Running a Video Production Business

Course details

Get a crash course in running a successful video production business. Whether you are managing a team within a larger organization or running an independent firm, this course can help you get strategic with your productions, solve on-set problems, and deliver results to your clients. Rich Harrington and Amy DeLouise are experienced production company owners who also consult regularly with top in-house teams. They kick off the course with some advice on defining your market and your mission and building out a solid customer base. Rich and Amy also show how to build an effective team of contractors and full-time staff, and establish a technical workflow for smoother productions. Plus, get tips for creating detailed proposals and competitive pricing to help you land more jobs.

Learning objectives
Defining your market and mission
Building your customer base
Defining your role on the team
Sourcing key roles
Using tools for team collaboration
Tracking projects and scope changes
Establishing a media management workflow
Managing vendors
Tracking client reviews
Establishing pricing
Getting paid

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Crash course in running a video production business
02 - Evaluating your current situation and company

1. Defining Your Market and Mission

03 - Defining market and mission as a small agency or company
04 - Defining mission and role within a larger organization
05 - Defining your services and capabilities
06 - Building your customer base

2. Setting Up Your Team

07 - Your role on the team
08 - Key roles for project management
09 - Key roles for production
10 - Key roles for post-production
11 - In-sourcing vs. outsourcing - Opportunities and challenges

3. Improving Team Communication

12 - The importance of team communication
13 - An overview of Basecamp and video production
14 - Using Slack for real-time collaboration
15 - Using Trello for team collaboration
16 - The need for real-time meetings
17 - Tracking project and scope changes

4. Establishing a Technical Workflow

18 - What is a tech brief
19 - Understanding acquisition formats
20 - Understanding delivery formats
21 - Using a DAM or a media management workflow

5. Improving Workflow

22 - Establishing a control cycle inside your business
23 - Managing outside vendors within your video workflow
24 - Managing the client review process
25 - Using online review and approval tools to track changes

6. Proposals and Pricing

26 - Understanding overhead
27 - Establishing prices and rates
28 - Billing when you are an internal agency
29 - Practical advice when writing creative proposals
30 - Getting paid and other tips

Conclusion

31 - Closing advice
32 - Recommended viewing to continue learning

Running a Video Production Business

Authors

Richard Harrington

Amy DeLouise