How to Avoid Production Re-shoots & Cost Overruns | Production FAQ
23.04.2012
, Ad Agencies, Ad Agency, Advertising Agencies, Advertising Agency, Brand Content Agency, Brand Film Production, Branded Content Agency, Commercial Production Company, Creative Agencies Los Angeles, Creative Agency, LA Production Company, Los Angeles Production Company, Production Company, PRODUCTION FAQ, Video Production Company
0
Tiger House Films is a Los Angeles production company specializing in commercial production, music video production and more. In this blog post, we’ll tell you how a production can avoid re-shoots and cost overruns.
What Are Reshoots?
Re-shoots may be done for a variety of reasons, but here is one common re-shoot scenario:
-The prospective client hires a production company to produce their film, commercial or music video. Afterward, they feel dissatisfied because the finished product does not meet their goals and expectations either based on narrative storytelling, visuals, or specific aesthetic qualities which can not be “fixed in post”.
-Production re-shoots should be avoided at all costs if possible because they can be incredibly expensive. Re-shoots may cause a client to exceed their initial budget, forcing them to incur cost overruns on the production.
-A recent re-shoot example in the major motion picture world is the 2013 summer blockbuster/zombie film World War Z, starring Brad Pitt. According to The Hollywood Reporter [link to: https://www.hollywoodreporter.
Avoiding Production Reshoots & Cost Overruns
Here is some advice that may help you understand how to avoid production re-shoots and cost overruns on your film, commercial or music video production.
– For commercial and music video productions thoroughly research the production company that you want to work with. Much of the time if the company has worked with major networks or institutions, that team has been trusted to create productions at the highest level.
-Examine the film, commercial or music video production company’s body of work. Look at the professionalism of their past work and see if it meets your aesthetic taste and quality. If you do not like a production company’s sample work, it is likely you may be dissatisfied with your production’s final outcome.
– A major note is to match your production expectations to your initial budget. Often times the size of your budget will determine the scale, complexity and length of your production. Although there are many creative ways to make dynamic and artistic choices on lower budgets, measure your expectations in terms of scale. If your budget is extremely small but a production company promises you the world, it may be too good to be true.
-Work with the production company on the treatment from the very beginning of pre-production. This plan should address your expectations and desires for the production and serve as a “blueprint” for what the company will be shooting. If anything is left out of this plan that is a “must have,” it’s possible you may find yourself contemplating re-shoots at a later date. The production company should help you understand if your must haves are feasible based on your budget.
-Request several rounds of communication with the production company prior to signing the contract. Make sure you and the production company are on the same page regarding your production goals and expectations. Don’t hesitate to ask any and all questions you may have prior to signing on the dotted line.
-Understand your production contract. Many contracts outline the budget and where your production funds will be allocated. In addition, the contract may spell out how the editing process will work. You’ll want to understand where your budget is going, along with the editing process, so that you can be satisfied with your project at its end.
-Leave a 10% contingency. Every production has a percentage of unforeseen circumstances that pop up during the production process. This is an unavoidable fact when working in this industry, no matter how far ahead the production plan has taken place. Talk to your production company about the budget as well to understand if there is any flexibility, should re-shoots or additional editing be required.
We hope this information has been helpful. If you are in need of production services in the Los Angeles area, please consider Tiger House Films [link to www.tigerhousefilms.com ] for your next commercial or music video production. We serve clients remotely as well. You may reach out to us for a free consultation with no obligation.