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Video Production Cost Calculator

  • Low-Cost
  • Mid-Range
  • High-End

Pre-Production

1. Do you require a concept, script and storyboard?

close

Do you have a concept and storyboard in place?

Pre-production is the most imporant phase of video production. If you don't have the right concept, script and storyboard in place it doesn't matter how well you film and edit your project. 'Creative' is never the goal. 'Creative' is a tool you use to engage your audience and ultimately achieve your objective. You start the production process by developing an idea or concept that helps you achieve your objective. You then build a script and you build a storyboard to explain what happens throughout the video. What are the important elements, situations, actions, text, animations, conversations, special effects, etc. that happen during the video? All of this should be outlined in detail in the storyboard. The storyboard is where you validate your idea, your script and everything you plan on showing in the video with your customer before you start production.

arrow
We will supply the concept and script
We need a concept only
We need a concept and script
We need a concept and storyboard

2. Who will handle the project scheduling and the admin?

close

How large is the production / project management team on this project?

Some productions are small and may only require one or two people. Others require large teams with specialized skills to carry out specialized tasks. Video projects have a lot of moving parts and someone needs to coordinate all of the required activities. It must be clear from the start who ownes this process. Setting up planning meetings, project management, acquiring permits and permissions, scheduling crew, coordinating on-camera personnel, scheduling and managing milestones, etc. - all of these tasks require coordination and someone has to be identified as the owner of all of these activities.

arrow
We will handle all schedulintg and admin
We will share admin and scheduling with production company
Production company to perform basic scheduling tasks
Production company to perform all scheduling and admin

Production

3. What type of film crew do you need for your shoot?

close

What type of film crew do you need for your shoot?

How many people do you need to shoot your video? What camera, lighting and audio equipment will they require? What skills and what support crew are needed to do the job right? There are two critical elements that determine the success of any shoot: The expertise of the entire crew and time. A top notch crew will perfrom miracles if they have enough time to do their jobs properly. On smaller productions time is always a factor - budgets are low and the client is often not willing to pay for the time it takes to do the job well. On larger projects budgets are often greater and their is more lattitude to bring in the best people for the job and allow them the time to do the job properly.

arrow
We don't need a camera for this video project
One camera operator with camera, lights and audio
One camera operator with two cameras lights and audio
Two camera operators with two cameras lights and audio

4. How many days of shooting are required?

close

How many days of shooting are required?

How many scenes / set-ups, how many different locations are you shooting at and what's involved with each scene. Shooting days are always a negotiation as production teams want more time and the client wants the project completed done in less time.

arrow
Half day of shooting
Full day of shooting
Two days of shooting
Three days of shooting

5. Do you need a studio or other controlled shooting space that you cannot provide?

close

Do you need a studio or other controlled shooting space that you cannot provide?

Where are you shooting? Do you need a sound studio or a closed-set? Are you shooting against a green or white screen? Are you shooting on-location somewhere? What location suits the script?

arrow
We will shoot at our location
We will find a shooting location for free
We require a studio or controlled space to shoot

6. Do you require a teleprompter and operator?

close

Do you require a teleprompter and operator?

"A teleprompter can save a shoot. Even the most experienced speaker can be intimidated by lights and camera. It's true that you can often tell when someone is reading from a teleprompter but that may still be preferable to the agony of a shoot spiraling out of control because the CEO can't remember his lines."

arrow
No, we don't need a teleprompter
We need a teleprompter and operator for half day
We need a teleprompter and operator for full day
We need a teleprompter and operator for two days

7. Do you require on-camera talent?

close

Do you require on-camera talent?

Do you need to hire professional presenters, actors or models to improve the quality of your presentation? Not everyone is good on camera. You may need to make difficult decisions about who should represent your company. In a broadcast commercial quite often it is not someone in your company. Even in a corporate video you may decide that hiring outside talent is the best choice.

arrow
We don't require on-camera talent
We will supply all on-camera talent
We need a low-cost presenter
We need a professional Presenter
We need an actor

8. How many days of shooting are needed for talent?

close

How many days of shooting are needed for talent?

Your talent may or may not be needed for shooting day. A well managed shoot can save everyone time and money.

arrow
Half day of shooting
Full day of shooting
Two days of shooting
Three days of shooting

Post-Production

9. How many days of editing are required?

close

How many days of editing are required?

Editing time is the most difficult thing to estimate in a video project. The ratio of shooting time to editing time can be one-to-one or it can be one-to-twenty or more depending on how the video was shot, how much footage was shot, what type of colour grading is required, how long the finished piece is, how many possible client changes might be needed and a host of other variables.

arrow
No editing needed, we will take care of all post-production
One day of editing
Two days of editing
Three days of editing
Four days of editing

10. Is there special animation or graphics required?

close

Are special animation or special effects required?

Some video productions are 100% animation and some require no special effects or animation. High quality animation and effects can be very expensieve to produce.

arrow
No animation is required beyond simple graphics and text
A half day of graphic creation / animation
One day of graphic creation / animation
Two days of graphic creation / animation
Three days of graphic creation / animation

11. Is music required for your project?

close

Is music required for your project?

Music is the single most underestimated and under-rated element of any video production. Music set's the tone, the pace and the mood for the entire video. Music tells you how to feel about the video. Music is very improtant.

arrow
No music is required for this project
A generic music track is needed
A specific type of music is needed for this project

12. Is voice-over required for this project?

close

Is voice-over required for this project?

Professional voice-over can add a great deal of substance and professionalism to your video.

arrow
No voice-over is need for this project
We will supply the audio for the project
Basic voice-over talent is required
Professional Voice-over talent is required

13. Do you need stock footage or photos?

close

Stock footage, photos, illustrations and graphics.

Do you need specialized media to supplement your video? Stock photos, stock video, specialized illustrations or graphics may be required to complete the video.

arrow
No stock footage or photos are required
Basic photos or stock footage is needed
Premium phtotos or stock footage is needed

Pre-Production

1. Do you have a concept and storyboard in place?

close

Do you have a concept and storyboard in place?

Pre-production is the most imporant phase of video production. If you don't have the right concept, script and storyboard in place it doesn't matter how well you film and edit your project. 'Creative' is never the goal. 'Creative' is a tool you use to engage your audience and ultimately achieve your objective. You start the production process by developing an idea or concept that helps you achieve your objective. You then build a script and you build a storyboard to explain what happens throughout the video. What are the important elements, situations, actions, text, animations, conversations, special effects, etc. that happen during the video? All of this should be outlined in detail in the storyboard. The storyboard is where you validate your idea, your script and everything you plan on showing in the video with your customer before you start production.

arrow
We're supplying the concept and the storyboard
We have a concpet and need to develop a storyboard
We need a concept developed and a storyboard

2. How much project management and scheduling is required?

close

How large is the production / project management team on this project?

Some productions are small and may only require one or two people. Others require large teams with specialized skills to carry out specialized tasks. Video projects have a lot of moving parts and someone needs to coordinate all of the required activities. It must be clear from the start who ownes this process. Setting up planning meetings, project management, acquiring permits and permissions, scheduling crew, coordinating on-camera personnel, scheduling and managing milestones, etc. - all of these tasks require coordination and someone has to be identified as the owner of all of these activities.

arrow
A small amount of project management is required
A modest amount of project management is needed
A great deal of project management is required

Production

3. What type of film crew do you need for your shoot?

close

What type of film crew do you need for your shoot?

How many people do you need to shoot your video? What camera, lighting and audio equipment will they require? What skills and what support crew are needed to do the job right? There are two critical elements that determine the success of any shoot: The expertise of the entire crew and time. A top notch crew will perfrom miracles if they have enough time to do their jobs properly. On smaller productions time is always a factor - budgets are low and the client is often not willing to pay for the time it takes to do the job well. On larger projects budgets are often greater and their is more lattitude to bring in the best people for the job and allow them the time to do the job properly.

arrow
We don't need a camera crew for this video project
Two man crew - two cameras or camera and audio
Three man crew - two cameras and one audio
Four man crew - two cameras, one audio and director
Five man + crew - two cameras, audio, director and gaffer

4. How many days of shooting are required?

close

How many days of shooting are required?

How many scenes / set-ups, how many different locations are you shooting at and what's involved with each scene. Shooting days are always a negotiation as production teams want more time and the client wants the project completed done in less time.

arrow
Half day of shooting
Full day of shooting
Two days of shooting
Three days of shooting
Four days of shooting

5. Do you require special production equipment?

close

Do you require special production equipment?

Your budget and the complexity of the shoot will determine what equipment is required for your video. Do you need a jib, a track-dolly, a crane, specialized lighting, or any other type of specialized gear to get the shots you require. Most of thes tools also require special handling.

arrow
No special equipment is needed
Some special equipment will be needed
A lot of specialized gear is required

6. Do you need a studio or other controlled shooting space that you cannot provide?

close

Do you need a studio or other controlled shooting space that you cannot provide?

Where are you shooting? Do you need a sound studio or a closed-set? Are you shooting against a green or white screen? Are you shooting on-location somewhere? What location suits the script?

arrow
We will provide the shooting location
We need a studio location to shoot in
We will require on-location shooting for this video

7. Do you require a teleprompter and operator?

close

Do you require a teleprompter and operator?

"A teleprompter can save a shoot. Even the most experienced speaker can be intimidated by lights and camera. It's true that you can often tell when someone is reading from a teleprompter but that may still be preferable to the agony of a shoot spiraling out of control because the CEO can't remember his lines."

arrow
No, we don't need a teleprompter
We need a teleprompter and operator for half day
We need a teleprompter and operator for full day
We need a teleprompter and operator for two days
We need a teleprompter and operator for three days

8. Do you require on-camera talent?

close

Do you require on-camera talent?

Do you need to hire professional presenters, actors or models to improve the quality of your presentation? Not everyone is good on camera. You may need to make difficult decisions about who should represent your company. In a broadcast commercial quite often it is not someone in your company. Even in a corporate video you may decide that hiring outside talent is the best choice.

arrow
We will supply any on-camera talent (if needed)
We need a professional Presenter
We need a non-union actor
We need a union actor
We need a Celebrity

9. How many days of shooting is needed for talent?

close

How many days of shooting are needed for talent?

Your talent may or may not be needed for shooting day. A well managed shoot can save everyone time and money.

arrow
No shooting days are required
Half day of shooting
Full day of shooting
Two days of shooting
Three days of shooting

10. Do you require hair, make-up or wardrobe for talent?

close

Do you require hair, make-up or wardrobe for talent

On lower cost projects a brush and a container of neutral blush (to remove an oily or sweaty appearance on the subject's face) can go a long way. If you have both the budget and the need then it is a good idea to hire a Hair and Makeup expert to help ensure your subjects look great on camera. It's also a good idea to have them watch the shoot to ensure continuity. On higher-end productions wardrobe is included to ensure the proper look.

arrow
No hair, make-up or wardrobe required
We require basic hair and makeup
We require professional hair and makeup
We require full hair, makeup and wardrobe

11. Location and Permission costs

close

Location costs and permissions.

Depending on what you are shooting you may want to pay for the use of a specific location. While this option may seem like an extravagance, it could make the difference between a dull video and an engaging video. A talking head (all things being equal) is more interesting to watch if shot against an interesting backdrop. Contact your local film office - they should have a list of possible locations to shoot in your area for a fee. Costs range considerably - you can pay your local coffee shop a couple bucks to shoot during a quiet time or you can get access to a local museum for thousands of dollars... or you can pay to close down your town at rush-hour if your budget allows.

arrow
No special costs associated with lcoation
Basic Location Costs
Advanced Location and Permissions needed

Post-Production

12. How many days of editing are required?

close

How many days of editing are required?

Editing time is the most difficult thing to estimate in a video project. The ratio of shooting time to editing time can be one-to-one or it can be one-to-twenty or more depending on how the video was shot, how much footage was shot, what type of colour grading is required, how long the finished piece is, how many possible client changes might be needed and a host of other variables.

arrow
No editing, a filming-only project
One to two days of editing
Three to five days of editing
Five to nine days of editing
Ten days of editing

13. Is there special animation or special effects required?

close

Are special animation or special effects required?

Some video productions are 100% animation and some require no special effects or animation. High quality animation and effects can be very expensieve to produce.

arrow
No animation / fx are required beyond simple graphics and text
One to two days of animation / fx
Three to five days of animation / fx
Five to nine days of animation / fx
Ten days or more of animation / fx

14. Is music required for your project?

close

Is music required for your project?

Music is the single most underestimated and under-rated element of any video production. Music set's the tone, the pace and the mood for the entire video. Music tells you how to feel about the video. Music is very improtant.

arrow
No music is required for this project
A sound track is required
Specialized production music is required
Custom music is required

15. Is voice-over required for this project?

close

Is voice-over required for this project?

Professional voice-over can add a great deal of substance and professionalism to your video.

arrow
No voice-over is need for this project
We will supply the audio for voice-over
We will supply the voice-over talent
Professional voice-over talent is required
Celebrity Voice-over talent is required

16. Is specialized audio work required?

close

Is specialized audio work required?

Beyond recorded voice (either live or voice-over) do you need foley work or other types of specialized music, audio effects or over-dubs?

arrow
No specialized audio work is needed
Some audio work is required
A moderate amount of audio work is required
A great deal of audio work is required

17. Stock footage, photos, illustrations and graphics?

close

Stock footage, photos, illustrations and graphics.

Do you need specialized media to supplement your video. Stock photos, stock video, specialized illustrations or graphics may be required to complete the video.

arrow
No stock footage or photos are required
Basic photos and /or stock footage is needed
Premium phtotos or stock footage is needed

Pre-Production

1. Do you have a concept and storyboard in place?

close

Do you have a concept and storyboard in place?

Pre-production is the most imporant phase of video production. If you don't have the right concept, script and storyboard in place it doesn't matter how well you film and edit your project. 'Creative' is never the goal. 'Creative' is a tool you use to engage your audience and ultimately achieve your objective. You start the production process by developing an idea or concept that helps you achieve your objective. You then build a script and you build a storyboard to explain what happens throughout the video. What are the important elements, situations, actions, text, animations, conversations, special effects, etc. that happen during the video? All of this should be outlined in detail in the storyboard. The storyboard is where you validate your idea, your script and everything you plan on showing in the video with your customer before you start production.

arrow
We have a concpet but need a storyboard developed
We need both a concept and a storyboard

2. How large is the production / project management team on this project?

close

How large is the production / project management team on this project?

Some productions are small and may only require one or two people. Others require large teams with specialized skills to carry out specialized tasks. Video projects have a lot of moving parts and someone needs to coordinate all of the required activities. It must be clear from the start who ownes this process. Setting up planning meetings, project management, acquiring permits and permissions, scheduling crew, coordinating on-camera personnel, scheduling and managing milestones, etc. - all of these tasks require coordination and someone has to be identified as the owner of all of these activities.

arrow
A modest amount of project management is required
An average amount of project management is needed
A great deal of project management is required

Production

3. What type of film crew do you need for your shoot?

close

What type of film crew do you need for your shoot?

How many people do you need to shoot your video? What camera, lighting and audio equipment will they require? What skills and what support crew are needed to do the job right? There are two critical elements that determine the success of any shoot: The expertise of the entire crew and time. A top notch crew will perfrom miracles if they have enough time to do their jobs properly. On smaller productions time is always a factor - budgets are low and the client is often not willing to pay for the time it takes to do the job well. On larger projects budgets are often greater and their is more lattitude to bring in the best people for the job and allow them the time to do the job properly.

arrow
Small Crew - 2 to 4 people
Medium Crew - 4 - 6 people
Large Crew - 7+ people

4. What level of video direction is required for the shoot?

close

What level of video direction is required for the shoot?

Who is guiding the vision of the video? Who is in charge of getting the right shots that help tell the story that is your storyboard. Is it your cameraman, your client, a marketing person or a video director. Your budget will determine who plays this role but someone has to be responsible. If you have the budget an experienced director is the best investement you can make after you have created your storyboard.

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We need a director for the shoot
We need a director and first assistant director
We need a director, first assistant and 2nd unit director

5. How many days of shooting are required?

close

How many days of shooting are required?

How many scenes / set-ups, how many different locations are you shooting at and what's involved with each scene. Shooting days are always a negotiation as production teams want more time and the client wants the project completed done in less time.

arrow
Full day of shooting
Two days of shooting
Three days of shooting
Four days of shooting
Five days of shooting

6. Do you require special production equipment?

close

Do you require special production equipment?

Your budget and the complexity of the shoot will determine what equipment is required for your video. Do you need a jib, a track-dolly, a crane, specialized lighting, or any other type of specialized gear to get the shots you require. Most of thes tools also require special handling.

arrow
Some special equipment will be needed
A moderate amount of specialized gear is needed
A lot of specialized gear is required

7. Do you need a studio or other controlled shooting space that you cannot provide?

close

Do you need a studio or other controlled shooting space that you cannot provide?

Where are you shooting? Do you need a sound studio or a closed-set? Are you shooting against a green or white screen? Are you shooting on-location somewhere? What location suits the script?

arrow
We will provide the shooting location
We need a studio location to shoot in
We will require on-location shooting for this video

8. Do you require a teleprompter and operator?

close

Do you require a teleprompter and operator?

"A teleprompter can save a shoot. Even the most experienced speaker can be intimidated by lights and camera. It's true that you can often tell when someone is reading from a teleprompter but that may still be preferable to the agony of a shoot spiraling out of control because the CEO can't remember his lines."

arrow
No, we don't need a teleprompter
We need a teleprompter and operator for half day
We need a teleprompter and operator for full day
We need a teleprompter and operator for two days
We need a teleprompter and operator for three days

9. Do you require on-camera talent?

close

Do you require on-camera talent?

Do you need to hire professional presenters, actors or models to improve the quality of your presentation? Not everyone is good on camera. You may need to make difficult decisions about who should represent your company. In a broadcast commercial quite often it is not someone in your company. Even in a corporate video you may decide that hiring outside talent is the best choice.

arrow
We will supply any on-camera talent (if needed)
We need a professional Presenter
We need a non-union actor
We need a union actor
We need a Celebrity (Local or National)

10. How many days of shooting is needed for talent?

close

How many days of shooting are needed for talent?

Your talent may or may not be needed for shooting day. A well managed shoot can save everyone time and money.

arrow
No shooting days are required
Half day of shooting
Full day of shooting
Two days of shooting
Three days of shooting

11. Do you require hair, make-up or wardrobe for talent?

close

Do you require hair, make-up or wardrobe for talent?

On lower cost projects a brush and a container of neutral blush (to remove an oily or sweaty appearance on the subject's face) can go a long way. If you have both the budget and the need then it is a good idea to hire a Hair and Makeup expert to help ensure your subjects look great on camera. It's also a good idea to have them watch the shoot to ensure continuity. On higher-end productions wardrobe is included to ensure the proper look.

arrow
No hair, make-up or wardrobe required
We require basic hair and makeup
We require full hair and makeup
We require full hair, makeup and wardrobe

12. Location and Permission costs

close

Location costs and permissions.

Depending on what you are shooting you may want to pay for the use of a specific location. While this option may seem like an extravagance, it could make the difference between a dull video and an engaging video. A talking head (all things being equal) is more interesting to watch if shot against an interesting backdrop. Contact your local film office - they should have a list of possible locations to shoot in your area for a fee. Costs range considerably - you can pay your local coffee shop a couple bucks to shoot during a quiet time or you can get access to a local museum for thousands of dollars... or you can pay to close down your town at rush-hour if your budget allows.

arrow
No special costs associated with lcoation
Basic Location Costs
Advanced Location and Permissions needed

13. Do you require extras for the shoot?

close

Do you require extras for the shoot?

Depending on the mood and style of your video you may want to pay people to be in the background. A scene can look rather empty or unnatural without anyone in it.

arrow
No we don't need extrras
We need a small number of extras
We require a lot of extras for this shoot

14. Do you require craft services for talent and crew?

close

Do you require craft services for talent and crew?

If you are working on a union shoot there are specific rules set out as to how you feed your crew. Even if you're on a tight budget it's a good idea to keep your team well fueled.

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No we don't need craft services
We require basic craft services for cast and crew
We require full craft services for cast and crew

15. Do you require props, gear or staging for the shoot?

close

Do you require props, gear or staging for the shoot?

Aside from video production equipment are there other special props or pieces of equipment that need to be included as part of the costs? Do you need a special backdrop, rental furniture, a plane or helicopter for an aerial shot or specialized equipment for the shoot? These all have to be factored in to the cost of your production.

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No props, gear or staging are required
We require off-the-shelf props, gear and/or basic staging
We require customized props, gear and/or basic staging

16. Do you require special transportation services for your shoot?

close

Do you require special transportation services for your shoot?

The more people and the more gear you use the more likely you are to require special transportation. Moving people and kit efficiently between different shooting setups might make the difference between a decent shoot and a great shoot.

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No transportation services are required
Modest transportation services are required
We need significant transportation services for our shoot

Post-Production

17. How many days of editing are required?

close

How many days of editing are required?

Editing time is the most difficult thing to estimate in a video project. The ratio of shooting time to editing time can be one-to-one or it can be one-to-twenty or more depending on how the video was shot, how much footage was shot, what type of colour grading is required, how long the finished piece is, how many possible client changes might be needed and a host of other variables.

arrow
Two to four days of editing
Four to Six days of editing
Seven to ten days of editing
Ten days + of editing

18. Is there special animation or special effects required?

close

Are special animation or special effects required?

Some video productions are 100% animation and some require no special effects or animation. High quality animation and effects can be very expensieve to produce.

arrow
Two to four days of editing
Four to Six days of editing
Seven to ten days of editing
Ten days + of editing

19. Is music required for your project?

close

Is music required for your project?

Music is the single most underestimated and under-rated element of any video production. Music set's the tone, the pace and the mood for the entire video. Music tells you how to feel about the video. Music is very improtant.

arrow
No music is required for this project
A basic sound track is required
Specialized production music is required
Custom music is required
Licensing Popular recorded music is required

20. Is voice-over required for this project?

close

Is voice-over required for this project?

Professional voice-over can add a great deal of substance and professionalism to your video.

arrow
No voice-over is need for this project
We will supply the voice-over talent
Professional voice-over talent is required
Celebrity Voice-over talent is required

21. Is specialized audio work required?

close

Is specialized audio work required?

Beyond recorded voice (either live or voice-over) do you need foley work or other types of specialized music, audio effects or over-dubs?

arrow
No specialized audio work is needed
Some basic audio work is required
A moderate amount of audio work is required
A great deal of audio work is required

22. Stock footage, photos, illustrations and graphics?

close

Stock footage, photos, illustrations and graphics.

Do you need specialized media to supplement your video. Stock photos, stock video, specialized illustrations or graphics may be required to complete the video.

arrow
No stock footage or photos are required
Basic photos and/or stock footage is needed
Premium phtotos or stock footage is needed

Video Production Cost Range:

$0 - $0

Concept or storyboard

$0 - $0

Give us your feedback:
Let us know how we can improve this tool.