What is Video Concept Development?

At its essence, video concept development is the process of brainstorming, refining, and articulating the central theme and message of a video. It is a journey of exploration and discovery, wherein  the heart of a story is thoroughly examined to uncover its core essence and translate it into a cohesive and engaging narrative.

Concept development often begins with brainstorming sessions where different ideas, themes, and storylines are explored. These ideas are then refined and honed through research, feedback, and iteration. As the concept takes shape, visual mood boards, storyboards, or concept art are developed to visually communicate ideas and the vision for the video.

Ultimately, video concept development is about transforming abstract ideas into a concrete plan of action that guides the production team from pre-production to post-production.

Why is Video Concept Development Important?

Concept development can make or break a video. That’s a shame because so much time and effort goes into them. Creating video is a time consuming process. It involves talent, scriptwriters, camera operators, lighting specialists and editors to name a few. You can also have the best equipment, talent and locations in the world. But if you’re working to a shallow and badly thought out concept, it can mean producing a video that doesn’t connect with anyone, or triggers the wrong emotions in an audience, and that is a lot of money wasted.  But if you invest time and effort on an idea that triggers a smile, a tear or laughter, you’ve got your audience hooked and your message in their minds.

In addition to its creative merits, video concept development also holds significant implications for brand identity and marketing strategies. By crafting videos that align with your brand values and resonate with your target audience, organisations can foster meaningful connections with people and align them to your cause. Whether it’s through authentic storytelling, informative content, or entertaining narratives, a well-executed concept can elevate a brand’s message and leave a lasting impression on its audience.

Moreover, video concept development serves as a roadmap for the creative process, guiding decisions related to scriptwriting, cinematography, editing, and more. By establishing clear objectives, themes, and messaging upfront, we ensure coherence and consistency throughout the production process.

What is Film Divisions Approach to Video Concept Development?

Simple! We design your film before we even pick up a camera.

As a part of the pre-production phase, before even thinking about filming, we’re thinking about your audience. Who are they, what are they looking for, how does your cause resonate with them? The answer to these and more questions lay the groundwork for the concept and key message of the video. A video shows people the very essence of a brand, so make sure your video reflects your company and gives off the right impression to your target audience. The modern audience is inundated with a constant stream of content vying for their attention. To capture the hearts and minds of viewers, videos must offer more than just surface-level entertainment—they must offer substance. A well-conceived concept provides the narrative framework through which audiences can connect with the story on an emotional level, fostering a deeper sense of engagement and resonance. Ultimately, the experience needs to be valuable to the audience.

How Do You Get Inside An Audiences Head?

At Film Division, we are all about achieving your goals, not just creating your video, so we go much further than an hour of brainstorming. We implement user research methodologies with a strong foundation in scientific studies, such as:

1. Surveys and Questionnaires: to gather quantitative data on audience demographics, preferences, and opinions.
2. Interviews: We engage directly with individuals to uncover qualitative insights into motivations and attitudes.
3. Focus Groups: We facilitate discussions with a small group to observe reactions and gather diverse perspectives.
4. Observational Research: We observe audience behaviour and interactions with video content in their natural environment.
5. Social Media Listening: We monitor conversations and trends on social media platforms to understand audience sentiment and engagement.
6. Analytics and Data Analysis: We utilise metrics and analytics tools to track audience engagement and refine the video concept based on performance data.

This approach helps us to develop that cinematic content that fits your audience.

Video Concept Development Best Practices

Here are some of the best advice we recommend you follow when developing your own video concept.

1. Know Your Audience:

   Before diving into video concept development, take the time to understand your target audience—their interests, preferences, and pain points. Conduct market research, surveys, and focus groups to gather insights that will inform your creative decisions. Also, if you cater to multiple audiences, you shouldn’t try to create a video that resonates with everyone, because that’s impossible. Each of your core target demographics will need their own dedicated concept.

2. Define Your Objectives:

   What do you hope to achieve with your video? Whether it’s raising brand awareness, inspiring action, or educating your audience, clearly define your goals and objectives to guide the development of your concept. Similar to your audiences, if you try and cram too many objectives into one video, then you are destined to only semi achieve. A video concept can have multiple purposes using the subtleties of visual imagery but it requires a clear primary purpose that rules over every creative decision.

3. Don’t Get Attached:

   Without stifling your creativity, don’t become attached to a video concept idea that you have or cool video that you saw on the internet that you want to copy for your cause. That video may have worked for its specific purpose but it may not work for yours. Strive to be different and unique to your own brand and objective.

4. Tell a Compelling Story:

   At the heart of every great video concept is a compelling story. Whether it’s a narrative arc, a character journey, or a problem-solution scenario, craft a story that resonates with your audience and keeps them engaged from start to finish.

5. Consider Visual Aesthetics:

   The visual style of your video concept plays a crucial role in conveying your message and evoking emotion. Think about the tone, mood, and aesthetics that best complement your concept, whether it’s through colour palettes, camera angles, or editing techniques.

6. Remove Your Biases:

   Coming up with a video concept entirely in house with no unbiased input is a recipe for failure. People may not want to tell their boss that their video idea sucks, so hire a professional, test your ideas with your target audiences and don’t leave the decisions all to one person. We don’t want there to be too many cooks, but we also don’t want a top down dictatorship of a video concept.

7. Iterate and Refine:

   Video concept development is an iterative process. Don’t be afraid to experiment, receive feedback, and iterate on your ideas until you find the perfect fit for your video. You don’t need to rush ahead and produce the first idea you come up with.

Conclusion

In conclusion, video concept development is a fundamental aspect of the creative process, shaping the narrative, aesthetics, and impact of a video. By investing time, effort, and creativity into crafting compelling concepts, we can unlock the full potential of video content as a powerful tool for communication, storytelling, and audience engagement. So, whether you’re a seasoned marketeer or a brand manager, remember the importance of video concept development in bringing your vision to life and captivating audiences around the world.

If you need some guidance for your cause, you know where we are!