Ansel Adams said, “You don’t take a photograph. You make it.” And that’s Production: The stage of the video process where ideas and planning are set in motion. Where the story we’ve talked about, scripted, and planned for is given its first breath of life.
Think of production as a milestone on your calendar that falls, as you will have guessed, after pre-production and before post-production. It’s the only time certain technical and creative choices are made. These choices give your video—be it an event opener, 30-second PSA, or short-form doc—the character and depth that will make it stand out.
When you work with Tattoo Content Studio, one big decision will ultimately inform what production will look like for you.
Will your project be documentary style—in other words, will it be distilled from live interviews with real people telling real stories to support your message in a candid, unscripted way? Or will your message resonate better if it’s told through the performances of actors working with scripted content?
Let’s call these different paths documentary style (or docu-style) and narrative productions, respectively.
Production for Narrative Video Projects
All the work that goes into creating a typical “live-action” television or internet advertisement—that’s a narrative. And even if you want to make a quick, 30-second spot, to do it effectively, you need talented actors, producers, creative directors, and cinematographers to stage an engaging and coherent storyline.
In a narrative production, a script has already been created and finalized to shape your piece. On location, your director will also be using storyboards created in advance to visualize each scene better, guide the action in the frame, and inform the placement of cameras. Tattoo Content Studio uses a producer, and they will have already lined up all the details in pre-production. And while our team always comes with a solid plan, there’s nothing paint-by-numbers about it. Conditions on set, schedules, and logistics can shift without warning; your producer will be running point to keep everything, and everyone, in line.
Creating a narrative piece is a time-intensive process. It’s likely to involve multiple setups and tear-downs as we reposition cameras, lights, and audio recording gear. Compared to a two-camera interview, you’ll probably encounter more complex lighting solutions, and depending on the talent, more takes (which also means more outtakes!).
Go ahead, inject some humor, or deliver a concise and high-impact message. Narrative production lets you dial it all in at the volume, tone, and intensity that suits your needs.
Production Process for Docu-Style Video Projects
If production in the narrative genre is about asserting more control over your story, docu-style is about giving it the opportunity to emerge. Or at least letting it ride that candid interview wave. With some coaxing, Tattoo Content Studio will help you discover an authentic, seemingly extemporaneous voice (who also happens to be articulate and get the point across) for your corporation, non-profit, association, or academic institution.
Of course, making your brand look good starts with the people who speak for it on camera. A little powder and blotter paper go a long way. But the real trick is helping interviewees feel comfortable being the center of attention. Our process is designed to do just that. Tattoo Content Studio’s crews come in all shapes and sizes, but we always aim for efficiency. A producer, a cinematographer—maybe two. This keeps it feeling intimate. Casual. So, conversation flows naturally, and the messaging feels authentic.
But docu-style doesn’t mean we’re limited to talking heads and b-roll. We have a variety of tools and techniques that will enable us to tailor your content to your unique goals. For example, something as simple as incorporating a motorized slider into a standard two-camera interview or shooting so that our editors and animators have a lot of blank canvas to work with later in post-production.
You’ve worked too hard defining your brand, sharpening your message, and proving your value to expect anything less. Let Tattoo Content Studio treat your brand with the loving care it deserves at every stage of the production process.
Tattoo Content Studio | 704 Morris Street, Charlotte, NC 28208 | 704.900.7150
Email contentstudio@tattooprojects.com or click here to schedule a call.
