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Timeline

How long does a brand film take to produce?

Short answer

A brand film typically takes 6 to 10 weeks from kickoff to delivery: about 2 weeks of pre-production, 1 to 3 days of shooting, and 4 to 6 weeks of post-production.

Phase-by-phase timeline

Pre-production is 2 to 3 weeks: discovery interviews with leadership, narrative development, location scouting, casting interview subjects, and a final shoot plan. Production is 1 to 3 days, depending on how many subjects and locations. Post-production is 4 to 6 weeks: rough cut, internal review, fine cut, color, sound mix, and final delivery.

What compresses the timeline

If the company has clear brand assets, a single location, and 3 or fewer interview subjects, the whole project can finish in 5 weeks. Existing footage we can repurpose also helps.

What stretches it

The biggest timeline risks are review cycles with too many stakeholders and music licensing. A film with 5 reviewers giving conflicting notes can add 2 weeks to post. Custom-composed music adds another 1 to 2 weeks. Animation, if needed, runs in parallel but doubles the post window if the animation is core to the story.

Why pre-production is non-negotiable

Skipping pre-production to "save time" almost always extends the total project. Without a clear story going in, the editor ends up trying to assemble a narrative from raw footage, which is slow and frustrating. Two weeks of pre-pro buys 2 weeks back in post. The math always works out.

Related questions

Can a brand film be done in under a month?

Only if pre-production is already done and you have a single shooting day. A truly rushed brand film usually shows on screen.

How many revisions are typical?

Two rounds: one structural (story and pacing), one polish (color, sound, captions). More than that and you're rebuilding the film, not revising it.

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More answers

Pricing

How much does corporate video production cost in Chicago?

Corporate video production in Chicago typically costs between $5,000 and $50,000 per finished piece, depending on length, crew size, and how much pre-production strategy is involved. Most B2B companies land in the $15,000 to $30,000 range for a single hero video.

Concepts

What's the difference between a brand film and a corporate video?

A brand film is documentary-style and tells the story of a company's identity, values, or origin in 2 to 5 minutes. A corporate video is functional, usually shorter, and explains a specific product, service, or process to a defined audience.

Logistics

Do you travel for video shoots in the Midwest?

Yes. The Maestro Media is based in Columbia City, Indiana and regularly travels for shoots across Chicago, Indianapolis, Columbus, Cincinnati, Detroit, Indianapolis, and St. Louis. Travel within a 4-hour drive of Fort Wayne is built into most production estimates.

Services

What's included in event videography services?

Standard event videography includes pre-event coordination with the AV team, a 2-person crew on the day, multicam keynote capture, candid attendee coverage, on-site interviews, and a 2 to 3 minute highlight reel plus full session recordings delivered within 2 to 3 weeks.