Choosing a video production company
Most production companies can show a good reel. The difference shows up in how they plan, who does the work and how clearly they talk about scope and price. These are the questions worth asking.
Start with your own brief
The easiest way to compare companies is to give each of them the same brief. It does not have to be long: what the video is for, who will watch it, where it will be posted, roughly when you need it, and the budget range you are working within. Without that, you are comparing guesses. Billie’s guide on how to brief a videographer covers what to include.
A company that asks good questions back about your brief is already showing you how it will work with you. One that sends a price without asking anything is showing you something too.
Look at the work, then look closer
A reel shows taste and craft, which matters. But ask to see full pieces, not only highlights, and ask which parts of each project the company actually did. Did it write the concept, or was it handed a script? Did it shoot and edit, or only shoot? Was the sound mixed in-house, or sent elsewhere?
Look for work close to what you need, then ask how they would approach your project specifically. A team that makes strong music videos may also be right for a brand film, because the skills overlap, but the answer to that question will tell you whether they have thought about it.
Questions worth asking
Bring these to every conversation. Good answers are specific, and vague answers usually mean the details will be worked out later, which is where costs tend to grow.
- Who will be on set, and who will edit?
- What happens between the brief and the shoot: a treatment, a script, a shot list?
- How many rounds of changes are included in the edit?
- What do we receive at the end: which lengths, which aspect ratios, captions or subtitles?
- Who owns the footage and the finished video, and can we reuse it?
- How is music handled, and is it licensed for where we plan to use it?
- What is not included in the quote?
What a good answer sounds like
On process, a good answer walks you through the steps: planning, pre-production, the shoot, the edit, the grade and sound, delivery. You should come away knowing what you will be asked to approve and when.
On scope, a good answer says what is in and what is out: shoot days, crew size, locations, deliverables, revisions. If something you expected is missing, it is better to find out now than when the invoice arrives.
On price, a good answer explains what drives it. Production cost comes from people, days on set and time in post-production. A company that can explain its quote line by line is one you can plan around. Billie publishes its retainer prices so the conversation starts in the open.
One-off project or ongoing partner
Some businesses need one strong film. Others need a steady stream of content every month. The right company depends on which you are. For a single piece, look for a team that can carry it from idea to delivery without handing it between people. For ongoing work, look for consistency, planning and a team that will learn your brand over time. Billie’s guide to retainers versus one-off projects walks through the difference.
Warning signs
None of these rule a company out on their own, but each is worth a follow-up question before you sign anything.
- A quote with no breakdown of what is included
- No questions about your audience or where the video will be used
- Nobody can tell you who will actually shoot and edit the project
- Music use that is not explained
- Pressure to commit before the scope is clear
Confirm the details in writing
Once you have chosen, put the agreed scope in writing before the shoot is booked. It does not need to be a long contract, but it should name the deliverables, the number of shoot days, the locations, the rounds of changes, the music approach and who owns what at the end. It should also say what happens if the shoot date moves because of weather or illness, and how extra work outside the scope is priced.
This protects both sides. The production company knows exactly what it has agreed to make, and you know exactly what you are paying for. Most disagreements on video projects come from assumptions nobody wrote down.
Where Billie fits
Billie is an independent creative company working across film, music and culture, and part of EYWA Records and Hemara Group. One team carries a project from concept and scripting through the shoot, edit, colour and sound, which is what video production at Billie means. Ongoing work runs on Production Retainers: Essential at $1,500 NZD a month, Creative at $3,000 NZD a month, and Studio Partner on enquiry. Projects outside a retainer are quoted per project as Bespoke Production. Billie works from Auckland and Wellington and travels for productions. Send a brief and ask Billie the same questions.
Questions
How many companies should I talk to?
Two or three is usually enough to compare approaches without the process taking over. Give each one the same brief so the answers can be compared fairly.
Should I choose the lowest quote?
Compare what each quote includes before comparing totals. Crew size, shoot days, revisions, deliverables and music licensing can differ a lot between quotes that look similar.
Do I need a production company in my city?
Not necessarily. Many productions travel, and the right fit for the project matters more than the postcode. Billie works from Auckland and Wellington and travels across New Zealand.
Is this a paid service?
Yes. Billie is a paid production company. Production Retainers are $1,500 NZD a month for Essential and $3,000 NZD a month for Creative, and Studio Partner is priced on enquiry. Projects outside a retainer are quoted per project as Bespoke Production, and Billie Private events are quoted per project.
Work with Billie
Every vision begins somewhere.
Tell Billie about the project, the timeline and which retainer suits, or ask for a Bespoke Production quote.
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