What Goes Into a Video Production Quote?
Four kinds of line. Pre-production pays for the planning and organising, the shoot is priced in half or full days by the crew you need, post-production covers the edit days and rounds of changes, and outside costs such as talent, locations, studio hire and travel sit on their own lines. A clear quote itemises all four, so you can see what each part costs and what you could trim.
Key Facts
- We price shoots in half-day and full-day units, with the edit attached to each.
- Two locations in one day, with a move in the middle, usually costs less than two separate half days.
- Every extra aspect ratio and cutdown is more edit work, so a clear quote gives each one its own line.
- Travel always sits on its own line, marked as included or not, because it depends on things outside the shoot.
What Are the Lines on a Video Quote?
Most quotes from a production company, ours included, come down to these four.
| Line | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Pre-production | Planning, scripting, booking crew and locations, and organising the people on camera |
| The shoot | Shoot days in half-day or full-day units, priced by the crew you need, such as director, camera, sound, lighting, hair and make-up |
| Post-production | Edit days, including rounds of changes, plus graphics, music and every finished version |
| Outside costs | Talent, location fees, studio hire, travel and accommodation, each on its own line |
What Does the Pre-Production Line Pay For?
The planning that makes the shoot day work. It covers scripting support, recces, casting, booking crew and locations, and the run sheet for the day. On our quotes it's a share of the whole job, because it's where most of the quality comes from. Shoot day is the easy bit.
It also carries the costs nobody sees on a job, such as insurance, equipment upkeep and premises, so the shoot and edit lines stay honest.
Is a Half Day or a Full Day Better Value?
It depends on what else you get from the day. Setting up a good-looking shoot is the expensive part, so once the lights and cameras are in place, every extra piece you capture costs less. A full day earns its price with more deliverables, or with room to work around people's diaries. It rarely earns it with extra polish on the same video.
When you're not sure, ask for both, each with its edit attached, side by side.
Why Are Two Locations in One Day Cheaper Than Two Half Days?
One crew call, one set-up of the kit and one trip home cover both places, even with a move in the middle. Two half days pay for the travel and set-up twice. The same idea works at a bigger scale: a series of shoots across a state costs less when they're grouped into one trip.
What Makes a Video Cost More?
Time, people and places. Most of the difference between two quotes comes from these.
| Factor | Costs less | Costs more |
|---|---|---|
| Shoot time | Half day | Full day or several days |
| Locations | One location, or two with a move on the same day | Separate days at separate places |
| Crew | Director and camera operator | Full crew with sound, lighting, hair and make-up |
| Deliverables | One main film | Main film plus cutdowns, stills and every aspect ratio |
| Talent | Your own people | Actors and usage rights |
| Travel | Local | Interstate, with flights and accommodation on their own line |
| Edit | A straightforward cut | Animation, graphics, several versions |
Getting more out of one shoot is often the best value in the whole quote.
We know budgets are tighter than ever. So part of our approach to creating anything is asking, can this be used elsewhere as well?
How Are Travel, Talent and Venues Priced?
Each on its own line, because each depends on things outside the shoot.
- Travel is marked as included or not. For a series across regions, we group shoots so two or three share one trip, and keep one crew so every piece looks the same.
- Talent splits into the lead and the featured players, because much of the cost can sit with the extras. How long and where the video runs, such as six months on TV or a year on social, changes the number.
- Live event venues get priced after someone has seen the room. Furniture hire, crew numbers and camera positions all depend on it, and a good production company won't guess.
How Should a Quote Be Itemised?
So you can see the workload and choose what to cut. Look for:
- A line for each format and cutdown. Three formats of three cutdowns is nine finished videos, not a free export.
- Optional extras you can tick off, so removing one doesn't mean redoing the maths.
- The full version first, so you choose what to trim instead of discovering what was left out.