The Comprehensive Guide to Your Perfect Corporate Film Production Company and Agency

If you need a corporate film, you go to a film production company. Or should it be an agency? An agency specialising in film? And what is the difference anyway?

What do I need a film production company for?

So if your company wants to produce a corporate film, the film production company is your first and best point of contact.

What are the advantages of a film production company for businesses?

Broadly speaking, there are three kinds of service provider that produce and offer company films: film production companies, advertising agencies, and freelancers / videographers.

Let’s compare the whole thing with a more tangible industry – say, construction. In that case, the advertising agency would be the town planner, the film production company the architect and general contractor, and the videographer the bricklayer.

For a corporate film, a film production company is what the architect and general contractor rolled into one is for a building: creatively, commercially and technically competent.

In other words, the film production company deals with the conceptual, commercial, functional and creative production of moving images for companies. As the interface between creativity, craft and business, it is a partner who meets you as an equal and keeps both creative and financial control in your interest.

This full-service approach is exactly where the advantage of film production companies lies:

• Commercial understanding
• Creative talent
• Technical craft

Each of these qualities on its own can make a corporate film a success. But only all three together keep your mind free and are good for your company’s image and its bottom line. After all, you are a professional and prefer working with professionals.

Why the corporate film is often called the marketing tool par excellence is explained in this comprehensive guide to the corporate film for companies.

What makes a good film production company?

A good film production company embodies exactly these three aspects – in equal measure:

Creativity in concept and cinematic design.
Technical craft in execution and technology.
And commercial understanding, so that every measure increases your sales and ROI.

In other words, it gives you a single point of contact who keeps the big vision in view and has proven expertise to back it up. Someone who keeps your mind free and makes sure your goals and wishes are delivered at the best possible price and on schedule.

To do this, the film production company coordinates all departments such as camera, editing and post-production, and negotiates all fees with actors and voice-over artists – always focused on your goal and on achieving the best possible result for you.

This gives three qualities of good film production companies:

• Advice on an equal footing
• Full service from a single source
• Experience in similar projects

Advice on an equal footing

Film production companies are creatives, no question. But a really good film production company is more than a bunch of creative geniuses: it is a service provider and consultant through and through – and aware of it.

So it will always be at your side as a competent sparring partner on an equal footing, giving you tips and help with decisions based on experience – but never actively pushing you into a decision. Unless you ask it to.

A good film production company is aware of its visionary power, but it doesn’t let this turn into creative chaos – instead, it channels its talent reliably and economically in your interest.

Full service from a single source

What sets a good film production company apart from others is that it has its own expertise in every area it offers – it has learned its craft from the ground up. Otherwise, a lack of knowledge or experience in one area can lead to wrong estimates, wrong planning or even extra costs. A good film production company has full control and a complete overview of every area of the production process at all times.

Full service from a single source also means that the film production company takes on all tasks relevant to the process and makes the necessary decisions in your interest. Ideally, depending on the scope of the project, you are kept up to date regularly.

Experience in similar projects

Is it an advantage if a film production company has experience in similar projects and industries? Usually, yes. However, the question of comparable reference projects is less relevant than the general question of the production company’s style and personality.

Being able to serve different film types, companies and industries is part of good craftsmanship. But the best comparable reference projects won’t help much if the general film style doesn’t suit your company, or the production company’s personality doesn’t suit you.

Producing a corporate film is always like a short-term marriage, and just as in real life, it simply works better and is more fun when you get on well with each other.

Choosing a film production company depends on creativity, experience and expertise – but also on personal rapport.

As a film production company making company films for industry, trades and services – for SMEs and large corporations – since 2008, we have already helped many clients produce their perfect corporate film or commercial. To help with this, we have put together checklists for your briefing. We are also happy to advise you personally in a free, no-obligation initial consultation.

Checklist: how do I recognise a good film production company?
The following questions can help you decide:

• Does the film production company see itself as a service provider and the one who makes it happen?
• Does the film production company support and advise you from the start of the project to the end?
• Does it guide you through every process, from pre-production through the shoot to post-production?
• Does it have experience in every area it offers, or are some areas merely administered and passed on?

What services and tasks does a film production company take on?

A film production company is the coordinating and executing body of a corporate film or commercial production. Its tasks go beyond pure execution – for that, you could also hire a copywriter, a camerawoman and an editor of your choice individually.

Rather, what a film production company delivers is keeping your mind free: as the client, you don’t have to rack your brains over which film department does what with which resources and how long it may take. The film production company is responsible for all of that – as your personal interpreter between your vision and the craft of filmmaking, so to speak.

If you still want to know more, we have listed the different production stages and services for you here:

1. Pre-production.
   This covers all activities that take place BEFORE shooting begins, such as the idea, concept, script, storyboard, casting, location scouting and shoot planning, to name the most common. A point that is often overlooked here is contract negotiations and organising all resources.
2. Shoot.
   This is the part of the work you can experience first-hand if you are on set. Here, the production company oversees the processes and workflows as well as the crew, equipment, cast, travel and accommodation, etc. The production manager is also always your point of contact and “translates” between you and the director or camera operator.
3. Post-production.
   This covers everything that happens between the shooting day and your finished film: editing, animation, image processing and sound design. A good production company makes sure that the hardware and software needed – and especially archiving and data backup – are functional and efficient.
4. Fees & licences.
   A film often involves external services from artists (known as “talent”), in particular fees for actors, models, voice-over artists, composers and directors. Licences for music and for the use of the film (screening in cinemas, on TV, etc.) are also charged here. A good film production company has a large network and established relationships here, keeps the overview and negotiates on your behalf. In Germany, the film production company also takes care of invoicing and paying additional charges such as GEMA (music rights) and KSK (artists’ social insurance).

So much for the overview. But because the range of services a film production company provides is really extensive and often underestimated, we have listed the individual services again here.

1. Pre-production

covers all activities that take place before the first shooting day, such as:

• Concept: the film production company develops a concept for your film (unless your advertising agency provides one – see the next section).
• Script: the film production company commissions suitable writers to create a script for your film. You work on it together until both sides are happy with it.
• Storyboard: a storyboard is created based on the script. It is a kind of comic strip that translates the words into images and camera shots, so you know what your film will look like before the shoot.
• Casting: based on your briefing and the concept, the film production company puts together a selection of suitable actors, models and voice-over artists, from which you choose your favourites. It then books the “cast” (the performers used in the film) and clarifies the rights and pay in line with your budget and usage requirements.
• Shoot preparation: the film production company organises the shoot, books the right crew and the necessary equipment, and takes care of the location, travel costs, catering and scheduling. If necessary, it also obtains permits and handles all contractual matters.

Bonus info: aerial footage
Aerial footage using “drones” (in the film industry, preferably called camera multicopters) is becoming more and more popular. However, drone flights are strictly regulated: drones cannot be launched and flown just anywhere. Make sure your drone operator takes care of registration and permits and has aviation liability insurance. More on this in our article on “professional aerial footage”.

2. The shoot

covers all activities directly related to the shoot.

• Supervision: the film production company supervises the smooth running of the shoot on site. At the same time, it is your point of contact on set (if you want to be there yourself) or your extended arm (if you can’t make it), making sure the film is made the way you want it.
• In-house production: many film production companies have their own production units – directors, camera operators, sound engineers, set assistants, make-up artists, props masters, set builders, etc. This gives you as the client the added security that hand-picked professionals are at work and that communication channels are shorter.

Bonus info: in-house unit and flexibility
With film production companies that have an in-house unit, make sure they are still able to work with external people. Otherwise, the film’s possibilities are quickly limited to the experience of the team on site. A large pool of different filmmakers is always an advantage and is a sign of a professional film production company.

3. Post-production

covers all activities after the shoot has finished, including:

• Editing: the film production company supervises the edit, in which the footage is assembled into your film. Make sure you don’t only get to see the finished film, but already have the chance to request changes after the rough cut.
• Sound: the film production company organises and supervises the voice-over recording and other audio elements such as music, sound effects and, if needed, dubbing.
• Image processing: not everything can be created live on set. Animation, visual effects, special effects, graphics and image processing turn the footage into the impressive end result for the viewer.

To understand all the cost factors behind a corporate film and get a rough idea of what end product you can expect for which budget, read our blog article on “corporate film costs”.

Our tip:
Be wary of film production companies that conceal services or individual prices, don’t give you a say, or want to bypass your advertising or brand agency.

Film production company or advertising agency – what’s the difference?

Film production company or agency? Both bring the creative sensitivity and the marketing knowledge needed to look at your situation from every angle.

The difference: the agency has often been your day-to-day partner for some time, knows your customers and your goals, and has expertise in marketing, advertising and media management.

To stay with the “building a house” example, your agency is comparable to the town planner, who knows which building makes the most sense in which place (or which film is best for your marketing activities).
But that doesn’t make the town planner an architect or builder. Instead, they will commission the architect / builder, explain your situation and goal, and ask them to build a suitable building for you – or ask the film production company to produce a film.

In many cases – and the bigger the client, the more often this is the case – the advertising or brand agency and the film production company work hand in hand towards your goal, each with its own expertise in its own field.

The advertising agency is the expert in overall marketing. The film production company is the expert in the specific marketing measure “film”.

Full service – the all-in-one solution?

There is another option too: the full-service agency or full-service film production company, which also takes on the other’s area.

This makes sense for you as the client if you only want a single point of contact for everything – for example, because you particularly trust them or simply work better with them.

It also makes sense if you would rather invest your budget in the production than in “administrative costs”. After all, if both an agency and a film production company are on board, both will want to be paid for their work.

Whether, in this particular case, you should carry out your project with a full-service agency or a full-service film production company depends on your situation – for example, on whether the marketing work or the craft and emotional quality of the film matters more – and, not least, on your gut feeling.

Yes, you read that right. The production process of a film is always like a short-term marriage. And just as in private life, it works much better if you get on well on a personal level. Not to mention that it’s simply more fun – and that shows in the film.

Full-service agencies or film production companies also take on the other’s part. Practical with small budgets or a close relationship, but always at the expense of the area outside their core expertise.

That’s it! Now you know everything companies need to know about film production companies for corporate films. Thank you for staying with us this far – we hope this short guide has given you at least one or two ideas on how a film production company can make your marketing even more effective and your company even more successful.

If I’ve forgotten something, or you have further questions about corporate films and film production for companies, just send me an email, give me a call or use the contact form. I look forward to hearing from you and wish you every success with your marketing!

If you would like to go deeper into the topic of corporate films, I recommend the following articles:

1. Corporate film costs – what does a good corporate film cost?
2. Where should I show my corporate film? How to reach the most customers
3. Corporate film: fixed price or individual quote? All the pros and cons for companies
4. Company portrait – the professional introduction film
5. When you DON’T need a corporate film – 10 examples