How long does it take to make a B2B video? Well, like most things in life – it depends!
But if a quick set of guidelines is what you need just to get the ball rolling, we’ve put together a brief overview of the four main types of videos in terms of the time they take to produce.
Interview-based videos: Interview videos require a ton of upfront coordination (wrangling schedules for busy executives can get kind of crazy). But once the logistics are locked down, expect the whole process to take about 4-5 weeks.
- Week 1: Pre-production (conduct pre-interviews, secure shoot locations)
- Week 2-3: Shoot Interviews and b-roll
- Week 3-4: Transcripts and Paper edit
- Week 4-5: Video and soundtrack editing and client approvals
Biggest Potential Schedule Challenge: Interviewee Availability – executive schedules can be a moving target and if the interviewee also happens to be your customer, you’ll naturally want to be as accommodating as possible.
Single-actor shows: If your video is narrated or uses one on-camera host, expect a production timeline of about 4-5 weeks. Here’s what you can expect.
- Week 1: Input and script writing
- Week 2: Casting for narrator/host, storyboarding, client approval of script
- Week 3-4: Client approval of storyboard, The shoot, music search
- Week 4-5: Video and soundtrack editing and client approvals
Biggest Potential Schedule Challenge: That EVP who never got around to giving you feedback on the script and now wants something re-shot.
Multi-actor shows: More actors, more locations, more wardrobe and props – as the show gets more complicated, the pre-production timeline gets longer. Expect your total production time to run 5-8 weeks.
- Week 1: Input and Scriptwriting
- Week 2-3: Casting and location search
- Week 3-4: Wardrobe/props/set acquired and storyboards created
- Week 4-6: Client approvals of production elements, The shoot
- Week 6-7: Video and soundtrack editing and client approvals
Biggest Potential Schedule Challenge: If any of your scenes are outdoors, count on the weather to throw a monkey wrench into the schedule.
Motion graphics: Overall show length is a major factor, as well as complexity of the graphics and animation style. As you can imagine, a simple character on a solid color background with limited motion is easier to animate and faster to render than, say, multiple characters in a detail-rich environment with smooth, life-like motion. 3D movement adds additional time. We find the average B2B motion graphics video takes 6-8 weeks from start to finish.
- Week 1-2: Client input, script writing and style comps
- Week 2-3: Storyboards Week 3-4: Casting for voice talent, music and sound effects search
- Week 4-7: Soundtrack creation, animation begins
- Week 7-8: Final approvals
Biggest Potential Schedule Challenge: Probably that oblivious EVP we mentioned earlier. If there’s a problem that didn’t get flagged at the script or storyboard stage, making changes to motion graphics isn’t usually a quick process.
The Best Laid Plans…
Every project is different, and there are always exceptions to the rule. What’s most important is that when unplanned circumstances bubble up, you have a team on your side with well-oiled processes, a flexible mindset, and the creativity to adapt on a dime.
Can we do things faster? Sure. But there’s always increased risk when you don’t take the recommended amount of time to do it right. Contact Blue Marble anytime to talk about the project you have in mind. Let’s get you the video you’re after in the timeline needed to knock it out of the park.
