Creativa 
So you think you need a video? You’ve come to the right place. At Creativa, we specialise in delivering on creative briefs for video production, be they for live action, 2D animation, 3D animation, social media, television or immersive or personalised video.
But what exactly is a brief and what do I need to put in it?
What is the purpose of a video brief?
A video brief is a document that tells us, your production partner, how to produce your video. It’s an initial guide, a starting point, a rundown of everything you know, or don’t know, about the video you want to produce.
What is it not? A blueprint. A perfect, unalterable manifesto on how we will execute your project.
It’s said that a video is written in the outline, then in the script, then during production and then again in the edit.
A video brief should outline what we’re doing, why and who for, but should leave room for to be creative and flexible.
What should be included in a video brief?
A better question might be, what doesn’t? You really can’t pack too much information into a creative brief for a video. I guess, you could, but if you’re coming to Creativa, we take it upon ourselves to work with you to work out what’s important.
But, in a nutshell, you’ll want to be thinking about what kind of video you want. Are you writing a corporate video brief, a training video outline, a social media proposal, or something else?
And what are the deliverables? One by two minutes? Two by two minutes? Or five by thirty seconds?
Do you know the format? Will your message be better articulated as an explainer animation, or as a testimonial? Have you considered interactivity to enhance learning and retention?
What are your key messages? Have you got enough? Have you got too many? And are they clear?
And most important: who is your audience? What do we know about them and how can we communicate in a way that they will respond to?
If you can answer these questions, you’re well on your way to writing a video brief.
How to write a video brief
You can use a video brief template. We have them and they are useful. But if you want to be a bit more freestyle, jot down all your ideas big and small. They don’t have to be in any order at the beginning. Consider what you know, what you don’t know, and what you need help with.
In some cases, you’ll know exactly what you want. In other cases, you’ll have some ideas but need some brainstorming and workshopping to refine your brief. The best place to start, always, is to ask, what problem am I trying to solve?
But what we recommend is, get in touch early and often. We’re not just a content business. We’re a solutions business. So before you bring us your projects, bring us your problems. We’ll canvas our vast capabilities, everything from explainers to games, to work out the best way to achieve your goals. And we can work on the brief together.
You can also just call Ted. Ted is friendly and will help you right now. You can reach him on +61 402 067 621. Ted is happy to talk through your communications goals now.
Who should write the video brief?
A simple answer for who should write a video brief is the person whose writing is the most clear. Whoever can understand and synthesise the relevant information into a cohesive whole, they should be responsible for writing the final brief.
However, they should not work in a silo. It’s worth asking who has a controlling stake in the video? Who are the stakeholders whose feedback will influence the final deliverable?
Get them onboard early so they can offer their views at the outset. That way they won’t be surprised by any storyboards or rushes that land in their inbox.
If there are subject matter experts whose insights you can’t do without, get their input.
Consolidate everything into one single document, then call us. We’ll know what to do.
What makes a good video brief?
Clarity makes a good video brief. If you know what you’re doing and why, what problem you’re trying to solve, you’re well on your way.
But is absolutely okay if you’re not sure. Maybe it’s even better. By getting your solutions partner onboard early, you can be sure you’re making the most of your resources when investing in content.
We won’t start work until we have a clear brief. Part of what we offer, is refining that brief with you. And our discovery and briefing phases incur absolutely no cost.
So if you have an inkling of an idea, if you think you might need a video production in Melbourne or in Australia, give us a shout. We’re here to help.
