You can always change the scope of your video. Sometimes your team will be able to pull it off without a worry in the world. However, sometimes, it won’t be free and easy. The real factor is going to be how and when you decide to make changes. I’m going to get into a few different scenarios and how they affect your project.
Scope Change Before Pre-Production
It’s towards the start of your video project. Let’s say you agreed to do a lifestyle video. You want to have some voiceover with great b-roll shot over the course of two days… but you just got out of a meeting with the CEO. She feels that the best message within the video would be for your clients to hear her talk about the direction of the company – interview-style. A completely different plan than what was budgeted for and discussed initially.
Luckily you haven’t had any meetings with your video production company yet. No kickoff meeting and nothing has been booked. In this situation, you should be able to call your point of contact and have a scope discussion. Two things will come out of this – your POC should try to fit your new scope within your budget or will have to recommend a new budget based on your new requirements.
Outcome: This one shouldn’t be that big of a deal, because the work hasn’t really taken off yet. Hopefully you can figure out a way to settle it without adding dollars, but either way, at least you’re not going to be paying for work that isn’t going to be used.
Scope Change After Pre-Production
Let’s say you’ve gone through your concepting meetings with your video partner, you’ve developed a schedule, booked locations, etc. and NOW your CEO decides to make the change.
Well, this is when things start to get a little hairy. Your video team has spent time developing story boards or mood boards, figuring out the concept and spent a sizable portion of your budget. If you change concepts now, a lot (or all) of the work put in so far could have been all-for-not.
Outcome: Here is where your video team needs to get crafty. Maybe your Producer finds a way to shift funds from post-production into another round of pre-production or maybe you drop a member of the crew. However, most likely you’re going to have to put an addendum into place and add some work.
Scope Change After Filming
Well, as you can imagine, this is probably the worst place to have a scope change. As a team, we’ve gone through all of pre-production, booked and paid for a crew as well as equipment and now your CEO has decided that she doesn’t like the direction of the video.
Outcome: You have a couple options here. My biggest piece of advice – take the footage and figure out something you can do with it. You can set voiceover and use the footage as b-roll. If it’s already that lifestyle piece and you want an interview, then try to book a half-day shoot to just get the interview.
Long story shoot, put some of what you’ve captured to use. It’s always okay to add, just don’t throw it all away. If you’re working with a good company, you should be able to use what you’ve captured, even if you’re changing gears. Stay the course. You’ve come too far.
Scope Change During Post-Production
So you’ve seen the first cut of the video and decide that you don’t think it has what your audience wants. You start second-guessing your decision to go doc-style versus showing fast cars and athletes. My advice here – don’t second guess yourself. You made a decision for a reason. Stick with it.
Outcome: If you need some more footage added in, your video partner should have access to stock footage or have some things backlogged that they can add. Worst case scenario, finish up this video, add a couple of things here and there, and get started on another one while you find out whether or not your video is successful. You are probably overthinking it!
You Can Always Add
Don’t forget that you can always add on to a project. You want more camera angles, more interviews, more days of shooting, more cuts of the video, new cuts to the video. Just ask! Your video partner shouldn’t ever be too busy to do more work for you and if they are… well then call us!