It is “always unpredictable, challenging and fun,” says Miriam Naggar, NORTHBOUND.
At ASL Productions, a national video production agency, our video producers play an integral role in every project. From concept to completion, our producers collaborate closely with clients and work with every team member, bringing to life our clients objectives and a seamless production.
A crucial part of being a video producer is mastering collaboration. It’s about building a network of skilled professionals with diverse expertise, ensuring you always have the right person to call in any situation.
As Peter Capaldi once said, “The biggest thing I have realized is that you have to choose your collaborators very carefully, and that not everybody can like you.”
At ASL Productions, we’ve cultivated a national network of talented local professionals across various industries and price points, allowing us to scale teams up or down based on the unique needs of each project. Whether it’s creating content for a niche industry or managing a large-scale production, we ensure the right experts with relevant experience are on board.
While great video producers consistently deliver excellent final products, what truly sets them apart is their ability to navigate and leverage these collaborative relationships effectively. Let us break down what makes a good producer truly great.
A good video producer is like a skilled baseball manager. They assemble the right team, delegate responsibilities, make critical decisions, and trust their crew to execute. When the action unfolds, they step back, staying calm until it’s time to step in and make the big calls. This approach often works well for good producers—they have confidence in their team and excel when decisive leadership is needed.
A great video producer, however, takes their involvement to the next level. Video productions can be unpredictable, requiring a steady hand to navigate challenges and keep the process on track. Great producers maintain an omnipresent role throughout the project. They stay aware of what every crew member is doing, ensuring seamless communication and coordination. From reminding the director and camera operators of the creative vision to ensuring the gaffers and audio technicians meet expectations, great producers actively guide every stage of the production, ensuring the final product meets the highest standards.
Organization is the backbone of corporate video production. With tight schedules, extensive equipment, and constantly shifting parts, staying organized is crucial. A good video producer ensures everything runs smoothly by creating detailed schedules, sending clear communications, and managing logistical details like forms, location times, parking, and freight elevator access. An organized producer keeps the crew aligned, ensuring everyone knows the required gear, shots, dates, locations, and call times.
What sets great video producers apart is their ability to anticipate the unknown. While anyone can follow a schedule and show up on time, great producers possess an intuitive instinct honed by experience. They don’t wait until shoot day to get organized—they plan meticulously and think five steps ahead. Great producers understand that unforeseen challenges are inevitable, and their proactive approach ensures they’re ready for anything.
In video production, plenty can go wrong. It’s the producer’s job to anticipate risks, adapt to the unexpected, and keep the project on course. If you’re not ahead of the game, you’re already behind.
Great video producers are problem-solvers and visionaries, capable of achieving the seemingly impossible under tight deadlines and high-pressure scenarios. Need a crocodile at the eleventh hour? They’ll find one, ensuring it’s on set and safely handled. Planning a live show with 12 camera operators working in double shifts in a bustling location like Cannes, France? They’ll organize the entire production flawlessly, from staffing and logistics to ensuring seamless coordination across teams.
These producers don’t just tackle challenges—they redefine the possibilities of video production. Building a state-of-the-art flagship studio for live streaming, podcasting, and video production in the heart of New York City? Done. Managing live streams from events across the country and around the globe? Not a problem. Great video producers bring unparalleled expertise, adaptability, and creativity to every project, delivering results that exceed expectations and leave lasting impressions.
Video production is not a static industry. Technologies and methods are ever-changing, and to grow complacent as a video producer is unacceptable. Good video producers keep up-to-date with technology, and are always learning new programs. For example, the industry standard in editing software shifted from FinalCut to Adobe Premiere in the last 5 years. A good producer is on the cusp of this movement and reading up on similar transitions.
A great video producer’s appetite for learning carries them to another level. Video producers are always learning new things. The best ones are questioning, reading and researching to set them ahead of the pack. Your producer should be engaging with different parts of the process and understanding the mechanics behind it all. If so, you’re more likely to experience a productive and fluid production.
Though some corporate videos may last just 2 or 3 minutes, productions aren’t always quick. At ASL, we work on projects that span an entire year, while others only take a week to go from concept to creation. Some things about this job can be learned. Others cannot. Being flexible and patient are inextricable traits great producers need. A great video producer is willing to find a client an audio op in a matter of hours. And a great video producer will find crew in a remote city so the client doesn’t have to worry about it on their end.
Essentially, as a manager of moving pieces, video producers must have the ability to work with different personalities and egos. Knowing how to navigate this environment is something that comes through experience. Finding a great video producer that will go the extra mile is rare, but when you do, you’ll know the difference.
At ASL Productions, we specialize in bringing ideas to life and executing projects that captivate audiences nationwide. One of our key areas of expertise is producing social media-first content for renowned brands like UNILAD, Whistle Sports, and Bleacher Report. Whether shot on high-end cameras or 4K cellphones for a dynamic, run-and-gun social feel, we prioritize […]
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