What Is Commercial Video Production?
Commercial video production is the process of making a short video built to persuade: a TV spot, a streaming ad, or a social ad that asks the viewer to do one thing. It shares tools with other video work, but the job is different. A brand film can take three minutes to tell a story. A commercial has thirty seconds, sometimes six, to land one idea and one reason to act.
How commercial video production works
Most commercials move through the same five stages, whatever the budget.
1. Concept
Everything starts with who the audience is and the one thing the spot asks them to do. From there the team writes scripts, and you see the idea in words before anyone books a crew. This is the cheapest stage to change your mind in, so it’s where the hard questions belong.
2. Pre-production
Casting, locations, permits, wardrobe, the shot list and a schedule for the shoot day. This is also where the whole campaign gets planned: the :30, the :15, the :06 and the vertical versions for social, so every cut is designed rather than salvaged later.
3. The shoot
A commercial crew is usually four or more people: director, camera, lighting and grip, plus sound and talent when the script calls for them. A well-planned day can cover the hero spot, the shorter cuts and stills for the campaign.
4. Post-production
Editing, color grading, sound mixing, music and graphics, with rounds of review built into the schedule. Post is where pacing gets tightened until every second earns its place.
5. Delivery
Each version is exported to the exact specs a TV station, streaming platform or social channel requires, with captions. A spot that’s rejected on delivery day doesn’t run, so this step matters more than it sounds.
How long it takes
For our commercials, concept usually takes one to two weeks, pre-production another one to two, the shoot one day, post two to three weeks, and delivery a day or two. That’s about four to seven weeks from first call to final files, and faster when reviews come back quickly.
What it costs
Commercials cost more than most corporate video because of the extra pre-production and the bigger crew. Ours start at $8,000. The price rises with the number of shoot days, the number of locations, professional or union talent, and usage: how long, where and on which channels the spot will run.
Making it vs. running it
A finished commercial still has to reach people. Some companies hand the files to a media buyer; others want one team to make the spot, place it on connected TV and Meta, and report on what it costs to book a job. If that’s what you need, see our commercial production and TV advertising in Colorado. If you only need the spot made well, start with our commercial video production in Denver.
Frequently asked questions
What is commercial video production?
It is the process of making a short video built to persuade, such as a TV spot, streaming ad or social ad. It runs through five stages: concept, pre-production, the shoot, post-production and delivery.
How long does it take to produce a commercial?
For most of our commercials, about four to seven weeks from first call to final files. Concept, pre-production and post take most of that time; the shoot itself is usually one day.
Can one shoot produce several versions of a commercial?
Yes, if they are planned in pre-production. One shoot day typically produces the :30, :15 and :06 versions plus vertical cuts for social and stills.
Have a commercial in mind? Request a free quote or call 720.398.4668. We respond within one business day.
Notes from the field
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