How to Write a Great Brief for Your Video Production Agency (Template Included)
- Jun 24
- 5 min read
If you're putting together a company profile video, a product explainer, or a recruitment campaign, there's one thing every successful corporate video kicks off with:
A clear, well-structured brief.
If you have a capable brand marketing team to assist you, they will be responsible for helping with the brief. If you lack such a team, drafting a detailed brief falls on your shoulder. A brief is more than just a list of instructions—it's the strategic plan that enables your video production team to understand your goals, brand, audience, and expectations. When executed correctly, it saves time, prevents misunderstandings, and ensures the creation of a successful video.
In this article, we’ll show you how to put together an awesome video production brief (plus a handy template that you can use).
Why a Strong Video Brief Matters
A solid brief helps your video team:
Get your business goals
Suggest the best video format, tone, and length
Plan production with fewer do-overs
Create a video that fits your brand identity
🎯 Without a brief, even the most talented team could create something visually stunning that fails to meet your business objectives, resulting in wasted money and time. Keep in mind that your video team will only be as informed as the details you provide them; more information leads to better alignment with your vision.
What to Include in Your Video Production Brief
Here’s a step-by-step guide for what your brief should cover:
1. Project Overview
A quick summary of what the video is about.
Example:
❌ "We want to make a short video"
✅ “We need a 90-second company profile video to introduce our business to new prospects on our website and LinkedIn.”
2. Business & Brand Background
Help the team understand who you are.
What does your company do?
Who are your customers?
What’s your positioning or brand tone?
Example:
❌ "We are in logistics. We want the video to wow people."
✅ “We are a logistics solutions provider for SMEs. Our tone is professional, down-to-earth, and service-driven.”
3. Objective of the Video
What do you want this video to achieve?
Increase brand awareness?
Educate potential customers?
Attract investors?
Support recruitment?
🎯 Pro tip:
Be specific. Each video should only have one main objective.
Example:
❌ “Create brand awareness.”
✅ “Generate interest from potential investors.”
4. Target Audience
Describe your primary viewers.
Internal or external?
C-level executives, clients, job seekers?
What are their pain points or interests?
Example:
❌ "I want to target everyone"
✅ “Mid-sized manufacturing companies looking for reliable packaging suppliers.”
5. Key Messages
What are the main things you want to say? Stick to 3–5 key points. Anything more can dilute your message.
Example:
✅ "We’re reliable. We have scalable solutions. We’ve been trusted by X Company."
6. Visual or Style References
Include links or examples of videos you like (or dislike). This helps the team align with your vision from the start.
Example:
❌ "We want something fast-paced, but slow enough to see the detail"
✅ "We like the clean look and voiceover in this Apple business video: [link]"
7. Deliverables & Formats
Clarify what you need:
One full video or multiple cutdowns?
Social media edits?
Subtitles, voiceovers, music?
Example:
✅ “One 90-sec main video, 2 short clips (under 30s) for LinkedIn, and a version with Mandarin subtitles.”
8. Timeline & Deadlines
Include key dates:
When do you need the final video?
Any important milestones (event, launch, AGM)?
Example:
❌ "As fast as possible"
✅ “Final video must be ready by August 15 for our investor presentation.”
9. Budget Range (If Comfortable Sharing)
This helps your team propose solutions that match your resources. The cost of video production largely relies on the ideation and visual concept, We want to steer clear of directors going wild by pitching super expensive, Hollywood-style concepts. So, a ballpark range is useful for the director to brainstorm and draft an ideation proposal within on your resources.
If you're looking for guidance on how much budget to allocate for your corporate video, here's a guide for you.
10. Stakeholders & Decision Makers
List who will be involved and who has final approval. The more is usually not the merrier in this case. Everyone will have different perspective, different idea, different direction of how the liked a video to be, and there's no right or wrong. Essentially you'll need a decision maker to block out all the noises and make a constructive decision.
Example:
❌ "CEO, CFO, CMO, directors, investors, secretary, the office janitor, and many more."
✅ “Creative direction by marketing manager, final sign-off by CEO.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Being too vague: “We want something cool.”
✅ Say what “cool” means to you — sleek, humorous, cinematic?
❌ Asking for too much in one video
✅ Focus on one core message per video — consider a series if needed
❌ Delayed feedback from too many stakeholders
✅ Assign one key point of contact to streamline communication
Sample Video Brief Template (Copy & Paste)
Project Title:
Company Profile Video for XYZ Logistics
Overview:
We want a 90-second company video for our website and sales team to introduce our company to new leads.
Company Background:
XYZ Logistics offers end-to-end warehousing and fulfillment services in Southeast Asia. We serve ecommerce brands, retailers, and manufacturers.
Video Objective:
To establish brand credibility and help sales teams build trust quickly.
Target Audience:
Business owners, procurement managers, and logistics directors.
Key Messages:
- We are scalable and reliable
- Trusted by over 200 regional brands
- 24-hour fulfillment turnaround
Style Reference:
We like the tone and visual style of this video: [insert link]
Deliverables:
1 main video (90s), 2 short edits (30s), English subtitles
Deadline:
Final delivery by Sept 5 for use at trade fair
Point of Contact:
[Name], [Role], [Email]
Final Thoughts
A great video begins with a strong brief, which serves as the foundation for the entire production process.
It's essential for setting the direction, tone, and impact of the video, ensuring all stakeholders are aligned from the start. A clear brief helps your team create a video that meets your goals, reflects your brand, and resonates with your audience. It should outline objectives, target demographics, and the desired message. By defining these elements, you enable your team to exceed expectations.
Need Help Shaping Your Video Brief?
If you're considering creating a new corporate video and are uncertain about where to begin, we're here to assist you. Whether you have a complete concept or simply a business objective, we'll assist you in transforming that into a compelling narrative.
Resov Film takes pride in delivering top-notch corporate video production services that are tailored to meet the specific needs and budget constraints of our clients. Our goal is to not only meet but exceed our client's expectations, providing them with a video that showcases their brand in the best possible light.
Contact us and drop your project detail to receive a comprehensive quote from us.
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