quality? Do you need permission from office staff if they may appear on-screen during filming? To ensure that every aspect is accounted for before starting up cameras and rolling, it’s best practice to work with an experienced production company who can help answer all your questions first – so nothing takes away from capturing incredible audio-visuals!
Conclusion
In summary, talking-heads videos are a powerful tool you can use to deliver your story in a compelling way – no matter the subject. Between making sure your talent looks and sounds their best, taking into consideration how they’re lit and framed, as well as crafting powerful questions to elicit emotional responses – using talking heads is simply another necessary component of creating engaging video content. So if you’re looking for a way to tell an effective story in your next video project, adding a few elements of the talking-heads style might be the answer.
Tip: Don’t forget to shoot multiple takes, making sure all the technical information is covered. Also having interesting outtakes can be fun and relatable so keep the camera rolling! Hope this easy guide was helpful when you come to engage a video production agency for your video content.
If you’re looking to inject some fresh thinking into your content, then why not get in touch? Turning creativity into a powerful business advantage for our clients is what we’re all about.
At Theory we don’t just make videos, we tell stories.
We’d love to tell yours.
