film & video guide

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• "I need a 10 minute video. How much will it cost?"
• Deciding what your needs are.
• The 10 most asked questions by the production company
• The 10 most asked Questions by a client
• Understanding your business
• Understanding production companies
• How do you choose the right production company?
• How do you know you're getting value for money?
• What will the approval process be?
• Writing a good brief
• A simple guide to film and video formats
• To find out more

A simple guide to film and video formats

There's a whole range of different formats available for your production. This quick and easy guide talks you through the main ones.

Mini DV A consumer format, mini DV can be used to create very cool promos and rough ideas for commercial. It's perfect as a basis for moving projects forward and for 'fly on the wall' style footage.

DVCAM ( Digital Format ) The tape runs 3 times faster than mini DV and is the low-end professional format. It's ideal for less intrusive filming and quick acquisition of footage with a minimum of fuss.

Beta SP An analogue format that is a lower-cost alternative to Digi Beta. Tape stock is cheaper, as are the cameras and other post-production tools.

Digi Beta The high-end of video production in the corporate arena (although not as high as HD - High Definition video ) Digi Beta offers the very best resolution if your budget is flexible.

8mm Film This produces results reminiscent of those 60s and 70s TV shows. It gives productions a really grainy, family movie feel with incredible saturated colour. This is a beautiful little format.

Standard 16mm Film This can give the camera crew options that video doesn't allow so easily. In the video versus film debate there are pro's and con's on both sides. With film there are costs involved in getting it developed and transferred that might not fit your budget. But, these costs may well end up being the same as Digi Beta once all the factors of shooting are taken into account.

Super 16mm Film In this format, you get more physical space on the film and therefore more information and arguably a better image than standard 16mm. This is because there is only one row of sprocket holes down one side of the film, as opposed to two rows on each side of Standard 16mm.

35mm Film Not a usual contender in corporate films and videos, 35mm is usually used in the glamorous world of movies, fragrance commercials and other big-budget productions. Costs are higher for sure, but hey, if you want to show your film on the silver screen then it could be perfect for you.