The value of using videos for marketing has become increasingly important as we embrace this digital era. 86% of businesses use video as a marketing tool, and 87% of video marketers stated that video content gives them a positive ROI. As a business, you want to create the best possible content to attract consumers to your company. How can this be achieved? Through live action video. 

By reviewing this complete guide to live action videos, you can get started right away and create captivating and unique content.

What is a live action video?

It is a video that involves real-life footage of people, animals, and/or settings instead of animated content. 

Depending on your video’s purpose, live action video can be a great way to humanize your brand while still getting your message across.

Types of Live Action videos

The possibilities for live action videos are endless. Whether you’re telling a story or promoting a service or product, there is a live action video style for you. Here are some of its uses: 

• Educational videos

• Product demos

• Training videos

• Interviews

• Sales videos

• Tutorials 

• Documentary-style case studies

• Scripted narrative 

• Welcome videos

Factors to consider

Before you hire a videographer for your live action video, first, ask yourself: what type of video do I want to make? How much time and resources do I have allocated? And who is my target audience?

There should be an allocated budget, timeline and deadline, and potentially a product or service to promote with any video production. Your videographer can help you create a strategy for the video to ensure it meets your marketing goals. 

The benefits of live action videos 

Live action videos are highly versatile and an excellent way to effectively communicate a message to your audience. Some additional benefits include: 

1. Using live actors can add a human touch to your video. In addition, body language and emotions can translate a familiar and relatable message to your audience 

2. Live action videos can typically be shot within a couple of days, and putting the entire video together can take less time compared to an animation film

3. Atmospheric effects such as depth and lighting are easier to create in real life

4. Real-world options can be challenging to model in computer-generated imagery (CGI)

Video marketing and live action videos can be highly beneficial for your company and your brand’s growth. We know the pros of using these types of videos, but how will they make an impact on your business?

One of the best reasons to use videos for your business is to influence buying decisions and grow revenue. Marketers who use videos experience revenue growth 49% faster each year than those who don’t. In addition, 97% of marketers say that using videos helps increase users’ understanding of their products or services. This then leads to assistance in the buyer decision process and more sales for your company. 

Videos can also help improve your website’s ranking on Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). This is a crucial factor that affects the amount of time a visitor spends on your page and how high you’ll appear in Google search results. Video content helps to increase this metric since more viewers spend time watching a film than reading an article. 

Another way live action videos can benefit your business is through increased traffic. Video users enjoy 41% more web traffic from search than a marketer without video—the more traffic your video gains, the more overall attention your webpage will receive. Videos can also be easily shared across various platforms and promoted on any social media page. 83% of consumers say they would consider sharing video content they enjoyed with their friends; so make sure to post and promote your videos often! 

Finally, if you’re looking to educate your audience on a topic, product or service, live action videos are a great way to do this. Nearly 72% of people would rather use a video to learn about a product than any other form of media. Therefore, videos are highly beneficial and will only continue to be more frequently used by every business in any industry. 

Considerations

While live action videos can be helpful, some drawbacks are important to consider when deciding if you should go the route of producing a live action film: 

1. Creating a professional live action video can be costly and may require you to have a larger budget compared to creating an animated video of similar quality

2. The reality of a bigger budget can come with creative limitations. To suit your budget, you may have to drawback on some of your ideas 

3. Last-minute changes are more challenging to make since once filming is complete, no other footage can be shot. Reshooting can also be time-consuming and costly

4. Finding live talent, if necessary, can be difficult

Live action video process

There is a three-step process to follow when creating any live action video. Here we will provide you with what each phase in the video production process will look like, so you know what to expect when hiring a service:

Step 1: Pre-Production

This step involves preparing anything and everything that is needed to bring the video to life. Professional services direct, film, and edit the video for your business, ensuring that it matches your style and objectives. At this point, you will work with your videographer to create a storyboard, work schedule, required crew members, a film location, and clear ideas on how the video should look. There will also be preparations made for any needed materials, props, sets, or costumes that are wanted in the video.

Step 2: Production

Once all the nitty-gritty details are finalized, the filming stage can begin. Depending on the scale of your video and how many people are involved, the shoot time widely ranges. The best way to ensure this step is a success is to have a clear direction for each member involved and follow the plan set out in the pre-production phase. Having to reshoot footage is costly and time-consuming, so the professionals will make sure they have all the video elements they need before wrapping up filming. 

Step 3: Post-Production

Although the filming process is done, this step is the final stage to get the video ready for the public. The video will be edited, and any extra elements such as background music or sound effects will be added during this time. A video editor will save you a lot of time during the editing process. Then, after final touches are made and you’re happy with the final product, it’s ready to go!

Takeaway

To remain competitive in your industry, video marketing is essential. It is a way to creatively and effectively translate a message to your audience. It can be an exciting journey to see an idea come to fruition, and the time and effort put into the project will be a massive benefit to your business. 

FAQs

How long does it take to produce live action videos? 

The production time of a live action video is based on several factors, most importantly, the scale and detail of the video. A large-scale film that involves crew members, several live actors, and a set location can be much more time-consuming than a short product demo. As a small business, you will most often be working on smaller-scale films and shorter movies. The length of time to produce the live action video will depend on how long you’d like the movie to be, how many different locations, and if any interviews are captured. In addition, the amount of detail required for the film will largely dictate how long it takes to produce. 

When should I use a live action video?

There are endless ways that live action videos can be utilized. It is a great way to showcase a product or take advantage of a real-world location. It is suitable to use in any situation where there are visuals that accompany the video. However, if there are no visuals, or you need to explain a complicated process, then a live action video may not be the best option. 

An alternative to live action videos can be animated films. An animated video is a great option and can easily demonstrate abstract ideas and concepts. You have endless creative freedom and the ability to produce anything you can imagine. The decision to use either a live action video or an animated video comes down to the type of video you’d like to make, the resources allocated, and your target market. The amount of time and budget you have designated for the video is essential when deciding between styles. Keep in mind the purpose of your video and what message you want it to send to your audience. If a live action video can fulfill your objective, then it’s a great option to go with. 

What is the cost of a live action video?

The price depends on the type of video, complexity, people involved, and duration. For this reason, it is essential to allocate a budget for the video and plan out expenses accordingly. 

Would you like us to create a live action video for your company?

Click here to schedule your free 20-minute consultation.