How to Apply Big Production Planning Principles to your Internal Comms Videos

Producing video for internal communications should take just as much, if not more, thought and preparation than anything that you would release to the public. These are, after all, your fellow associates, partners, and team members. They should come away from any communication from you, especially if it’s video, with an understanding that you are invested in them and thoughtful of what and how you are communicating with them.

Here are just a few “big production” planning principles that should be applied to your internal comms videos:

Make it Nice

This one should go without saying, but it’s mind-boggling how often it is overlooked. Take an extra couple of minutes and make sure that the video you’re sending along looks nice. It doesn’t have to be prime-time television nice, but it should at least be decently shot and produced.

Respect Their Time

Chances are, your colleagues are busy. Sitting down and watching an unnecessarily long video is likely not going to endear yourself to them. Communicate clearly and concisely, but get to the point and stick to it. If what you want to say can be said in 60 seconds, than a three-minute video is simply disrespectful of their time.

Speak Up

Whenever possible, use a microphone to ensure quality sound. (There are even simple LAV mics for smartphones.) If your viewer can see the subject, but can’t clearly hear them, you might as well have hired a mime. Additionally, there is nothing more distracting than a mumbling communicator with the buzzing, humming, and whirring of typical office noise behind them.

Mind Your Surroundings

Avoid shooting your subject up against a wall. Use something (a plant, a picture, or even a bit of office activity behind them) placed at least a few feet behind your subject, to add some visual interest to your shot. Use discretion however, as you don’t want what is in the background to distract from what is in the foreground.

Video is Never Vertical

If you have access to a quality video camera, certainly make use of that. However, most smartphones these days are equipped with HD video capabilities, and (if used well) can shoot something quite professional. However, just because many of your phone’s functions are done so while holding it vertically, shooting video is never one of them. You’ve likely never seen a vertical movie theater before, nor should your colleagues ever have to see a vertically shot phone video. Seriously, just don’t.

Use a Tripod

This one immediately distinguishes a video shot in haste to one that had a little bit of forethought (and again, if all you have is a smartphone, there are inexpensive tripods for those too). Your colleagues don’t want to feel like they’re drifting at sea while watching your video.

Consider Your Lighting

You may not have access to professional lighting for your video (if you have it in your budget to buy a lighting kit, then we would recommend a standard Arri three-point lighting kit), but even if you don’t, find an area that is well lit by something more than typical fluorescent office lights. Make use of the sun’s light by either finding a quiet place to shoot outside or placing a window, out of frame, either to side or somewhere behind the camera, ensuring that the face of your subject can be seen clearly. (For more tips on lighting your shot, check out this post)

Internal communication is essential to any business and now it’s easier than ever to make use of video to accomplish this. Hopefully, these quick tips will help you to apply some “Big Production” planning principles to your internal comms. Your colleagues will thank you for it.

How to Apply Big Production Planning Principles to your Internal Comms Videos